Month: February 2025

Chapter 1: Introducing ArcGIS

I found Chapter 1 to be really easy as it was just basic stuff that I have seen in other programs.  Chapter 1 focused on explaining the basics of the ArcGIS software along with explaining how to navigate maps.  Another thing that is shown in the tutorial for Chapter 1 is the introduction of feature classes and how they are displaced on the map and in the software itself and the way that it is ordered.  This chapter also looked into how to access the map and the various things you can do within.  Then bookmarks were discussed and how they are useful for zooming in and highlighting a specific area of a map so that you don’t have to spend time trying to find it again and is essentially like a shortcut.  Going back to the feature classes, this chapter also explains how to label them and how to symbolize them by going over how to rename and choose the symbol and other small details of a feature class.  I didn’t have any issues with tutorials 1-1 to 1-4 and overall found it to be very simple and fun.  I found the part where you have to change the colors to symbolize feature classes to be fun.

Chapter 2: Map Design

Chapter 2 was also really easy to go through.  This chapter further looked at symbolizing maps along with showing how to create other map types.  The first few sections of this Chapter focused on symbolizing maps, and gave an extensive look into labeling.  Labeling and symbolizing maps is super important because it allows for the map to be more accessible and easy to understand.  For labeling this chapter explained how to choose different categories for labeling depending on what you want to be displayed on the map.  For example in this chapter it explains how to choose zones for labeling the areas in the city which uses specific zoning codes which allows for easy readability for developers and planners and also makes the map look less cluttered and easier to follow.  The following sections of this chapter discussed choropleth maps and dot density maps along with how to display data using graduated and proportional point symbols; this is helpful on a 2D map as it allows you to see different attributes that are in a single layer.  Choropleth and dot density maps are both helpful as they visually provide information that you wouldn’t otherwise notice.  Overall I found this chapter to be easy to follow and I enjoyed labeling and changing the symbols for the various feature classes.

Chapter 3: Maps for End Users

I found chapter 3 to be easy to follow as well.  This chapter focused on ArcGIS online along with how to build map layouts and charts.  I found building the layout to be the easiest part as it reminded me of using Adobe programs with the guidelines and the overall distribution of where the maps and legends go.  Likewise creating the charts reminded me of using other Microsoft programs.  The third tutorial in this chapter focused on how to create a story which I assume is basically just a website but it was very interactive and easy to navigate through.  It was similar to a program I have used before called Notion with the text blocks and other elements that were available to be used for creating the story page.  The final part of this chapter was creating a dashboard.  This chapter focused on how to share files and this part also follows that by showing how to create a dashboard which according to the chapter “are visual displays of data feeds in an easy-to-understand format”.  Overall this chapter was fun and I enjoyed following the tutorials.

                                                                         

Chapter 1:

Apart from having some general issues with logging in the GIS interface is not that hard to use coming from someone who is not technologically inclined. Chapter 1 felt as basic of an intro as you could get introducing main concepts and vocabulary. I felt as if the tutorials were the perfect way to Synchronize what I was reading onto what I was doing I was not left with any questions in chapter 1 I feel confident in my skills from chapter 1.

Chapter 2:

Chapter 2 was significantly more in depth, however, made a great stepping stone from chapter 1 chapter 1 allowed me to familiarize myself with the interface, i.e. contents and catalog screens chapter 2 served as a steppingstone in allowing me to use the feature layer, labeling and data section. Creating labels for specific markers on the map and also allowed me to figure out how to change colors and label different features.

Chapter 3:

Chapter 3 was short, but overwhelming tutorial one took the maps that we’ve made and put them on a sheet of paper and made charts with them tutorial two and three were more abstract in the way that you were publishing and downloading maps which I struggled with for a little bit But the book is a good job at keeping you on track Tutorial for was creating a dashboard which was just as frustrating as tutorial two and three but I reason through.

Chapter 1

This chapter introduced the fundamentals of ArcGIS, focusing on changing basemaps, adding features, and understanding how to manage map layers. A major takeaway was the importance of selecting the right basemap to provide context for spatial data. As I progressed, I learned how to zoom, pan, and adjust layers to highlight key information while reducing unnecessary clutter. Accessing and working with the attribute table was especially useful, as it allowed me to filter and sort data efficiently, making it easier to identify patterns like areas with high population density. I also explored how to customize map symbols, adjusting colors, shapes, and labels to improve map clarity. The introduction of the 3D view was a highlight, as it provided a new way to visualize spatial relationships and added depth to the mapping process. While there were some challenges, such as software crashes and missing features, the overall experience helped me gain confidence in using ArcGIS for basic data visualization and organization.

