Map Design Specification Generator for GIS Cartography
Generate cartographic specifications and style guides for consistent, accessible GIS maps
What You Can Do
You can generate detailed cartographic specifications that standardize design decisions across your GIS projects. This skill produces complete style guides covering color schemes, symbology, typography, layer hierarchies, accessibility standards, and generalization rules—eliminating manual documentation and ensuring compliance with cartographic best practices and WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines.
Features
Example Output
Map Design Specification Output Example:
Color Palette – Land Use Classes
- Residential: #D4A574 (RGB 212, 165, 116) | Contrast ratio: 4.8:1
- Commercial: #C8B8D8 (RGB 200, 184, 216) | Colorblind-safe ✓
- Parks: #90EE90 (RGB 144, 238, 144) | Contrast ratio: 5.2:1
Symbology Rules
- Road classification: Highways = 2.5mm stroke, state routes = 1.5mm, local = 0.75mm
- Point markers: City = 8pt circle, town = 5pt circle, with 0.5pt black outline
Typography Standards
- Map title: Helvetica Neue Bold, 24pt, color #1a1a1a
- Region labels: Helvetica Neue Regular, 14pt, color #333333
- Source attribution: Helvetica Neue Regular, 8pt, color #666666
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file with cartographic specification framework:
- Cartographic Style Guide Template (color palettes, symbology, typography standards):
- Accessibility Compliance Checklist (WCAG 2.1 verification for maps):
- Generalization Rules Worksheet (feature simplification thresholds by scale):
- Color-Blind Safe Palette Library (pre-tested schemes for common map classifications):
Who It's For
- GIS Cartographers developing design specifications for map series and atlases
- Urban Planners creating consistent visualization standards across planning documents
- GIS Analysts preparing documentation for multi-person teams or client deliverables
- Government Agencies establishing organizational mapping standards and branding guidelines
- Publishing Teams preparing maps for print or web publication with strict style requirements
Best For
- Creating design specifications for map series consistency
- Developing accessibility-compliant cartographic standards
- Documenting symbology and classification schemes before GIS implementation
- Establishing color palettes and typography guidelines for organizational use
- Preparing comprehensive style guides for multi-team GIS projects
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