Author: htkozak

Chapter 3: ArcGIS Experience Builder

Chapter 3 is about ArcGIS experience builder and how you can use this to have more functions than an individually configurable app and be able to remix functions of multiple apps. Experience Builder has pre-made widgets that provide functions like mapping, table view, querying, charting, and reporting. You can then select, mix, and configure these widgets to enhance your apps. To create Web experiences using Experience Builder the user must pick a premade template or start from scratch, select a theme, add source data, add and configure widgets, refine layouts for all devices, save, preview, publish, and then share. There are two main types of widgets, basic and layout. Basic widgets include map, legend, layers, query, filter, edit, chart, elevation profile, and survey while layout widgets include section, column, row, fixed panel, and sidebar. This chapter talks about the three versions of Experience builder and how they are similar and different to each other. The tutorial for chapter three went over how to create a 2D and 3D integrated web experience, configure map message actions, configure dynamic content, configure the table widget, configure the filter and chart widgets, and create and navigate multiple pages. 

 

Chapter 4: Mobile GIS

Chapter four goes over the functionality and purpose of mobile GIS. Mobile GIS has several advantages over desktop GIS including mobility, location awareness, ease of data collection, near-real-time information, large amounts of users, and versatile means of communication. This chapter discusses how mobility has a big advantage overall but can be limited by a device’s CPU speed, memory, etc. People can use mobile GIS for a large array of things like finding somewhere to eat, learning how to get somewhere, field surveys, and parcel delivery. The chapter then talks about feature layers, and feature layer views which allow users to view different sets of information. A feature layer may also contain a feature template which defines the type of data items that users can add to a layer. There are several notable approaches to mobile app development. These include browser-based, native based, and hybrid based. ArcGIS field maps is a newer program that supports planning, tracking, understanding, and data capture phases of field workflow. ArcGIS indoors is a mapping system that understands the location and activities within an indoor setting. It can help users feel more connected to a workplace or campus and is seen to boost productivity and collaboration. This chapter also provides details on several other mobile GIS applications that users find helpful. The tutorial includes exercises that go over Survey123, Field Maps, Quick capture, and AuGeo. 

 

One interesting application would be an app that people could report moose sightings in NH for population survey purposes. Moose populations in NH are threatened and I think it could be helpful to ecologists to have a database of moose sightings to help get a better understanding of species abundance in a given area.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 is used to introduce ArcGIS online and ArcGIS Enterprise and the basic operations of the program. Web GIS uses web technologies to allow people to interact globally and access information instantly. Some of the advantages of Web GIS are global reach, large numbers of users, low cost per user, better cross-platform capabilities, easy usage, and easy maintenance. There are five main content types available with Web GIS including data, layers, web maps and scenes, tools, and maps. There are three main components that make up a Web GIS map and they include the basemaps, the operational layers, and the tools.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 is about smart mapping and storytelling. Stories are the most popular type of web apps. This chapter talks about the different types of hosted layers, including hosted feature layers, hosted WFS layers, hosted tile layers, hosted vector tile layers, hosted WMTS layers, hosted scene layers, hosted image layers, and hosted map image layers. There are several different ways to publish hosted layers including creating a feature layer from your own data, creating a feature layer from an existing template, and creating an empty feature layer and defining your own fields. This chapter also talks about smart mapping which enables people to analyze, create, and share maps quickly. Smart mapping can also perform exploratory data analysis which helps people understand potentially hidden patterns. Pop ups are used to show geographic data and insight. A good WebGIS app is fast, easy, and fun for the user. An ArcGIS story tells the who, what, when, where, and why. It uses a combination of maps, narrative, and multimedia to create a story. 

One potential application would be to create a map of the most popular ski mountains in NH. The map would display location as well as information like mountain height, average number of visitors per year, and mileage of ski trails. The information would also include images of the ski mountain or logo to help familiarize the audience.

My name is Halle Kozak, I am a senior majoring in Zoology and Botany. I already did 291 the first half of the semester. I read the syllabus and schedule, took the quiz and scheduled the required meetings with Dr. Krygier. In my account I explored my profile and the other tabs. I found out that you can see different posts from community members regarding ArcGIS online, and I saw all of the different settings I can apply to my account.

What is ArcGIS online:

1.  ArcGIS allows you to explore and visualize 2D and 3D data. It also allows you to share personal maps, work collaboratively to create maps, scenes, apps, and notebooks, and access analysis tools to better understand your data. 
2.  One interesting/important point that this webpage includes is how to create a map on ArcGIS online. The steps include choosing a basemap, adding layers, applying styles, configuring popups, and saving the map. In GEOG291 we learned how to do all of this using ArcGIS. 

ArcGIS online basics

This course taught an overview of ArcGIS online. One thing that I learned was that an ArcGIS online organization is a virtual space within the ArcGIS Online cloud that enables an organization to manage content and foster collaboration. Users with organizational access can participate in groups and share work with other members of the organization. I also learned that there are seven types of operational and basemap layers. These include feature, tile, map image, imagery, elevation, scene, and table. Operational and basemap layers are used to classify layers based on their use or how their data is structured. 

Applications

The first application that I chose is from a paper titled “Influence of landscape heterogeneity on the functional connectivity of Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) in Virginia”. The map shows the locations of rock habitats trapped for Allegany woodrats in Virginia. 

Citation: Kanine, J. M., Kierepka, E. M., Castleberry, S. B., Mengak, M. T., Nibbelink, N. P., & Glenn, T. C. (2018). Influence of landscape heterogeneity on the functional connectivity of Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) in Virginia. Conservation Genetics, 19(5), 1259-1268.

The second application I chose is from a paper titled “ Predicting habitat suitability of the critically endangered Be’er Sheva fringe-fingered lizard”. This map shows the binary habitat suitability using the species distribution model for Acanthodactylus beershebensis. 

Citation: Horesh, S. J., & Ovadia, O. (2024). Predicting habitat suitability of the critically endangered Be’er Sheva fringe‐fingered lizard. Ecology and Evolution, 14(8), e70108.