Thanks. I am going to try to get my AI fundamentals in place this weekend and, time permitting, go through this: <iframe width='560' height='315' src='https://www.lynda.com/player/embed/736533?fs=3&w=560&h=315&ps=paused&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=embed+video&utm_campaign=ldc-website&utm_content=vid-736533' mozallowfullscreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' allowfullscreen='true' frameborder='0'></iframe><div style="margin-bottom:10px"><strong><a href="https://www.lynda.com/Illustrator-tutorials/Drawing-Simplified-Maps-Illustrator/667365-2.html" title="Learn how to create a simple, easy-to-read map in Illustrator, and enhance it with motion and interactivity.">Drawing Simplified Maps in Illustrator</a></strong> by <a href="https://www.lynda.com/author/2980818">Tony Harmer</a></div>
I have drawn one map with AI sort of learning by doing. It is not as pretty as it should be.
As I have been thinking about this, it has occurred to me that map making is kind of a specialty thing that does not have a lot to do with measuring. Seems to me that a measurer should be able to provide enough information to a mapmaker to get a solid first effort. A couple of iterations later you've got a best in class map in a fraction of the time that the measurer would take. Do you know if anything like this has ever been tried? Subcontracting the map making that is?
My experience with Adobe (Premiere and PhotoShop) is that you have to use it often to maintain your skills and maybe even basic competence. Seems that a lot of measurers do less than 10 courses per year. Unless they are using their chosen software for something else, their skills will likely suffer.
I'll PM you on where I stand next week. I actually enjoy fooling around with programs like AI.