Chapter 4

This unit was more difficult as the instructions didn’t involve much detail, and I had to remember many procedures from previous chapters. In Tutorial 4-1, I created a new ArcGIS Pro project named “YouthPopulation” and connected external folders, allowing access to spatial data. Converting shapefiles to feature classes reinforced the importance of proper file organization. Tutorial 4-2 involved modifying attribute tables, deleting unnecessary columns, and renaming fields, but I accidentally skipped the “Your Turn” section, which required creating the Tract feature class. This mistake forced me to redo the tutorial, reinforcing the importance of completing all exercises. In Tutorial 4-3, the SQL syntax was challenging, but ArcGIS Pro’s query builder helped. Tutorial 4-4 introduced spatial joins to aggregate burglaries by neighborhood, emphasizing data organization. In Tutorial 4-5, I learned how to create central points from polygons using the “Feature to Point” tool and the “Calculate Geometry” tool to add coordinates. The distinction between centroids and central points was particularly useful. Tutorials 4-6 covered creating a code table for crime hierarchy codes and performing a one-to-many join for better data representation. Managing these joins and understanding the limitations of large datasets were key takeaways.  

Chapter 5

This chapter focused on projections, coordinate systems, and working with U.S. Census data, making it a more technical and detail-oriented unit.. Tutorial 5-2 highlighted the importance of selecting the correct coordinate system early on, as it impacts later analyses. Working with external geospatial data and understanding how different formats interact with ArcGIS Pro was a valuable experience,  the need for precision in GIS workflows was proved to me again from this chapter. By the end of the chapter, I had a stronger understanding of how projections influence spatial accuracy and how to effectively prepare datasets for mapping and analysis. This unit served as a great reminder of how foundational GIS concepts come together in practical applications.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 focused on geoprocessing techniques such as dissolving features, extracting and clipping study areas, and merging layers,  for mapping fire company zones in Manhattan. A key task involved using the Pairwise Dissolve tool to group fire companies into battalions. In the beginning, I didn’t understand what the point of this tool was, after using it and experimenting for a bit I got what it is about. Fire battalions were symbolized using graduated colors to represent population density. Using graduated colors gave useful information to the map, and the different densities are easy to tell apart with this feature. Labeling the fire battalions was the most challenging part, as it required working with label properties to ensure the names and numbers were displayed correctly without cluttering the map and making it hard to read. 

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 introduced digitizing techniques, focusing on editing, creating, and transforming polygon features in ArcGIS Pro. This unit involved various tools and methods to manipulate spatial data, such as modifying existing polygon features, adding new ones. One of the key things I learned was working with tools that enhance the visual representation of geographic features, along with spatial transformations. A particularly challenging part was figuring out how to use the Split tool effectively, as it required precision in dividing features correctly while maintaining the integrity of the dataset. Unlike previous chapters, this unit required a more direct interaction with the features rather than simply applying geoprocessing tools. The experience was engaging and I liked it.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 introduced geocoding, which focused on converting addresses and zip codes into mappable points, making it one of the more practical and engaging topics so far. This unit involved working with both zip codes and street addresses to analyze spatial data, which was interesting because it showed how location-based information can be transformed into meaningful insights. I found the process of matching addresses to locations straightforward, especially after getting used to ArcGIS Pro’s handling of data inconsistencies. Unlike previous chapters, nothing in this unit felt overwhelmingly difficult—I’ve started to adjust to the workflow and feel more comfortable navigating the tools. The matching techniques for improving address accuracy were particularly useful, and it was satisfying to see how geocoding could be applied to real-world scenarios, like analyzing event attendance based on survey data. Overall, this chapter reinforced how GIS can make spatial data more practical and accessible, and it felt like a natural progression in applying everything I’ve learned so far.

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 4:

This chapter talked about file geodatabases (FGDBs), which allow a large storage capacity and better performance in ArcGIS Pro. Before I read this chapter, I hadn’t fully understood the importance of FDGBs. Coming from a Biology background (before I changed my major to Computer Science), I initially thought of spatial data like large Excel datasets. Here spatial databases have geographic features, which makes them more complex than a simple table. Some cool things that I learned were that FGDBs allow fast queries and spatial relationships. This reminds me of databases in bioinformatics. In addition, I learned that FGDBs store multiple layers efficiently. Before, I thought shapefiles were enough. I now understand how limited FGDBs can be. They allow better organization, which makes them much needed for GIS. If I see a .gdb folder I now know that it means that it holds many classes, raster datasets, and tables. This chapter provided us with hands-on tutorials, showing us how to create geodatabases and how to import shapefiles. One of the tutorials showed us how to collect spatial data, like when it summarized crime incidents by neighborhood. As a Data Analytics major, I found it interesting how similar GIS queries are to data analysis tasks that I have done in Excel. This tool seemed more powerful, as you can filter data based on more stuff. Python is very valuable for ArcGIS and I would love to explore its use more. Some questions that were raised was if FGDBs have limits for large environmental datasets. Another question that I had was how can Python automate file geodatabase tasks in ArcGIS.

