Chapter 1
Chapter 1 introduced some of the commonly used tools for representing data in GIS. Symbology is used to represent specific layers or areas on a map and helps make different features easier to identify. In this chapter, I learned how to change the type of symbol used to represent different features on a map. I also learned how to label features such as cities, parks, healthcare centers, and other locations. These tools helped me better understand how data can be organized and displayed in a way that makes a map easier to read and understand. Map features can be sorted by their attributes, making it easier to find specific types of data. When locations are deselected, GIS removes the symbol for that location from the map. This allows map viewers to save time by using the attribute table to quickly find and select specific data.
Chapter 2
In this chapter, I learned different ways to manage large amounts of data efficiently and organize it more effectively on a map. I learned how to use definition queries and apply SQL logic to create specific filters that target certain points of data. This showed me that GIS can be used to analyze not only entire populations but also specific age groups or other characteristics within a population. One example I practiced was creating a filter to identify people over the age of 60 who receive food stamps. I then limited the layers on the map so that this specific data appeared as the top layer. This helped me better understand how GIS can focus on specific groups within larger datasets and display information clearly and organizedly.
Chapter 3
Chapter three provides a fundamental skill for GIS work. This chapter focuses on specific layouts for distributing and publishing maps. I learned how to add map data to a web map form and create legends with specific data points. This allowed me to take a copy of an interactive map and copy it to ArcGIS StoryMaps. StoryMaps is software that reminded me of making a website because of the elements that could be added and the different templates I could work with.
