• Ph.D., Geography, Pennsylvania State University
• M.S., Geography, Pennsylvania State University
• B.S., Honors Cartography and GIS

Professor Prestby is a geographer with a specialization in cartography and geographic information science (GIS). Prestby’s affinity towards mapmaking comes from the endless applications of maps and GIS. Virtually every domain — governance, commerce, security, public health, and more — have inherently spatial processes. Maps and GIS are powerful tools that can help institutions and individuals respond to, and ideally to predict, change in numerous contexts.

Prestby seeks to maximize the good that maps can do in society by studying the interplay between psychology and design to understand how people can make sense of geographic information. More specifically, his research centers on interactive map design, data storytelling, and trust in maps. He has focused this work on media studies and environmental science domains. Prestby’s current research bridges his work on trust with his passion for enhancing the user experience of interactive mapping tools.

Prestby also established the JMU Map Lab in 2025 with the vision of engaging students in real-world mapping projects that respond to the needs of Harrisonburg, the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.

• Cartography
• GIS
• Interactive Maps
• Data Visualization
• Visual Storytelling
• Trust

• GEOG 215: Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Cartography
• GEOG 366: Intermediate Geographic Information Science

• Prestby, T.J. (2024). Measuring Trust in Maps: development and evaluation of the MAPTRUST scale. International Journal of Geographic Information Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/13658816.2024.2370076
• Prestby, T.J. (2023). Trust in maps: what we know and need to know. Cartography and Geographic Information Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230406.2023.2281306
• Prestby, T.J., Robinson, A.C., McLaughlin, D., Dudas, P.M., & Grozinger, C.M. (2023). Characterizing user needs for Beescape: A spatial decision support tool focused on pollinator health. Journal of Environmental Management, 325, 116416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116416
• Hart, D.A., Prestby, T., & Roth, R.E. (2022). Design and Evaluation of Coastal Web Atlases: Best Practices and Future Opportunities for Map Representation, Interaction, and Usability. Coastal Management, 50(6), 514-548. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2022.2126271
• Prestby, T. (2022). Design Techniques for COVID-19 Story Maps: A Quantitative Content Analysis. Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230406.2022.2102077
• Prestby, T., App, J., Kang, Y., & Gao, S. (2020). Understanding neighborhood isolation through spatial interaction network analysis using location big data. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 52(6), 1027-1031. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X19891911

• GitHub
• Google Scholar