*I reviewed the course syllabus and schedule to complete the GEOG 292 Quiz. I also have access to an OWU ArcGIS Online account from GEOG 291.*
Hello! My name is Emma Dahlstrom and I am from Lexington, Kentucky. I am a sophomore this year at Ohio Wesleyan University. Currently, I am a declared Environmental Science Major and intend on eventually double majoring in zoology. Although I do not know exactly what I would like to pursue after school, I have always been interested in working in the field of conservation. I am taking GEOG 292 because I am interested in learning more about GIS after taking GEOG 291. Outside of my classes, I am on the university’s softball team and a member of Women In Stem.
Comments On ArcGIS Online:
- If I ever get stuck when mapping with ArcGIS Online, the training tab would be a good place for a refresher on the basic map making skills of the program. The training tab includes a variety of web courses and even has an area where you can request to talk with a training expert to answer any questions you might have.
- The help tab will also be useful for any of my ArcGIS Online needs. It allows you to look up a variety of things dealing with GIS and can filter the results that will be most beneficial to you. I feel like it serves as a search engine that covers all the different tabs available in my account.
Comments on Get Started: What is ArcGIS Online:
- ArcGIS Online has everything you need to create web maps, 3D web scenes, web apps, and notebooks. 3D web scenes allow you to visualize and analyze scenes that present geographical information in an interactive 3D environment. Web apps help you interact with maps and data in your organization. Web notebooks are the place for data analysis. Through notebooks, you can perform an analysis, automate workflows, and immediately visualize data and analysis results in geographic context.
- In the working with maps section, the article introduces us to a variety of basic navigation tools and components of the different possible map characteristics. This included the basic tutorial of how to use the map viewer, a legend, pop-ups, time maps, floor-aware maps, directions, measurements, and locations.
Comments Web Course:
- ArcGIS Online uses the software-as-a-service (SAAS) model. The SAAS model allows users to connect to and use cloud-based apps, like ArcGIS Online, over the internet.
- I learned a lot about the sharing aspects of ArcGIS Online from this tutorial. The different methods of sharing include private, group, organization, and public. I also learned about which method of sharing is best for different situations.
Interesting Online Trainings: Visualizing Data Using Charts in ArcGIS Pro, Forest-Based Classification and Regression Analysis Using ArcGIS Pro
Application 1
This application identifies areas of habitat stability and priority conservation zones for butterflies. Since the diversity of butterfly communities and their interactions with plants are highly sensitive to environmental change, human activity has caused a drastic decline in many species of butterflies. This is harmful to ecosystem health because without their presence, many plants would not be pollinated. To address this issue, researchers used GIS to map priority zones of habitat conservation for butterflies. This map shows the distribution of suitable habitat areas from 2021 to 2040.
Zhang, Xiaoli, et al. “Spatiotemporal Prediction of Ideal Butterfly Habitats in Kun‐Ming’s Urban Green Areas: Enabled by Maxent and ArcGIS.” Ecology and Evolution [HOBOKEN], vol. 15, no. 10, no. 72300, Oct. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72300.
Application 2
This application evaluated manatee sightings and mortalities with the intention of changing the Manatee Protection Plan to better suit their movement patterns. In the area of this study, manatee mortality from boating incidents were not declining and the restrictions set to protect them were not being followed. To address this issue, the researchers used GIS to compare manatee trends in relation to vessel traffic. From this map, they concluded that the manatees were being harmed by both non compliant speeding vessels and high traffic. This allowed them to make revisions to the Manatee Protection Plan to better serve the manatees and the people living in the area.
Agosto, Ines. “Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate manatee protection and management in Miami Dade County.” Miami, 1 Apr. 2019, scholarship.miami.edu/esploro/outputs/report/Using-Geographical-Information-Systems-GIS-to/991031447688302976.