Chapter 1
Chapter 1 introduced Web GIS and its growing role in fields like government, business, and education. I was struck by how flexible it is—whether data is stored online or locally, Web GIS brings together maps, scenes, tools, and apps in one system. The tutorials were helpful in showing how to create and organize items, add images to popups, and publish maps. With experience in ArcGIS Desktop, I found the interface intuitive, and Web GIS offers even more accessibility for sharing data widely.
Chapter 2
Chapter 2 focused on layers and smart mapping, which makes it easier to design maps that highlight patterns in data. I found the auto-style suggestions and data-driven visuals really useful. The chapter also covered ArcGIS Arcade, which reminded me of Excel formulas but for customizing popups in GIS. Story Maps stood out as a creative way to combine maps with text and media to give a clear picture for what may be going on in a given area.
Applications
An application for a dot density map could show the locations of pet stores in the area that sell dog food. Another idea is a heat map that highlights the number of dog owners in the region.