Topographic Map

I made a topographic map that is 14" x 14" x 2" by layering 8 12" x 12" x 1/8" pieces of wood and glueing a 2" x 1" x 14" frame around it.

Here is the spreadsheet I made for the materials necessary to complete the project.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/113mW45TXQ2KTe4wxHPuhRjJ8-F6wu94_MesqFK1xOR8/edit?usp=sharing

1. Find an area that you would like to make a topographic map of
2. Go on Google Maps and take a snapshot of that place
3. Go on Google and find a satellite image of the depths or heights of the area
4. Import both to CorelDraw
5. Make a 12x12 square (or however big your map will be)
6. Have your Google Map made to fit the 12x12 square
7. Then use the quicktrace tool or the pen tool to create your first layer (I prefer the pen tool)
8. Add all the personal detail you would like
9. Group the layer after it is finished being created
10. Then bring over the satellite image showing heights and depths 
11. Repeat steps 5 and 7 on top of the first layer so you do not accidentally overlap or miss-size a layer
12. Move the first layer to the size and group the second layer
13. Repeat this process until you have the amount of layers you want
14. Then you are ready to cut your layers!

When testing, the only problem I ran into was the detailed pieces on my top layer being lost because the pieces shifted while removing the board. The way I fixed this was by putting a piece of acrylic under my top layer while cutting it and putting blue tape on the top, so when I picked it up, everything stayed in place. Otherwise the process was not too difficult. I first cut it out of cardboard to make sure everything came out alright.

While putting this all together follow these steps

1. Place paper or some form of disposable material under the wood so you can paint it
2. When painting, take it layer by layer, covering the area that will not be covered by the next layer, and make sure you paint the edge because it will give it a much more professional look at the end. 
3. After the paint has dried, cover the spots that will not show in the next layer with wood glue, make sure to line up all four corners (maybe use a 90 degree measuring tool to help), and clamp the wood down to counteract any warping in the wood.
4. Repeat for all the layers and if you have a high detail final layer like me follow these steps
5. tape the top layer completely
6. flip it over
7.  take out all the pieces that will not be glued down
8. Put glue on all pieces that are staying in
9. Flip it over and line up the corners
10. Clamp the big pieces that may have warping
11. Then wait for it all to dry

This was my first time ever making a frame. Dr.Taylor (my engineering teacher) guided me and here is what I picked up on. My frame was two inches tall, an inch wide, and fourteen inches long. I took a long piece of wood from Lowes and cut it to these dimensions using the table saw. Then, I marked an inch off at both of the four pieces I had and used a 45 degree angle board on the table saw to get a nice 45 degree connection point. After making all my cuts, I had about an 1/16th of an inch gap which I fixed by taking the frame piece by piece, cutting it slightly more and making more adjustments. Then I hand put the frame around the map and glued the corners and any place that touched the map and used a frame clamp around it to help hold the corners tight. The process was not difficult, just time consuming and patience is needed.

Making a second one I learned a few things that made the process easier and much more professional looking. I took navy and white paint from Walmart both times and I found painting the layers all at one time was easier, and I used a cap full of the navy paint and started at the bottom layer with that and added white to the cap everytime I went up a layer to get contrast. As I mentioned before, painting the edge was very helpful at making a more professional looking finish. Making a frame a second time I made the frame an inch and a half high to make more of a contrast in the depth which I think looked better but others may think otherwise. Other than those two things the process was the same.

I was scrolling through Instagram and found a user called Pangea Maps and looked into their profile and website and found what I wanted to do for my final project. 

https://www.pangeamaps.com/