 

Chapter 5:

 

Before starting to learn GIS, I never thought about how maps can reveal hidden patterns. After reading this chapter I now get their importance and how powerful tools they are. This chapter talks about mapping an area. This is necessary as we can understand what is going on inside the mapped area. For example, where the highest crimes happen in a city, or which hospitals are within 5 miles of schools, etc. Instead of looking at raw data tables– which can be overwhelming most of the time- GIS successfully condenses and summarizes this data. I was familiar with latitude and longitude, but I had now idea about map projections and coordinate systems. I feel like I am learning a new language when I try to understand spatial data. I understood how easily things can go wrong if I don’t choose the right projection. I finally understood why some maps deform distances. Another interesting thing I learned was vector and raster data. I related raster data to a microscope image, as there are grids and pixels that have different intensities. From the tutorial, I saw that if I choose the wrong coordinate system the datasets will be completely misaligned, and that would ruin the analysis. As someone who hated high school geometry, I never thought that I would enjoy working with coordinate systems. The real-world applications made me appreciate GIS even more, as it showed me how important it can be for making decisions. I also learned that spatial data interoperability is how different data get to work together. Some questions I have are how does datum transformation affect GIS precision?

 

Chapter 6:

 

This chapter showed us that knowing what is near you is important for making decisions. Whether it’s finding the closest hospital or analyzing wildfire risks. GIS plays a fundamental role in spatial decision-making. I really liked how practical this chapter was. Geoprocessing tools allow you to repeat and automate GIS workflows without having to click through the menu. Some key takeaways from this chapter were the dissolving features, like merging school districts into larger administrative regions, clipping data, and merging datasets. The last one is essential when we have to deal with large environmental datasets. Lastly, spatial intersections, which for me was mind blowing. I liked how you can overlay two datasets and extract the affected area. What really stood out to me was geoprocessing. It is used by emergency services to assign fire stations to fire zones while making sure that the response times are the desired ones.  In addition, straight-line distances are the shortest way possible between two locations. It can be simple, but can also be considered unrealistic because there are a lot of factors that should be taken into consideration, like how people are actually driving, sidewalks, crosswalks, etc. GIS isn’t just about mapping, it is about solving real-world problems. A question that I had was how geoprocessing scales with large data sets, like would it slow down?  Another one was how GIS combines road issues and other things that must be taken into account in order to calculate and analyze locations more accurately. This chapter made me think about how much GIS impacts our everyday life without even knowing it. From finding what is the fastest way to go somewhere, to emergency responses. A final thought that I had when finishing this chapter reading was that I felt more confident about ArcGIS Pro. In the beginning, I struggled with what GIS is and what is its use, but now I am getting it

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 introduces us to the capabilities of ArcGIS Pro. The chapter focuses on describing the ArcGIS Pro interface effectively in order for us to understand what it is like to work with spatial data and analyze maps. It introduced a couple of definitions we must know, such as feature classes, rasters, file geodatabases, and projects, as well as a couple of tutorials for the ArcGIS Pro.  The file geodatabases clicked for me as a “home” for all my spatial data. It’s great knowing there’s a system to keep everything organized when working on complex projects. The step-by-step tutorials simplify the whole process for someone who is a beginner. This chapter does a great job introducing beginners to a technology like GIS and at the same time, it gives us the opportunity to practice. In addition, the examples that were used, such as the analysis of healthcare access in underdeveloped areas, make the content more relatable to the audience. One of the things that I found interesting in this chapter is the 2D and 3D maps. When we analyze something on a 2D map we have less information compared to a 3D map.  I had no idea that satellite images could be integrated into maps so easily, but learning that rasters are made of tiny pixels was fascinating. One question that came to mind when reading this chapter was what other fields could use these GIS techniques and help them develop. Reading about poverty risk areas and healthcare access reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend who works in public health. She once mentioned how hard it is to realize which communities communities are underserved without the right tools. This chapter, however, showed me that GIS could be that tool. I’m excited to move into the next chapters and learn how to create maps from scratch. I also want to explore 3D mapping more.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 got me thinking about the science behind map design. The data needs to be carefully crafted onto the map. This chapter talked about thematic maps. I realized that these maps are around me during my everyday life without realizing it. I learned about how to balance the figure and the ground of a map and how to make it stand out. It made me realize how much thought goes into the maps that we often don’t realize. In addition, it was the first time I heard the word choropleth, however, I had seen these types of maps before. It is amazing how the same dataset can look so much different by dividing the data differently. There was one part that I found tricky and that was the definition queries, as it reminded me of coding. I realized that designing a map is a big responsibility because the choices that the creator makes will shape how people will view this data. This chapter made me realize how maps can be creative and technical at the same time. Also, I especially liked the vivid colors. It’s so satisfying to see the patterns that are created as the shades darken or lighten and how bright colors make the subject stand out. One thing that I liked too was labeling, as there is so much detail involved and it makes so much difference for the map. I’m looking forward to experimenting more with the tools in ArcGIS Pro. I want to get better at finding the balance between complexity and clarity, which is something that this chapter emphasizes a lot.  I’m excited to try creating more choropleth maps with different data to see how they compare. I also want to revisit 3D mapping and push myself to learn how to make it more intuitive.