Chapter 2

The second chapter expanded on symbology customization and refining how data is displayed on the map. I practiced adjusting colors, shapes, and symbols to better distinguish between data layers, which improved overall clarity. Learning how to configure labels and pop-ups made the maps more interactive by allowing users to see important details, such as names and statistics, when clicking on specific features. I also experimented with definition queries, which allowed me to filter and display only specific data that met certain conditions. This helped refine the map’s presentation and ensured that only the most relevant information was visible. Additionally, I explored different classification methods, such as quantile intervals and defined intervals, to better visualize data ranges. Importing and adjusting symbology for comparisons, like income levels versus population density, was another key skill I developed. Creating dot density maps helped me visually represent quantities more effectively, and learning how to control labels based on zoom levels ensured that the map remained uncluttered.

Chapter 3

This chapter introduced more advanced ArcGIS features, such as comparing maps on the same sheet, publishing maps, and creating dashboards. The ability to view and contrast multiple datasets side by side was particularly useful for identifying spatial patterns, like how population density relates to infrastructure distribution. Publishing maps was another key skill, as it allowed for sharing data with others while managing visibility settings. This is especially important when presenting projects or collaborating with teams. One of the most practical tools covered was creating dashboards, which provide interactive visualizations using charts, graphs, and maps. Dashboards make it easier to track real-time data and present findings in a clear and concise format. While I encountered some technical challenges, such as missing legends and occasional software errors, this chapter significantly improved my understanding of how to manage, analyze, and present geospatial data effectively. I now feel more confident in using ArcGIS tools and look forward to applying these skills in future projects.

Finally using the ArcGIS application simply could not be exaggerated as a breath of fresh air. Apart from a couple of instructions that didn’t work exactly as instructed, the process of getting through there first three chapters was a really fun and far more understandable than some of the reading from previous weeks. The first and biggest thing that surprised me when I first started using the app is how similar it is to other data organizing and creation software like Microsoft Word or Google Sheets.

Everything at first was obviously very confusing and overwhelming to look at, but as I progressed through the tutorial finding all of the different buttons and options quickly started to become natural to me. One of my favorite functions of the app in how easy it is to organize multiple pages of information in a very small space. The right tool bar area makes it super easy to organize all your different windows and conveniently stores them in a row on the bottom of your screen for easy selection between them. This made the few moments here and there where I was jumping from window to window trying to find the button I hadn’t heard of before a lot less stressful that it could have been by a long shot.

Some of the negatives that I’ve gathered from this so far have been the amount of options that there are. I can see it being very easy to completely confuse one tool for another or to find myself looking in the wrong properties tab for an option that’s really similar to another and in a similar looking window. However, I am excited to learn more as I think the more I use and understand the app that I will be able to accurately and efficiently differentiate between all of the different options you have at your disposal. One part that really did kinda confuse me and make me feel off track was some of the online stuff in the third chapter, it wasn’t super hard, just annoying having to navigate both the internet and ArcGIS. I hope the other half of this course feels more simple.

Chapter 1: I began by successfully signing into my account on ArcGIS in SCSC 207. Then, after downloading the necessary files, I was still unable to access the proper data in the program, so I began running an update to the ArcGIS software on the desktop. This took a significant amount of time so I then attempted to switch computers. I was in the lab for over an hour and could not manage to get the map to open properly or display any of the data. Eventually, I was able to get it to show up but, I am honestly unsure what we did that got the program to actually display the data. In the first tutorial I learned how the general program works, saving my project, and using a few different tools. The next tutorial taught me how to make a bookmark, zoom, change my layers, and select an attribute. In the third tutorial, I continued to use the attribute tables. I learned how to manipulate the data stored in these tables and change the view available within them. I also learned why manipulating this data may be useful in the context of census data. I did encounter an error message that I did not understand when trying to save my changes to the municipalities attribute table, but I do not think it will significantly impact the rest of the tutorial. I also learned how to find the summarized statistics for data used in my map. In the final module, I learned how to add more feature planes to my layers.

