Author: ilfry

Application 1: I used my idea for the use of Survey123 from Chapter 4. This was to create a survey where community members could submit sightings of lost or stray animals, with a variety of options for data that can help reunite owners and their beloved pets. The survey includes three required questions: a multiple-choice question to indicate the type of animal found, a question to input the closest address of a building to the sighting of the animal, and the date and time of the sighting, with the default set as the time of report. Then, the reporter has the option of giving their contact information, any pictures of the animal, and any additional notes on the animal. This data is incredibly helpful to families trying to find their animals. I also think surveys like this will make it easier for people to help one another. Often, individuals see stray or lost animals but have no way of reporting it, and are not comfortable or physically able to capture and return the animal. This gives them a way to do something. I was able to publish the survey and ensure it was working by submitting test data for “sightings” at locations around campus. This is the survey link, hopefully, it works.

Application 2: For my second application, I used the “data” I collected in my survey from Application 1 and put it into a lost and stray animal dashboard. To accomplish this, I first had to find the feature layer of my data from the survey and turn it into a web map. From there, I had to insert this map into a dashboard and add sidebars for the details of the animal findings displayed on the map. I did this using sidebars and setting them to filter by the answer to the first survey question (what type of animal was seen). This resulted in the creation of 3 separate details sidebars one each for the categories of dogs, cats, and others. This will allow pet owners to flip through just the relevant postings for their animal and locate them on the map. I also changed the theme to make the view more aesthetic, I am including a picture below. I was having difficulty getting a link for this application, so hopefully the picture is enough if this link doesn’t work.

Chapter 7 mainly talks about 3D web maps, and how they can be used to create more immersive and interactive data visualizations. There are two main types of web scenes, photorealistic which is exactly what it sounds like, 3D maps that are very similar to the real world feel of an area. Conversely, there are cartographic 3D maps which are used to make a better visualization of more traditional map elements. In either case, textures, surfaces, and features of 3D web scenes can be used to help users have a better understanding of the area through more evident spatial relations and scale. I also learned about Lidar, which is a laser technology that is used for sensing and the creation of 3D maps, and how it can specifically be used to map elevations and man-made structures. Additionally, tools within Web GIS like Web AppBuilder give everyday users the ability to build web apps with widgets like Query and Filter without the requirement of coding knowledge, making data visualization and map creation much more accessible. Finally, chapter 7 discussed the growing role of more immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR), as well as indoor GIS and the concept of the metaverse, this highlights how GIS is growing into more engaging, game-like digital environments. One application of a web scene environmentally could be to create a forest canopy web scene for Delaware County. Using Lidar elevation data and time-enabled layer, this type of app could help to visualize forests and green spaces in our community and their shift due to urbanization. This resource would be useful for awareness of our impact and to help with further planning.

Chapter 6 discusses spatiotemporal data, which is information that is attached to a specific time and location, and it really highlights the real-world applications for this type of data using web GIS. I thought it was cool that this data can be helpful in such a wide range of fields like emergency response, environmental monitoring, and business operations. Another big part in this chapter is the Internet of Things (IoT), an extensive network of devices that includes things like traffic cameras and air quality monitors that are continuously transmitting data. It reinforces how this continuous live data is fed into real-time GIS systems, which can be used to track patterns and movement over time. Tools like ArcGIS Dashboards and time-enabled layers help visualize and animate this data, making it easier to monitor and understand dynamic systems. I found it eye-opening how easily this technology integrates into everyday life, from smart homes to tracking vehicles. It is both very interesting to me, and just a bit unsettling. This technology clearly has the potential for a lot of good and helpful uses, but could also be used for unfortunately bad purposes. One application for this type of technology and data mapping that would be interesting to me is sometype of wildlife tracking dashboard of Delaware County. This could be accomplished using real-time data from gps collars, trail cameras, and sensors. It could show animals movements over time and display weather patterns and human activity. It would be a very useful tool for determining how animals move based on other changing conditions.

