This week, I read chapters 1 and 2!
Chapter 1: The beginning of this chapter talks about the multitude of applications WebGIS has. One that really stuck out to me was when the book talked about the global outreach of WebGIS; this is because sharing information is so important, and allowing these maps to be shared globally can have so many different advantages. This chapter also talked about “The Science of Where” and how it has two definitions: one meaning is that GIS is itself a science, as the scientific basis for GIS technology, and the other meaning is that GIS has been used for science as an effective tool for making scientific discoveries. This chapter also talks about the many different groups that can use WebGIS and how each of them could use it, like the Government and just people in their daily lives. This chapter also talks about how WebGIS is opening up a new “gateway” for GIS as it allows for organized, secure, and facilitated access to geographic information products. Also, how GIS servers allow you to create maps and ready-to-use content, such as ArcGIS, which provides tens of thousands of data layers and maps. And finally, how users can search, discover, and use the layers, maps, and apps on desktops, in web browsers, and on mobile devices anywhere, anytime. GIS is an ever evolving field, and by increasing the access people have to GIS programs, more people can familiarize themselves with this amazing application
Chapter 2: The start of this chapter talks about feature layers: the most common type of operational layers. There are a few different types of hosted layers as well. A hosted layer is just the data that has been populated and saved to WedGIS. The types are: hosted feature layers, hosted web service layers, hosted tile layers, hosted vector tile layers, hosted web map tile service layers, hosted scene layers, hosted image layers, and hosted map image layers. Each one of those hosted layers holds different information about your map layers. WebGIS also introduces us to a thing called “Smart Mapping.” Smart mapping enables us to visually analyze, create, and share professional-quality maps easily and quickly with minimal cartographic or software skills. Smart mapping uses intelligent defaults, data-driven visualizations, and innovative workflows. It delivers continuous color ramps and proportional symbols, improved categorical mapping, heat maps, and new ways to use transparency effects to show additional details about your data through a streamlined and updated user interface. Unlike traditional software defaults that are the same every time, smart mapping analyzes your data quickly in many ways, suggesting the right defaults when you add layers and change symbolizing fields. This smart mapping technology can make mapping easier for every user, especially those who did not take GOEG 291 and have to deal with making all those maps from nothing.Â
With what was talked about within these 2 chapters, one could map the continuous timeline of buildings on Ohio Wesleyan’s campus. I think that would be a super cool thing to look at and see the addition/destruction of buildings throughout this campus’s history.