Chapter 2: The first tutorial helped me learn to change the colors of different areas in a map, in this case based on land use. The following tutorial gave me the skills necessary to label these areas and assign pop-ups within them with additional data. The third combined these to help me manipulate the symbols used for different types of assistance organizations and manipulate the map to better find these places in Manhattan. Unfortunately, I was unable to complete most of the fourth tutorial because there was an error with the tutorial data, and the file did not contain the neighborhoods data that was necessary to complete the work. I did read this tutorial so that I now understand more about how to create a 3D map in the program and how to manipulate the view of this map to get the proper visualization of the data. For the fifth tutorial it was really interesting to see how symbols can be used to better visualize and compare data within the map by comparing the food insecurity of the two groups overlaid as differently sized circles in their residential areas. Tutorial 6 was very interesting because I learned how to assign graduated colors to values in the program, and how to duplicate this on another data set and compare the two easily. Tutorial seven was helpful in understanding the dot density plots that were discussed in the reading section from last week because I hadn’t really read too much about or used that type of map before so it was really interesting to get to make one and look at how the data appears. For the 8th tutorial, the notes about labeling and zoom were helpful, however, I could not locate an “out beyond” button in the visibility range group which made it difficult to take all the necessary steps for this tutorial.

Chapter 3: In the first tutorial I am learning to make a layout using maps that were created in the GIS program. Unfortunately, I ran into an issue with the renaming of my layout so it is just called layout, but I will try again next time on the naming issue. Learning how to add the maps to the layout, resize them, and move them around is nice to know how to do when thinking about the practical uses for GIS knowledge and creating figures from data in the future to use in real life. It was also good to have the knowledge of creating a bar graph from the data and turning it into a graphic which will be useful in the future if/when I ever need to use data from GIS in a figure for research purposes. Unfortunately, due to the delays I had with my technically difficulties in getting started this week, this was as far as I was able to make it in the tutorials, I will begin with 3.2 next week and I intend to start earlier to accommodate for the extra workload I am putting on myself next week and to allow for anything else that may go wrong in the future.

BANTI GEOG WEEK 4

Chapter 1: 

In the first chapter, I learned how to navigate the ArcGIS Pro interface, open projects, and manage layers. Starting with ArcGIS Pro felt overwhelming. There are so many tools, menus, and options that it was easy to get lost. One of my biggest challenges was figuring out how to label a feature class. I spent way some time looking for the labeling tab. Once I found it, I realized that it will take a while to get used to the software. The large number of features makes ArcGIS Pro powerful, but it also means that mastering it takes time and patience. I also learned how important it is to organize layers effectively to avoid clutter, which makes the interface much easier to work with.

Tutorial 1.1

 

Chapter 2:

This chapter was both exciting and frustrating. Customizing map layers helped me appreciate how much control ArcGIS Pro gives over visualization, but I ran into a roadblock with the Remove Duplicate Labels function. Despite following the instructions carefully, I still saw duplicate labels. I tried adjusting label placement and checking layer properties, but the issue persisted. I suspect it might be related to overlapping features or multiple layers contributing to duplicate labels. This was frustrating as I spent extra time troubleshooting without finding a clear solution. I also learned that symbology can drastically change how data is interpreted—choosing the right colors and classifications makes a huge difference in readability.

 

Tutorial 2.4

 

Chapter 3

I found this chapter to be the hardest so far. Editing features required more precision and attention to detail than I expected. I had to redo several steps to get things right, as there were more details in the directions given. Comparing two maps on the same sheet was useful for spotting patterns, but I struggled with some of the alignment and formatting options. One of the most interesting parts was experimenting with dashboards. The ability to publish maps and adjust their visibility settings also made me think about how GIS can be used for collaboration and presentation. Consequently, I found this chapter very useful but also a bit more difficult compared to the previous chapters. 

 

Chapter 1: This chapter was like a basic “GIS for Dummies” intro. It introduced the main concepts and vocabulary, which was helpful. I learned the difference between a feature class (like a layer on a map, showing things like streets or buildings) and a raster dataset (images made up of pixels, like satellite photos). It’s the difference between drawing lines and coloring in squares, I think. The tutorials were pretty straightforward. Tutorial 1-1 was just about opening a project and messing around with the interface. Turning layers on and off, zooming in and out, that kind of thing. The book told me to add a basemap (the “Streets” one), then told me it was getting in the way, so I should remove it. I also played around with the order of the layers in the Contents pane. Tutorial 1-2 focused on navigating the map. Panning, zooming, using bookmarks (which are like saved views and are super useful). I even learned how to use the “Explore” tool to click on features and get info about them in a pop-up. I clicked on a random urgent care clinic and saw its address and website. Tutorial 1-3 got into attribute data – the information behind the map features. Every feature (like a point representing a clinic) has a table with details about it. I learned how to open the attribute table, sort the data, and even mess with the columns (like rearranging them). I also started to get a glimpse of how powerful this can be – you can search for specific features based on their attributes. Tutorial 1-4 was about symbolizing maps. I changed the FQHC clinics to green circles and made them a bit smaller.I also played with labeling, so that, the name of things appeared, the names of the municipalities.

