Category: Course student work

When I got onto ArcGIS, I was notified of a new update- how exciting! Chapter 7 was by far the most fun chapter to interact with. I greatly preferred working with 3D in this chapter compared to in the previous chapters. Apparently, you can even make clouds in GIS- which sounds like a fun detail to include when looking at architecture in an area with frequent rain and overcast. Throughout the tutorials, I found myself enjoying trying out different object symbols within the Fun Park. There were cars- represented as backhoes in my scene- in the lake and other peculiar places; this was also the case with the boats. That was a very weird detail. I could not locate “Elevation Mode” while I was completing the tutorial, so I just went on without it. It is a nice feature that the Fun Park scene used for the latter two tutorials can be updated by anyone, but the scene became very messy. My laptop’s performance dropped so significantly from all of the objects, and error messages were popping up about the scene’s server. I also could not locate the tools within the Analysis section for the final section of the Tutorial. Once I reached that point, I ended the chapter. 

A final project idea that I have could be to map trees, benches, plants, etc. around the residential or academic sides of campus to create a 3D web scene. Another potential idea would be to map out the locations of public benches and other amenities at the Blue Limestone Park just a short walk from Sanborn. Seeing where benches and other amenities are- or are not- can be insightful as to accommodations that the city makes to be accessible to people who may feel the need to sit or activities that are available at this park.

Chapter 7: 3D Web Scenes 

The 3D world has four advanced forms: extended reality (XR), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) – all of these make GIS more immersive and helpful to users. In ArcGIS, 3D web maps are named web scenes or 3D scenes, giving users several advantages over 2D maps, such as storytelling, urban planning, architectural design, and filmmaking. Web scenes can contain multiple layers grouped into photorealistic and cartographic categories. Photorealistic layers aim to re-create reality through photos and texture layers. Cartographic layers use attribute symbols to display physical, abstract, or invisible features (population density, flight paths, zoning laws, etc.). Scenes have four main types of elements, surfaces, features, textures, and atmospheric effects, and include the following types: 3D object scene layers, building scene layers (overviews, disciplines, category layers, and filters), integrated mesh scene layers, point cloud scene layers, point scene layers, and voxel scene layers. Scene Viewer, ArcGIS Pro, and CityEngine are primarily used to create web scenes that, once published, can be viewed in commercial-off-the-shelf client apps and custom client apps developed through ArcGIS API. ArcGIS Urban allows users to integrate 3D mapping with urban planning and BIM to create, manage, edit, and display plans, projects, indicators, and ideas. 

Application Idea: Create a 3D web scene of OWU’s campus, specifically on the Jay.

Chapter 6: Spatiotemporal Data and Real-time GIS

Real-time GIS handles objects and events that move, appear, and change throughout time. Real-time data needs real-time GIS to locate/track targets and store, manage, search, display, and analyze data. Spatiotemporal data comes from various sources and can be categorized into the following groups: moving, discrete, stationary, and change. The key terms to know and understand while working with spatiotemporal data are: time measurement systems (units), time reference systems (time zones/daylight savings), time representations (arrangement of date/time), and temporal resolution (time interval of sampled events). IoT refers to the network of physical objects (various devices, airplanes, taxis, bicycles, lights, sprinklers, etc.) embedded with sensors and network connectivity that allow these objects to collect/exchange data. ERSI’s geospatial cloud provides users with ArcGIS Velocity and ArcGIS GeoEvent Server with real-time GIS. Both can meet the requirements to collect, process, and store high-volume and high-velocity real-time data generated by IoT. ArcGIS Velocity and GeoEvent Server share similar basic components: ingest, process, and outputs. However, ArcGIS is a relatively new real-time GIS product and introduces new types of items to ArcGIS: feed items, real-time analytics items, and big data analytic items. 

Application Idea: Create a dashboard app to monitor the smart Survey123 form to better understand students’ interests on the Ohio Wesleyan Campus.

