Choropleth Mapping Lab 5

Choropleth mapping is a thematic map in which enumeration units are shaded by intensity proportional to the data values associated with those units. The polygons are then shaded in proportion to the measurement of the data being displayed. Proportional or graduated symbol maps are used to depict size variables to represent differences in the information of the polygons. 

In this lab we mapped population density and wine consumption across European countries. A choropleth map was produced showing population density of the countries. Graduated symbology was then used to show the wine consumption within these countries. 

The population density was chosen over raw population counts to better represent the results throughout Europe. Population density takes into account the area with the population creating more accurate results. The wine consumption data was used and did not need to be normalized as it was already represented in liters per capita.

The color scheme I chose is a continuous beige/light orange to a dark orange. This continuous color scheme gradually shows the different ranges from a light color to a dark color as the population density increases.

I choose the Natural Break classification method because it represents the data the best. The classes are based on natural groupings in the data and the class breaks group similar values together. By grouping similar values together, the map better distributes the countries in the classes. There are also no gaps between the different classes.

I choose the graduated symbols to represent wine consumption. These give a better visual representation of increasing wine consumption with the gradually increasing size of symbols.