Indiemapper is the smarter, easier, more elegant way to make thematic maps from digital data.
Indiemapper brings traditional cartogra- phy into the 21st century. It's platform independent, location independent and huge-software-budget independent.
Indiemapper closes the gap between data and map by taking a visual approach to map-making. See your data. Make your map. For the first time ever, it's just that simple.
watch more screencastswhy indiemapper?
- Real-time, visual editing.
- No software to download or update.
- Expert advice for every step of the mapping process.
- Professional colors from ColorBrewer, type from TypeBrewer, and basemaps from Natural Earth.
- Integrates with your existing workflow; use data from ArcGIS and Google Earth and export to Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Easily create trivariate label, bivariate proportional symbol maps and bivariate cartograms.
- Load shapefile, KML and GPX files.
- Choropleth, dot density, proportional symbol and cartogram mapping.
- Online saving and file versioning.
- Access full map history and roll back to any previous version of your maps.
- Collaborate with your team; invite other users to share, edit, and add comments to a map.
- Manage billing for multiple accounts.
- Work in local mode to keep your data stored only on your local computer.
- Support for most major map projections.
- Map layout for print and screen.
- Export to vector SVG and JPEG / PNG.
- Save your data and map into a single file.
Indiemapper is a Web-based app that loads geo-data, allows custom control over mapmaking, and exports static maps in vector and raster formats.
We've balanced indiemapper so you have the tools you need to make beautiful thematic maps without overwhelming you with hundreds of obscure GIS functions. Nothing is more than 2 clicks away. This keeps mapmaking simple, fast, and fun.
Indiemapper is loaded with expert advice to guide new mapmakers through the process. At each big decision point, you'll find helpful learn more material.
If you've never thought about map projections, data classification or color schemes, for example, indiemapper's learn more topics will guide you in making good choices. They contain explanations, recommendations, and example maps to help you think like a pro. Look for the question mark buttons scattered throughout the app.
Visualize your data in advanced ways. Choose from 6 different bivariate map types, and see your data on a histogram or scatterplot.
Bivariate maps combine two attributes (e.g., education and income) into one map symbol. While an extremely powerful and efficient way of presenting data, the tools for making them are almost non-existent outside of expensive GIS systems. In addition, do your data justice by viewing the distribution on a graph. This crucial step in the mapmaking process should never be missed. Then, set your own class breaks, choose a built-in data classification method, or make unclassed maps.
With layered SVG export, you can seamlessly handle your map projects with an indiemapper-to-Illustrator workflow.
From the layers panel to the vector styling options, Illustrator pros will feel right at home inside indiemapper. Indie does things Illustrator cannot. For example, open, merge and reproject geographic data, create thematic map types, and adjust data classification methods. So, do your cartography in indiemapper BEFORE doing more advanced graphics styling in Illustrator. Exported SVG files open cleanly in Illustrator: data sources, legends and annotations maintain their layer names and layer order, and all graphic styles are preserved (e.g., stroke weights, colors, opacity, font family names, etc.).
After you get your data prepared, load up your Shapefile and DBF in indiemapper for a seamless GIS-to-indiemapper workflow.
GIS systems are great for manipulating geographic databases and editing geo-referenced point, line, and area features. AFTER you get your data prepared just the way you want it, move it to indiemapper for adding all of your thematic map symbols and styles. When it comes to quickly and easily experimenting with a wide range of thematic mapping techniques, indiemapper is the way to go.
To run indiemapper, you'll need a computer with an internet connection and a Web browser with the Flash Player.
You probably already have what you need, since you're reading this page! To make maps, you'll need to load up some geographic data. Indiemapper comes with a built-in data library that contains a number of global datasets. However, it's likely that many users will find the data they need for a specific mapping project outside the app. That's great! One of our favorite places to download geographic data is Geocommons Finder!. Indiemapper loads Shapefiles (and the DBF files they are associated with), KML, and GPX files. Just remember that the maps that you make with indiemapper are only as good as the data that you put into them!