Chapter 3: ArcGIS Experience Builder 

ArcGIS Experience Builder allows users to create layouts, content, and widgets to interact with 2D and 3D data based on ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, HTML5, and ArcGIS API for JavaScript technologies. Web apps created using Experience Builder are called web experiences, the steps include: choosing a premade template/starting from scratch, selecting a theme, adding source data, refining layouts for devices, and finally saving, previewing, publishing, and sharing the web experience. Basic widgets perform as app tools including map, legend, layers, query, filter, edit, chart, elevation, profile, survey, and more. Layout widgets are containers that help keep widgets organized on users pages/windows including sections, columns, rows, panels, sidebars, and more. Widgets have two action categories: message and data actions. Message actions listen to triggers and in turn perform actions automatically, these can be sorted into three components: triggers, targets, and actions. Data actions have an action button that allow users to select from a list of actions to perform. 

Chapter 4: Mobile GIS

Mobile GIS has a number of features that provide advantages over the traditional desktop GIS: mobility, location, ease of data, near-real-time information, large volume of users, and versatile means of communication. Mobile GIS is accessible on mobile devices (smartphones, tablets), mobile operating systems (android, iOS), wireless communication technologies (bluetooth, Wi-Fi), and positioning systems (GPS, IPS). Owners of hosted feature layers/administrators in the organization can control various settings: add, update, delete features. Mobile app development includes the following approaches: browser-based, native-based, and hybrid-based. A relatively new product is ArcGIS Field Maps, which allows users to plan, track, understand, and capture data related to phases of field operations. 

Application Idea: Create a smart Survey123 form to better understand students’ interests on the Ohio Wesleyan Campus to improve student engagement and morale.

Chapter One was very informative and helped me in getting more intimate with ArcGIS. It developed the significance of GIS as a whole in being used as an accessible way to share information across the globe. I did need a bit of outside help with figuring out how my laptop works with uploading excel files and C: drives, but that was my most significant hurdle in navigating Chapter One’s tutorial. Turning a map into an Attachment Viewer App was far more straightforward than I had initially thought it would be. After completing the tutorial, I did go ahead and make a little app myself to help reinforce everything I had learned thus far. Once again, uploading excel files and C: drives were a battle, but I came, I saw, and I conquered. 

Chapter Two was a jump from the preceding chapter in the amount of content that it covered- especially within its tutorials. The emphasis on creating a story web app following a “Who, What, When, Where, Why” template was reminiscent of writing summaries in first and second grade. Though, that model does hold up in a more nuanced and complex application as GIS. I did come across an issue with renaming something, but I let it be and had an opportunity later to rename. There were also a few details that had changed from the tutorial (ie. there was no “subheading” or “large paragraph” within the Story Map App Launcher- just “heading” and “paragraph”), but I persevered. I took a decent amount of time going through everything to make sure that it was right, so I would say that everything went smoothly on my end. Something that I noticed in the book was that, when directed to draw an arrow from New York to North Carolina, the book had drawn the arrow to Virginia instead of North Carolina, so that must have gotten past the editing team.

An idea that I have for an application from the content of Chapters One and Two is to survey around campus as well as the Downtown Delaware area for different outdoor cats. This could be a mix of quantitative data for the locations of different cats as well as qualitative data (ie. if the cat is approachable,etc.). I could send a survey to people willing to share information on the cats that they have spotted in addition to venturing around to take photos of and mark the locations/addresses of where different outside cats can be found. Another possible idea would be to document the different types of flora that can be found on campus- specifically bushes and flowers.

Chapter 1: Get Started with Web GIS

Web GIS combines the web and geographic information systems (GIS). It allows users to interact with GIS apps and access information globally. Web GIS use has recently increased throughout various organizations, including government agencies, businesses, science research, and daily uses. Web GIS can be applied to several applications, including mapping/visualization, data management, field mobility, monitoring, analytics, design/planning, decision support, constituent engagement, and sharing/collaboration. Web GIS elements include users, groups, content items, and metadata. Web GIS’s main content items are data, layers, tools, web maps, scenes, and apps. Apps are what users are directly interacting with while using Web GIS and include configurable apps, ArcGIS StoryMaps stories, mobile apps, app builders, and more. The components of a Web GIS app include basemaps, operational layers, and tools. Basemaps provide a reference or context for an app; a wide variety of basemaps are provided, but users can also create their own. Operational layers are theme layers that can be interacted with. Finally, tools can perform query, geocoding, routing, and more tasks to solve spatial problems. 

