In Chapter 3, I learned about the ArcGIS Experience Builder, which lets you create custom web experiences with flexible layouts and interactive widgets. It’s really useful when a standard web app doesn’t meet your needs. The tutorials were helpful, but it took some time to get used to working in a web-based environment after using local software all semester. I liked how the Experience Builder can make GIS more accessible even for people with little experience.
Chapter 4 focuses on how mobile devices are becoming the main platform for Web GIS. I thought it was really interesting that GIS can even work on wearable devices like Apple Watches. I also liked how the chapter introduced different Esri mobile apps and explained them clearly. The idea of rapid data collection and the shift toward mobile GIS made me realize how important it is to access data quickly and easily, especially in the field.
One application would be a wildlife tracking app where users can log wildlife sightings (species, location, time, photo) directly from their mobile devices. Using Web GIS, the data could be mapped in real-time to help conservationists monitor animal populations, migration patterns, or even invasive species. The Experience Builder could make it easy for users to view maps, contribute data without needing coding experience, and even get alerts if they are near sensitive habitats. This would help connect everyday people to environmental research while building a large, useful dataset for scientists.