How to Make a Hexagonal Cartogram in ArcGIS Pro

Here's how to sweep away the bias of actual geographic shapes for a sort-of-map sort-of-a-chart beautiful abomination called a cartogram. This form is based on a hexagon shape: each state is a hexagon. They're generally arranged true to their locations but cartograms don't get too worked up about that sort of thing. They help you visualize general geographic trends without the complexity of real-geography getting in the way of communicating a phenomenon.
0:00 Rapturous intro
0:23 Creating a hexagonal tessellation
0:57 Selecting state hexagons
1:22 Adding state name attribute
1:54 Fifty-one personal anecdotes...you should skip this
9:00 Joining data to the hexagons
9:47 Graduated symbols
11:18 Adding cool-looking lighting
13:27 New chickens join the Nelsons
Here's the hexagon layer: esriis-my.sharepoint.com/:u:/...
If you want to learn more about thematic mapping, using election data, with lots of cartogram examples, check out this book from my colleague Kenneth Field: www.amazon.com/Thematic-Mappi...
Check out some other social channels where I share how-to's and updates on random map adventures:
adventuresinmapping.com
www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/auth...
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[@theAllucard]

What I possibly enjoy even more than your tutorials and maps, are those shots of your garden at the end of your videos 😅

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

thanks! it's a lot of fun around here.

[@pratikshachalke66]

I did not skip the anecdotes as suggested, they were the best part along with the technique of cartogram. Just WOW. Thank you so much for making this tutorial!!!

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@aaronrodriquez6274]

Amazing as always John!!! Love the little anecdotes for each state!

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

thanks Aaron!

[@rubenv4668]

Awesome tutorial, as always.

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

thanks!

[@Geotechdev]

This tutorial was really really rich John. I liked and Enjoyed following up Thank you Sir.

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

Thanks!

[@Maxine_Lee]

Very nice, john! If I were doing this hexagonal cartogram, I would only use adobe illustrator. You showed me a different way of cartography!

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

I think most people would. But Once the hexagons are in place the data viz is very easy and has lots of options in a GIS.

[@peterhorgan3214]

Just created one that's applicable to my work looking at what percentage of each state is public land. So cool! I assume you did all the labeling in Pro?!

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

oh cool! i'd love to see that. yes, i did the labeling in Pro here, with some sneaky label placement settings and offsets.

[@peterhorgan3214]

Ha! I figured you did. Labeling in Pro is my kryptonite. I tried to export it into Illustrator as an AIX to play with the labeling there but it didn't seem to like the hexagons.

[@LinkZ10]

If the red roads in Minnesota are anything like SE South Dakota, it should be Sioux Quartzite. Big quarry in Sioux Falls, but it's relatively near the surface in that region

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

Ah thanks!

[@OliveDasi]

I've lived in Iowa before for a couple of years. Even I would have the same anecdote.

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

😂

[@flassito5724]

That looks really amazing, John. But how would you do that for countries where the shapes are … more oblong? Like the provinces (and territories) of Canada?

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

I would do it the same way.

[@mlsauron]

1:20 It is possible to set settings to save (project & the edits) automaticaly every n seconds/ steps made. Or by clicking ctrl (cmd) + S 1:51 You can left click somewhere on Fields and in contextual menu lies save button. A bit faster saving. 13:52 Do you name them?

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

ah yes, good tips, thanks you! the kids name them, i don't. i call them, "get!" and "scram!"

[@jeffathomp]

You clearly have never driven the Mancos in Northeast Utah. That part is not getting a National Park anytime soon.

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

i've been through there!

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

I'm not quite 4 minutes in and as a non-American my mind is exploding seeing Oklahoma to the left of Texas, Arizona not connected to California and New Mexico not connected to Texas... .. but I will keep watching to see what happens ;)

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

Wow... despite my misgivings, this turned out great! Well done. PS.. I have no idea why YT suggested this video to me, but I am glad that I watched :)

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

Oh, and as at the date of this video... the gas price in Sydney is U$6.06 a gallon

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

@@AlphaGeekgirl wow!

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

@@AlphaGeekgirl I’m glad you watched too! Thanks for stopping by!

[@JohnNelsonMaps]

That is the beautiful terrible mystery of the hexagonal cartogram.