 

Chapter 2: Smart Mapping and Storytelling with GIS

Feature layers are the most common type of operational layers and are essentially web services that can be reused in many web maps, scenes, and apps. Hosted layers are the most widely used operational layer published to the Esri geospatial cloud; they include hosted feature layers, hosted web feature service (WFS) layers, hosted tile layers, hosted vector tile layers, hosted web map tile service (WMTS) layers, hosted scene layers, hosted image layers, and hosted map image layers. Hosted feature layers can be published in the following ways: create a feature layer from a user’s data, create a feature layer from an existing template, and create an empty feature layer and define your fields interactively. Smart mapping allows users to visually analyze, create, and share professional-quality maps without the need for extensive cartographic or software skills. Smart-mapping styles include heat maps, color/size, comparison of two fields, relationship between two fields, dot density, predominant, type/size, continuous timeline (color/size), and vector field. ArcGIS Living Atlas allows users to find operational and basemap layers to use in projects. The following data can be found within ArcGIS Living Atlas: basemaps, imagery, boundaries, people, infrastructure, and environment. 

 

Application Idea: Based on the information I gathered from Chapters 1 and 2, my application idea is to mark buildings (dorms, dining halls, libraries) and departments (STEM buildings, history buildings, etc.) on the Ohio Wesleyan Campus using data provided by Delaware County Ohio GIS Data Hub. 

Hi! My name is Gwendolyn Godsey, and I’m a senior majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in nutrition. I took Geog 291 during the first half of the semester, so I already have an ArcGIS Online account. While poking around ArcGIS Online in the courses section, I noticed the vast amount of training courses available, which is super cool! I found the ERSI Community and Comments page super exciting and could be helpful if I get stuck during this class. 

While reading Get Started: What Is ArcGIS Online, I found it interesting that it can be used independently and collaboratively. This feature makes this program extremely useful for several jobs and schools and can be applied in various ways. I also found it helpful that ArcGIS Online allows users to use their app (ArcGIS Companion) offline, making collecting data and managing projects in the field possible. 

The second section (Exploring ArcGIS Online content) of the Web Course: ArcGIS Online Basics explains that the program’s main features include layers, maps, scenes, apps, and files. Layers are the primary way to work with geographic data, and different layer types include features, tiles, map images, imagery, elevation, scenes, and tables. ArcGIS Online, local files, and sketch layers are the three primary layer sources. There are also four main levels of sharing: private, group, organization, and public. 

ArcOnline can be used to map agricultural land across the United States and calculate the total amount of agricultural land within the country. Mapping allows individuals to see where the most agricultural land is located, which could then be used to understand how climate change (for example) could affect these areas and food production. 

ArcOnline can also map social changes, such as women’s rights. The map below shows the top ten countries ranked by the percentage of women in their national parliaments. Mapping allows individuals to see what countries have the highest rate of women in government-related positions. 

Chapter 1 Notes, Comments, and Questions:

1. 1. Several different sharing levels
   2. Content types:
      1. Data: csv, shapefiles, geodatabases, etc.
      2. Layers: feature layers, vector layers, scene layers, etc.
      3. Web Maps and Scenes: maps are 2D, scenes are 3D
      4. Tools: analytical and processing functions
      5. Apps: mobile, brower, or desktop (provided or you can create your own)
   3. Apps come in bundles: user type determines which you can access
   4. Hosted vs. Nonhosted Feature Layers
      1. Hosted: web service based on Arc Managed data (ex: stored in Arc Cloud database)
      2. Non: connects directly to user-managed data
   5. Workflow to build web apps: data sources, desktop tools, ArcOnline/ArcEnterprise, Client Apps
   6. Data can include attachments (attachment viewer app template)
      1. I think one of my applications from week one included some version or similar feature to this template
   7. Details Page Tabs:
      1. Overview: basic metadata info
      2. Data: attribute data of hosted feature layers
      3. Visualization: change default properties (styles, filter, etc.)
      4. Usage: see usage stats over time
      5. Settings: enable editing and other related options

