Introduction
My name is Andrea Pichardo, and I am a senior Environmental Science major at Ohio Wesleyan University. I have experience working with GIS and spatial data through my coursework and a summer internship. I’m interested in learning more about how GIS can be used to better understand environmental issues, especially land-use change, conservation, and natural resource management.
Exploring My Esri Account
While exploring my ArcGIS Online account, I noticed that Esri offers several resources to help users improve their skills and find answers when they run into problems. The Training section provides courses on different GIS topics, while the Help and Community sections offer support and information from other users. I think these resources are useful because there is always something new to learn when working with GIS.
What Is ArcGIS Online?
ArcGIS Online is a web-based GIS platform that allows users to create, manage, analyze, and share geographic information. One thing I found useful is that maps can be shared with other people without everyone needing to use desktop GIS software. I also learned that content can be shared privately, with an organization or group, or publicly, depending on who needs access to it.
ArcGIS Online Basics Training
The ArcGIS Online Basics course covered different ways to work with and share geographic data. One thing I learned was the difference between basemap layers and operational layers. Basemaps provide background information and geographic context, while operational layers contain the data being displayed or analyzed.
I also learned more about the different ways geographic information can be presented in ArcGIS Online. Web maps are useful for displaying and exploring spatial data, while web scenes allow users to visualize information in three dimensions. Apps can also make maps more interactive and easier for people to use.
Esri Training Courses of Interest
Two Esri courses that interest me are ArcGIS Online: Creating and Styling a Map and ArcGIS Online: Performing Analysis. Since I have some previous GIS experience, I would like to build on my existing skills and learn more about creating effective web maps and analyzing geographic data. I think both courses would be useful for environmental projects involving land-use change, conservation, and natural resource management.
GIS Applications
- Watershed Mapping and Hydrology
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GIS can be used to map streams, identify watershed boundaries, and study drainage patterns. These maps help environmental scientists understand how water moves across a landscape. This information can be useful for water resource management, studying runoff, and identifying areas that may be vulnerable to flooding. GIS tools can also use elevation data to determine how water flows through an area and identify the boundaries of a watershed.
Source: Esri, Hydrologic Analysis Sample Applications.
- Deforestation Monitoring
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Another application of GIS is monitoring deforestation. By comparing satellite imagery and forest-cover data from different years, researchers can identify where forests have been lost and how land cover has changed. This information can help scientists understand the effects of human activities on ecosystems and support conservation planning. Global Forest Watch is an example of a resource that uses interactive maps and satellite data to help users monitor forest change around the world.
Source: Global Forest Watch, Interactive Forest Monitoring Map.
Conclusion
Overall, this week’s activities helped me review the capabilities of ArcGIS Online and explore how it can be used to share geographic information. Since I already have some GIS experience, I am interested in learning more about the platform’s online tools and how they can be applied to environmental research and real-world projects.