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2013 NACIS Student Dynamic Map Competition Rules

This competition recognizes excellence in dynamic mapping. Of particular interest are innovative and creative uses of narrative or interactive maps. Students may enter maps that meet either of these descriptions (no need to specify which):

Narrative Map: A dynamic map that presents information in a way that communicates a story, cause, or message.

Interactive Map: A dynamic map that provides tools that may be used for navigation, location-based services, or exploratory geovisualization. 

Eligibility
 Any student enrolled in a certificate program, undergraduate, or graduate/post-graduate program in any country who has not previously won first prize may enter. 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.

 There is no need to specify which category you are entering your map into, this will be decided by the panel of judges. 

 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 2012-2013 academic year.

 Entries must be submitted no later than Friday, September 13, 2012.

 Web sites for all competition entries must be active through October 31, 2013.

Judging Criteria
Maps will be judged and ranked based on the following criteria:

 CONCEPT AND ORIGINALITY: This criterion considers how innovative the map is. How much of the work is borrowed from the work of others? Are there many maps just like it?

 CARTOGRAPHIC DESIGN: This criterion considers artistic merit, cartographic presentation, clarity of communication, and the quality of graphic composition.

 INTERFACE DESIGN: This criterion assesses the design and functionality of the Graphical User Interface (GUI), and how well it works for the intended audience.

 RELIABILITY/COMPATABILITY: This criterion considers the reliability and compatibility of the map for its intended platform (e.g. mobile device).

 GROUP SIZE: This criterion considers the quality of the map with respect to the number of collaborators who worked together to create it.

Prizes
 Winning Prize for Narrative Map: $500 
 Winning Prize for Interactive Map: $500

At least one high quality map must be received for 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 the current versions of Firefox, Safari, or Chrome with a true color monitor with a resolution of at least 1280 x 800.

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 directors may decline the entry with comments or instructions to the entrant.  Once the directors accept 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 Dynamic 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 annual meeting 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 Mathew Dooley.

Submission Form

Annual Meeting

NACIS 2013
Greenville, SC
October 9-11, 2013

Also...

 Student Dynamic Map Competition

 Student Map and Poster Competition

 Map Gallery

Corlis Benefideo Award

Cartographic Perspectives

2012 Winner

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