 

Chapter 3

 

Chapter 3 was all about making maps usable and impactful for end users, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for how maps go from a tool for analysis to something you can share with others. This chapter connected with the previous chapters and consequently, the previous chapters made more sense. I hadn’t realized how all the elements that are needed to make a map come together and create this clean layout. Building layouts and charts was very interesting to me. Specifically learning how to build layouts made me feel like I was putting the last touches on something that I was going to publish after. ArcGIS makes it really easy to share maps online and that is something really important for someone like me who has no experience with things like that. I had heard about StoryMaps but I didn’t know much about them. I learned that they combine images, texts, and videos and that made me think about how can I use this for the projects that I have for school. I found it a bit overwhelming to figure out the best placements for all the elements in a layout. I was wondering how will I know if there is too much clutter etc. I loved the concept of online sharing but I am curious about how much control I can have after I publish the map. In general, I was wondering how much detail is too much or too little. What stood out to me in this chapter was how much thought I should put when making maps and how much detail is needed. Designing a map is a skill that I should develop but I think that following the instructions and tutorials in the book will make the process easier. I want to try publishing maps to ArcGIS Online in the future, so I am excited to see what I will learn next.

 

GEOG291 Introduction

 

Hello! My name is Panagiota Banti but people call me Naya! I am an international student from Greece and I am double majoring in Computer Science and Data Analytics. My favorite food is sushi and I love going to the gym and hanging out with my friends. On campus, I am also a cheerleader and part of the Computer Science and Programming Club.

 

To begin with I don’t have any knowledge about GIS. This passage helped me understand a lot about GIS from its history to questions a tool like this might raise. The passage successfully explained the history of GIS and how it evolved to become an important tool in many different fields. GIS is used for mapping and not only. It analyzes cities, social trends, health patterns, and environmental issues. However, there are some issues concerning society that haven’t been discussed thoroughly. 

This type of technology has many uses but it raises the question of what its true purpose is because it is used in different ways across various fields. GIS can be said that is shaped by a combination of social and academic ideas and its data is used to help with important decision-making. Therefore, we understandand analyze the world around us and GIS plays a fundamental role in our everyday lives without knowing it. I was fascinated by how many uses GIS has that we didn’t know of. I thought that GIS is solely used for environmental or geographical reasons and therefore, learning about all its uses is something that surprised me.

 

Something that I found interesting is the privacy concerns GIS raises data privacy and centralization of powerbecause GIS can track everything and keep private information. Even more concerning is the fact that there is no privacy safeguards for this issue. 

Another interesting thing that I didnt know about is that GIS is something that younger people know already when coming to college and that shows again how important this tool is starting to be in our everyday lives, and the same goes in academia. There are still challenges in collecting and organizing data from GIS but this issue seems to be in progress. 

 

GIS Applications

 

1. Contaminated sites 

GIS applications in contaminated sites are essential for, monitoring, and managing environmental contamination. Hazardous materials such as heavy metals, chemicals, radioactive substances. The research I found was how GIS protected people from contaminated water. 

https://mcwec.org/2023/11/using-gis-technology-to-protect-people-from-contaminated-water-part-1/

1. Crime 

GIS helps law enforcement agencies make data-driven decisions by giving them visual representations of crime trends which makes it possible for them to recognize patterns, distribute resources effectively, and create focused treatments.

https://crimetechweekly.com/2015/10/20/what-is-geospatial-crime-mapping/