2009 NACIS Student Web Mapping Competition Rules
This competition recognizes excellence in the use of the Web as a medium for cartographic communication. Of particular interest are innovative and creative uses of Web technology to display either animated or interactive maps. Students will enter their maps into the specific categories of Animated Map or Interactive Map.
Eligibility
 Any student enrolled in a certificate program, undergraduate, or graduate/post-graduate program in any country who has not previously won first prize in either of the categories from this contest may enter. The same map may be entered in both categories. Group projects may be entered with the restriction that no more than four collaborators have participated.
The cartographic work in these maps must be the original work of the entrant. Use of third party or commercial technology is permitted, but must be appropriately cited. The data, if not produced by the entrant, must also be appropriately cited.
Students may enter as many times as they wish, but may only win one prize.
Up to four students may enter the same project.
If appropriate, the same map may be entered in both award categories.
Students may re-enter a map from a previous years competition provided the map has been improved in a significant way.
Entries must have been created during the 2009-2010 academic year.
Entries must be submitted no later than September 17, 2010.
Web sites for all competition entries must be active through October 31, 2010.
Judging Criteria
Maps will be judged and ranked based on the following criteria:
CONCEPT AND ORIGINALITY: Is it an innovative map or are there a hundred like it out there already? How much of the work is borrowed from the work of others?
CARTOGRAPHIC DESIGN: Artistic merit and cartographic presentation. Clarity of Communication - how well does the map communicate the information it was designed to portray? Quality of Graphical Composition - is information appropriately presented and at an appropriate level of refinement? Given the intended audience for the map, is the cartographic design fitting?
WEBSITE DESIGN: Maps are often part of a larger document--how well is the map integrated within that document? Use of maps on the web is not yet ubiquitous. Did the website provide instruction or use sound and innovative graphical presentation methods? Given the intended audience for the map, is the website usable?
TECHNOLOGY: What type of technology is used? To some extent more novel technology will earn a higher rating; but technology for the sake of technology will not be rewarded. Is the design efficient? Is the technology appropriately used? What is the level of animation/interaction? For instance, is there just one component of the map that is animated/interactive, or is the entire map animated/interactive?
RELIABILITY/COMPATABILITY: The product has to be ROBUST. A great looking website that crashes all the time isn't much of a success. A big part of web design is knowing how to deal with the web environment, particularly system crashes, freeze-ups, color palette problems, screen resolutions, download times, cross-platform issues, and general presentation stability. When this is done well, a site becomes transparent and usability becomes ubiquitous. A high level of design in this regard deserves to be rewarded.
Prizes
Winning Prize for Animated Map: $500
Winning Prize for Interactive Map: $500
At least one high quality map must be received in each category to warrant awarding both prizes. If no high quality maps are received in one or both categories, judges can decide not to award a prize for the category.
All winners will receive a letter of recognition.
Additionally, winners will be announced at the annual NACIS Conference and in the next issue of Cartographic Perspectives.
Judging Standards
Judges will use either Firefox 3.0 or higher or Safari 4.0 or higher with a true color monitor with a resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
Judges will be solicited from the membership of NACIS. A panel of three judges will evaluate each map.
Judging Process
When a map is submitted, the competition director will make an initial evaluation of the map to determine whether the quality is minimally acceptable, the map is generally working, and appropriate citations and credits are given. If problems exist, the director may decline the entry with comments or instructions to the entrant. Once the director accepts the map for judging, the entrant will be notified that the map has been successfully entered into the competition.
Initial judging typically occurs just after the entry is received. Final judging of the best maps is done during the week prior to the NACIS Annual Conference.
One purpose of this competition is to reward and foster excellence in Internet Cartography. Therefore, at the discretion of the judges and competition director, no prize may be awarded in one or both of the categories.
The winners will be announced at the banquet, including screenshots depicting the prize-worthy maps. Within 10 days of the banquet, all entrants will receive an e-mail notifying them of the results and any other pertinent information.
Any questions about the NACIS Student Web Mapping Competition should be directed to the competition director, David Heyman, Axis Maps.
|