Chapter 2: The main idea of this chapter is thematic maps – maps that focus on a specific topic or theme. Like, in Chapter 1, we were looking at the locations of health clinics relative to poverty areas. That’s a theme. The chapter stressed the importance of making the subject of your map (the “figure”) stand out, while the background information (the “ground”) should be less prominent. It’s about visual hierarchy. The tutorials were all about symbolizing different kinds of data. Tutorial 2-1 dealt with qualitative attributes – things like categories or types (e.g. land use types: residential, commercial, industrial). I learned how to use “unique values” symbology to give each land use type a different color. Tutorial 2-2 was about labels and pop-ups. I learned how to customize labels (font, size, color) and how to configure pop-ups to show specific information. Tutorials 2-4 and 2-5 were about mapping quantitative attributes – numbers. 2-4 was doing Choropleth maps that is how you use different shades of a color to represent different values (like population density). 2-5 did the same, but with dots. There were different ways to classify the data (like “quantiles” and “natural breaks”), I found this a bit confusing. The way the data is divided up can change how the map looks. 2-6 was about “normalizing” data. This is where it got a bit more mathematical. Basically, you’re adjusting the data to make it comparable. Like, instead of just showing the number of people in poverty, you might show the percentage of people in poverty. This is way more meaningful because areas have differing total number of people. Tutorial 2-7 was about dot density maps. It shows the number of people under 18 who are on food stamps in each neighborhood using dots. Tutorial 2-8 got me adding visibility ranges, I could make things appear and disappear based on how far you zoom in.

Chapter 3: This chapter was all about sharing maps. Tutorial 3-1 was about creating layouts. A layout is like a page where you can arrange your map, add a title, a legend, a scale bar, and other stuff. It’s like putting together a poster. I made a layout with two maps showing arts employment in different states. I also created a chart showing the number of arts jobs. Tutorial 3-2 was about sharing maps online using ArcGIS Online. This was pretty cool, and I already have some experience with this from GEOG 292. You can publish your maps so that other people can view them in a web browser. Tutorial 3-3 introduced ArcGIS StoryMaps, another thing introduced to me by GEOG 292. These are like interactive reports or presentations that combine maps with text, images, and videos. It’s a way to tell a story with your data. Tutorial 3-4 was about ArcGIS Dashboards. In them, you can see maps, charts, and other information all in one place. These would be useful for monitoring things that change quickly, like traffic or weather.

I’m starting to see how powerful GIS can be, but it’s also a bit overwhelming. There are so many tools and options! I feel I’m going to need to keep practicing, else I’m going to forget.

Chapter 1

I had a significant learning curve with Chapter 1. It took a bit to figure out the user interface on the desktop compared to the WebGIS that I grew accustomed to last semester. Some new terms arose as well as some old terms were rehashed. A feature class is a grouping of common features that are represented using the same symbols, points, lines, and shapes- making feature classes somewhat similar to a point of interest but in a broader sense. I believe that now I understand what a Raster dataset is- more so than before. Raster data is image data whereas vector data concerns points, lines, and polygons just like feature classes. In my early learnings of the desktop software, I kept managing to remove my map and the contents tab, but I found out that there is a way to reset the contents tab. Though, I had to leave without saving to get the map back at least once. A problem I encountered throughout chapter one alongside the other chapters was the use of terms that I was presumed to already know such as ribbons, groups, and bounding boxes. With that aside, I have acquired the ability to better navigate through maps and data via zooming in and out, zooming to full extent, and properly utilizing bookmarks. Additionally, I have gained experience using Structured Query Language to easily locate the names of specific features. Building upon the claims of the Mitchell reading, I was employing the GIS software to perform statistical analyses using sum, mean, standard deviation, etc. In all of the learning I have done thus far, the most engaging part was going through the symbology of the symbols for the various features. Though, I could not find any such “Dialogue Launch” or “Active Symbols” tab when manipulating the labels and symbols of features. 

