Storybook – A New Tool for Geo-Storytelling

Geo-storytelling is the art of telling engaging stories through the use of maps. This method blends geography, data visualization, and traditional storytelling techniques to create a captivating and memorable experience for the audience.

Storybook is a powerful new tool for geo-storytelling that enables users to craft compelling narratives using maps. With this tool, you can construct a complete story, similar to a slide-based presentation, but in the format of a pre-edited video, bringing your narrative to life.

You can choose any format from short story-like sequences to dynamic presentations with or without briefings. This tool allows you to work seamlessly with spatially distributed data, switch between different datasets, and explain connections, logic, differences, and other characteristics in a visually intuitive manner.

It supports integration with satellite imagery, real-time data, zooming in and out, and displaying attribute information about objects, including photos and multimedia. Additionally, it allows for smooth transitions between map layers or the gradual introduction of elements, following the storyline's dramaturgy.

When Can Storybook Be Used?

The widget enables the creation of dynamic and informative narratives using maps. Here are some examples of its applications:

Scientific Research

Present research findings and key conclusions in a visually engaging way.

Industry Analysis

Showcase the development dynamics of an industry over a reporting period, highlight achievements, and compare results with previous data.

Cultural and Tourism Projects

Illustrate tourist routes with marked points of interest, accompanied by photos and detailed information. You can also indicate rest areas along the routes.

Marketing Strategies

Analyze and compare the location of existing or proposed activity points with surrounding infrastructure, traffic flow, proximity to residential areas, and competitor positions.

How to Add Storybook in GISCARTA

Step 1: Enable the Storybook Widget

To use the Storybook feature, you need to activate the widget. Navigate to the Widgets section in the side menu.

Switch on the Storybook widget by toggling the control.

Once activated, the widget will appear as a tab in the toolbar at the bottom of the map workspace.

Step 2: Configure the Widget

Click the Storybook tab (the widget icon in the toolbar) to open a pop-up window where you can add stories. Here’s how to create a story:

1. Zoom in on the object or area you want to highlight

2. Perform actions on the map, such as displaying layers or opening popup, to represent your story segment. Don’t forget to check “use layer settings” for saving not only the extent of a map

3. Click the Plus (+) icon in the pop-up window and give your story a name

Once saved, clicking the Go To button next to the story name will replay all the actions performed on the map prior to saving the story.

To add multiple stories, repeat the above steps. If you have more than one story, you can play them sequentially using the Play and Forward/Backward buttons in the widget window.

Layer Settings:
By default, only the map extent is saved as part of a story. However, if the Use Layer Settings checkbox is selected, the bookmark will also save layers visibility, opened popup, and some other active information windows.

Step 3: Customize Story Settings

After creating your stories, you can fine-tune their playback settings for better presentation. To do this:

1. Go to the Widgets section in the side menu

2. Locate the Storybook widget and click the three dots next to its name

3. Select the Settings tab

In the settings window, you can adjust the following parameters:

• Bookmark Transition Speed (seconds): The time allocated for switching between stories

• Animation Speed (seconds): The duration of each individual story

Examples of Using the Storybook Widget

Conclusion: Expanding Geo-Storytelling with Storybook

We have explored the functionality of the Storybook widget as a powerful tool for creating rich, dynamic geo-narratives. Whether for scientific research, tourism, marketing, or cultural projects, Storybook provides an engaging way to tell stories that resonate with your audience.

Now, you can easily create your own Storybook and share captivating geographic narratives with the world!