Lab 6: DEMs in ArcGIS

With the high-speed development of technology, transforming the topographic maps to a digital elevation model is incredible simple: people do not need to understand the elements in the map to create DEMs, since Arc Toolbox could finish all the work simply by clicking a few buttons. This groundbreaking innovation changed the dull and uninteresting data to colorful and attractive DEMs, and would definitely catch the public attention. However, the professionals’ DEMs are beautiful and self-explained, while apprentices’ sometimes may look strange. For example, people are easier to accept that things beneath sea level are described in blue, like trench, and people conventionally believe that mountains should be labeled brown or white. Therefore, professional DEMs would cater to the public’s tastes, while apprentices can hardly realize these facts. After I finished my first DEM, I felt really wired because I can hardly tell the mountains and plains due to the horrible color choose. Yet the DEM looks pretty good, so I kept it. After I saw some of others’ works, I realized my DEM is not so traditional and hard to understand if ignoring the legend. Experience is a precious treasure of mapping. The more we have the less unprofessional mistakes we may generate. Thus people should pay more attention on how to acquire knowledge during the operating process in the future. Moreover, although technology brings us a much more convenient environment, we should always spend enough time to study a certain task. Otherwise, we may create some nondescript stuff.