Chapter 1: Web GIS allows users to share geographic information with anyone. It is also low-cost, easy to use and maintain. It has many uses, such as data management, analytics, and supporting decision-making. Each user can create and join groups, share content, and include specific metadata to help further their content reach. Data is published to web layers, which are added to web maps and scenes, which, along with tools, are used in apps. Types of data include CSV, shapefiles, and JavaScript. There are also a multitude of layer types: feature layers, vector tiles, image layers, and OGC standard layers. Web maps are 2D and scenes are 3D. They can have multiple layers. Tools perform the analytical tasks, such as geocoding and summarizing data. Apps are the map-centric programs that can be used on all devices. ArcGIS Pro is an app. There are multiple types of users: viewer, storyteller, editor, and creator. Each map is composed of basemap layers and operational layers. Basemaps provide map context, and operational layers are layers you can interact with. Feature layers are the most common type of operational layers. Feature layers have vector data and can be hosted or non-hosted. Hosted data is directly from ArcGIS. Non-hosted data is from the user. When completing the tutorial, I had a bit of trouble finding certain features because the instructions didn’t exactly match up with what I saw on my computer, but after a little bit, I was able to easily find everything. I really enjoyed being able to do this on my personal computer, and the tutorial was very helpful in using ArcGIS online for the first time.
Chapter 2: ArcGIS smart-mapping allows you to change the style of a map so it can support your message. The map styles are heat map, color and size, compare A to B, relationship, dot density, predominant, type and size, continuous timeline, and vector field. A pop-up shows geographic information and defaults to a list of attributes and values. You can format the pop-ups to be in the style that you want. ArcGIS Arcade allows you to alter data when you don’t have access to do so. It is a language written for ArcGIS to style, label, and add values to pop-ups. For example, to calculate the weekday of the crime events, you type “Weekday($feature.Reported_Date_Time)”. It is similar to Excel formulas. ArcGIS Living Atlas provides content for operational and basemap layers and has thousands of options. Stories have maps, a narrative, and multimedia (who, what, where, when, and why). In the StoryMaps Builder, there are blocks and the block palette. A block is a component in your story, such as text, image, or a sidecar. The block palette combines all blocks into a menu so you can add any block to your story. A sidecar creates a side-by-side reading experience. A slideshow block uses horizontal scrolling and allows your content to fill the screen. A map tour block allows you to create a guide of locations. A swipe block allows you to compare two maps. A timeline block creates a series of events. Express maps allow you to quickly create reference maps on which you can draw features. The tutorial was a little longer, but the result was really cool. I like the swipe map.
Application idea: I could use chapters one and two to create a story map that talks about soil attributes and how they differ on hills and near water sources. The story map would include a map with the location, texture, and elevation.