Map Definition (Map menu)¶

A legend is used to quickly allow the user to identify visually they layers of information shown on the screen.

If the layers are communicating several types of information; they legend may group these together.

Note that not all map layers are required to be listed in the legend: Often background layers are omitted to allow the user to focus on the key information being displayed.

Other common Map menu items include:

• Map Title: Describing the region or purpose of the Map

Colour and Icons Used (Symbology)¶

For Layers that produce complex symbology further detail to explain the symbols will be needed:

• Continuous: When theming on a continuous value such as height often a smooth gradient of colour is used
• Categorisation: When categorising information into groups the groups will need to be listed and provided a unique colour and appearance
• Symbol Definition: When using distinct icons (or glyphs) to represent data points each shape will need to be listed along with a definition of what the symbol means. This can be relaxed when using a standard or well under known symbology set such as provided by MIL2525b or Emergency Response symbols for which the operator has been trainined.

Related concepts

Cartography - Legend (Wikipedia)

NATO Military Symbols For Land Based Systems

Related reference

Legend View