Chapter 2 

For Chapter 2, everything began smoothly with coloring the different areas. After that step, I had a lot of trouble finding the label class group on the ribbon for the next section of the tutorial, so I chose to move on. Otherwise, I did not have any trouble with using the popups. Then, once again, I was manipulating symbols- which I enjoy doing very much. When I moved on to making the Choropleth map, I encountered a lot of troubles that hindered my ability to perform everything properly. For some reason, I had an error come up every time I attempted to apply any settings under symbology, so I was virtually unable to complete the task. Moving past that, the next section went smoothly. I renamed the layer, changed the symbology, and that was all. Then, I had another issue with changing the symbology in the Female Headed Household feature. I was unable to change the method in the symbology to “manual interval.” Then, I had a lot of trouble locating the feature layer tab, but, as I acclimate to the system, I should eventually have less trouble navigating and location the different groups and layers. Following my pattern, the next section ran much more smoothly. I was working with symbology, and everything was great. Then, I encountered yet another roadblock. I could not locate anything labelled “beyond” or “current” in the visibility range group. There were only numbers where I found anything associated with visibility range, so I moved on.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 was more geared towards my experience with WebGIS from last semester. By far, this chapter proceeded the most smoothly with no real issues inhibiting my ability to fully understand and complete the tutorials. For the first section, I transferred the maps to the sheet oriented for common viewership as well as creating the charts to understand and interpret the data of each map. After completing the sheet, I transferred the sheet and was reunited with my beloved WebGIS where I could set everything into precisely how it was meant to be. Then, I created the story map as I had many times before in 292. Next, I created the dashboard. I remember having trouble the last time I made a dashboard last semester, but this time went far better. With that said, when I made the table for the map, it ended up being on its own little separate section instead of being displayed with the map. I am unsure if that was intended, but it did not create any major discrepancies with showing all of the data in the finished product. At first, I thought the table I created disappeared into oblivion. Then, I found it in its own little area of the dashboard, so all was well. 

Chapter 1:

I found Chapter 1 to be relatively easy, but also a bit confusing as this was my first time using GIS software. I found it interesting that it chose Allegheny County out of everything as that is where I’m from.

 

Chapter 2:

My favorite part of chapter 2 was being able to change the colors of the different areas like water and parks. There were so many varieties of colors that could be chosen. Obviously, the book wanted us to use specific colors though.

 

Chapter 3:

I found this chapter a bit confusing. When I got to it, there were certain parts that I learned in chapters 1 or 2 where it expected me to remember what to do. It was fun making the different graphs and everything though,

Chapter 1:  The first chapter was all about showing me the ropes on the different settings of ArcGIS. I learned how to nagviate the ribbon and the contents plane which made everything else I had to find much easier.  I liked the each tutorial focused on one aspect of a map, and went in depth on not only how to create things, but also how to find new things and go back and change mistakes. I also liked that throughout chapter  1 the map stayed the same, I just worked on different parts of it. I found that ArcGIS was very easy to navigate, especially with the tutorial book because it was very easy to understand. At first I found it a little tenuous but then I realized that having me do the same steps so many times made everything easier in the long run because it became muscle memory. I really liked the section of each tutorial called “your turn” because it allowed me to see what I remembered and what I still needed more help with. Overall, chapter 1 was a good introduction to ArcGIS and gave me the necessary tools I needed to be able to move on to the next two chapters.

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Chapter 2: This chapter used the information I was taught previously and built off of it to explain new ideas and concepts. Most of what I learned in this chapter was about symbology. I picked colors and symbols, as well as labels and pop ups. I was unable to edit the symbology for “over age 60 using food stamps” despite my efforts to restart the computer, and troubleshoot. From looking at my peer’s posts, it seems I was not the only one who had this problem. I also couldn’t find a button called “out beyond” but I was able to still achieve making my popups appear and disappear through the visibility range> max/min> <current>. In the tutorials in this chapter I was able to learn how to separate my data by different categories and figure out how to label things differently based on what I wanted the readers to learn from my map. I also learned how to create a dot density map, and how to change the features so it looks the way you want. This chapter had a lot of information, but each tutorial took information from the last, which made it flow nicely and easy to understand.

PDF pic chap 2

Chapter 3: This chapter is the one I found the most interesting. I liked being able to go from my maps I had created to making a blog and importing data to a website. Seeing everything I had done so far come together was really cool. The first tutorial was long and had a lot of content to cover but it was also very helpful. Learning how to compare two maps was very helpful, as well as comparing thee data in both of them to see the relationship between them. This chapter caused me more problems than the others. I felt that I wasn’t always sure I was doing the right thing but being able to use the pictures in the book to compare was very helpful. I felt that creating and editing a dashboard was the most helpful thing I learned in this chapter because it allowed me to interact with real data, as well as upload and change things. Sharing my map and my blog was a cool first step into seeing how much can actually be learned through GIS. THis chapter gave me insight into how GIS is used in the real world and all of its different programs and uses.

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