Chapter 3 mainly discussed the ArcGIS Experience Builder, which I found surprisingly easy to use even without much Web GIS experience. I was also pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to create both 2D and 3D  maps and customize them using widgets to make them more interactive. The tutorials walked me through how to build multi-page apps and organize content visually, which was helpful. Chapter 4 dove into the mobile aspects of Web GIS, which I hadn’t realized was so advanced. The idea of GIS moving into the “post-PC era” stuck with me—it’s really crazy how much we rely on mobile devices now, and even more impressive that we can collect and analyze data directly from them. While I found it helpful in GEOG291 to learn how to use desktop GIS, this is definitely the future of this kind of software. Learning how to use Survey123 and Field Maps opened up a lot of possibilities for real-time data collection. I loved how you could easily make surveys to fit local needs and then access and analyze that data seamlessly. Additionally, I could see that the section on rapid data collection was particularly relevant for emergency response, environmental monitoring, or even community engagement projects. Overall, these chapters made me realize how much more accessible and action-oriented Web GIS can be, it really expands the user base. One way I thought of that Survey123 can be used in conjunction with a web map is to create a lost and stray animal reporting system where community members could submit details like location, photos, and contact info through a simple survey. The data would then appear on a real-time web map, helping users spot patterns and filter reports, with the goal of connecting lost pets with their owners quickly.

Chapter 1 basically just introduces the main ideas of Web GIS. I was particularly interested in learning about its growing impact across a variety of industries including governmental entities, businesses, and educational institutions. This chapter also discussed the flexibility of Web GiS in storing and sharing data, either in the cloud through ArcGIS Online or directly managed by users. The software integrates many essential elements of mapping such as data, layers, web maps, scenes, tools, and apps, to create a user-friendly system for the synthesis of interactive and shareable maps. The tutorials helped me learn the basics of Web GIS by guiding me through the simple process of creating items, adding them to folders, and publishing maps for public viewing. Understanding the different types of layers that can be used and how they can be applied to practical projects is something I know will be useful in the future. Although parts of this chapter and its information felt intuitive due to my experience in ArcGIS Desktop, Web GIS clearly makes sharing data and my visualizations much easier, and makes this software and its benefits more accessible for a broader audience. Overall, this chapter provided a great foundation for understanding Web GIS and its potential applications. Chapter 2 continues to discuss layer types and introduces smart mapping, which helps to simplify maps to highlight data patterns. I found the mapping styles table helpful for selecting the right map type for projects. The chapter also covers ArcGIS Arcade, a scripting tool for customizing popups, similar to using formulas in Excel. It goes into more detail on personalizing popups to make data easier to understand and introduces Story Maps as a way to combine text, media, and interactive maps for clear communication with non-GIS audiences. The tutorials on creating story maps with swipe comparisons and timelines were especially useful. Chapters 1 and 2 could be used for many applications, one idea that excites me would be creating a wildlife conservation map with popups to track endangered species. This would be a useful tool for biologists to have and share data to track populations and possibly look at change over time.

My name is Izzy Fry, I am a Freshman Pre-med, Zoology, and Environmental Science major. I am pretty familiar with ArcGIS from taking GEOG291 last module, before spring break. I am very excited to get to use the online system more in depth because I know that using the web system will make using GIS in my daily life much easier. I began by taking a look at the My Settings, ESRI, Training, Community and Forums, ArcGISBlog and Help sections. I already have some experience with these sections from the other section of Desktop GIS last module when one of the tutorials required us to create something on the website. I then read through the Get Started article. What I generally read was all evident from my knowledge of GIS from the last module but it was a good review of all the uses for GIS and knowing now we can access it online now makes the whole situation a lot more accessible for me. The introduction course was quite informative and a good way to start with this course because I definitely needed a refresher from last module. The beginning discussed all the different uses for ArcGIS online and the organizations that use it which was helpful because it highlighted a major difference between the this software and the desktop version. Then it discusses the different layer types that can be used in the software which were similar but not the same as the last module so it was helpful to see the differences. The next section led me through creating a web map which was helpful for the first time especially compared to the tutorials last time which I had difficulty getting started with. Another course I found interesting is the Field Data Collection and Management Using ArcGIS course which I think would be helpful to me and anyone else that plans to do field work in the future. One use I found for ArcGIS online is to map biodiversity loss of a region which can help conservation biologists to understand and visualize the changes in an ecosystem. https://data-gis.unep-wcmc.org/server/rest/services/nchs_ter_biodiv_dep/ImageServer
I also found that ArcGIS online can be used to estimate forest density over an area which is also helpful to those in conservation and anyone interested in land use and coverage.