There is no simple answer to this question. Mapping requires a distinctive skill set. (Our team is trained both as cartographers and in ArcGIS.) And it often requires working with a variety of file types—including shapefiles, Google Earth files, latitude & longitude data, vector & raster layers, zip code files, etc. These projects also often include scrubbing data, evaluating client data for accuracy (since some data can be out of date, etc.), and then analyzing a variety of options to determine the best mapping solution. Given all of these variables, setting timelines must be done on a project-by-project basis.
Absolutely! We actually end up doing very little transit mapping, narrowly defined. We also enjoy:
- Bike mapping, which includes bike routes, rest room locations, food stops and where you can safely park your bike
- Creating conservation walk maps, which are always a lot of fun for our team
- Designing accessibility maps for cities, towns, universities or healthcare campuses, so that children, people in wheelchairs and seniors can navigate the entire area with confidence
- Multi-use development mapping, which can include retail, housing and commercial buildings, alongside efforts to maintain the historical integrity of a community
We work with the client’s economic development and transportation department liaisons, and, when appropriate, we also will work with developers, traffic engineers or architects. If you get us involved at the early development stages, before any construction is started, we can work with all of these parties to contribute to your project more holistically.