Chapter 2 Notes, Comments, Questions

1. Feature Layers: most common operational layer
   1. Layer types: Hosted, Hosted Web Feature Service (WFS), Hosted Tile, Hosted Vector, Hosted Web Map Tile Service (WMTS), Hosted Scene, Hosted Image, Hosted Map Image
   2. How to publish a feature layer: create from your own data, create from existing template, create from empty feature layer and define your own fields interactively
2. Smart Mapping: visually analyze, create and share quality maps with little technical skill
   1. Makes suggestions and preforms analysis based on your data
3. Pop-Ups: deliver more info by clicking on location/feature 
4. ArcGIS Arcade: write custom expressions for existing fields, not designed for writting stand alone apps
5. Living Atlas Categories: basemaps, imagery, boundaries, people, infastructure, enviroment 
6. StoryMaps: combine content types, blocks (any component you use to build a story), block pallette (combines blocks into an interactive menu)
   1. Special blocks 
      1. Side car: side by side reading experience
      2. Slideshow: horizontal scrolling to emphasize media
      3. Map Tour: curated set of places, guide audience through them
      4. Swipe: compare 2 maps/images
      5. Timeline: displays chronological events
7. Express Maps:
   1. Simple, quick, lightweight maps you can make right in the storybuilder (or use existing maps)

• Chapter 1 and 2 Application Description:

1. 1. 1. My idea for my chapter 2 application is based on some project data I learned about as an intern at ODNR this summer. I will make a hosted feature layer based on the number of phosphorus-reducing projects in Ohio. This dataset is made public by ODNR (specifically H2Ohio) and contains the number of phosphorus-reducing projects in Ohio over 3 years. I will calculate growth rates and add pictures or more information about specific projects using the configure pop-ups feature. Then I would use StoryMaps and create a story about the effects of reducing phosphorus and why it’s important to do so in Ohio.

Hi! My name is Lauren Hollinger! I’m a sophomore from Canton, Ohio majoring in Data Analytics and Geography.

• Spend a Few Minutes Poking Around Your Account (2 Comments)

1. 1. 1. Something interesting I found in the My Settings tab is you can customize your units of measurement (US Standard/Metric) and set a default map viewer. This would be useful for different projects/data/locations.
      2. Some more resources I wasn’t super familiar with, but found interesting: The training tab takes you to a number of courses you can complete, the forum/community tab is a place where users can share information and ask questions, and the Blog tab takes you to a number of blog postings of different projects and even tutorials.

• Use ESRI Resources to Learn a Bit (Get Started: What is ArcGIS Online?) (2 Comments)

1. 1. 1. The ArcGIS Notebooks seemed very interesting to me. I would like to explore this interface at some point to see how Python coding and analysis can aid in GIS visualization. 
      2. Another thing I learned was about apps. You can create your own apps that will help users and yourself interact with maps and visualizations you make. You can add different content and data to these apps. There are different steps and considerations to take into account when creating an app. These include thinking about your audience, the components you want to include, and what type of app will best suit your needs. 

• Complete Web Course: ArcGIS Online Basics (2 Comments and Pictures)

1. 1. 1. I thought the apps were a very interesting component of ArcGIS Online. I hadn’t really interacted with these before and I liked how they could give viewers of your map a more digestible and interactive way to view and sort information.
      2. I also liked the different sharing levels within ArcGIS online. I like how you can keep your projects private to you and your administrators while you work on them, share between groups for more collaborative projects, and even make your projects visible to the public or everyone within your organization. I also think it’s really useful how you can create different groups within your organization and provide them with different data. This differentiation could be really useful in a workplace with a lot of different departments and jobs.
      3. Pictures:   

• List 1 or 2 Courses that seem Interesting

1. 1. 1. The lab course Collecting and Visualizing Data with ArcGIS QuickCapture seemed interesting to me. I like how it appears to be a fast and simple way to collect data in the field, which would save researchers time. 
      2. The Going Places With Spatial Analysis course also interested me. It’s a 6-week free course starting in January. It says it’s a good course for people who know “something about data analysis” and want to gain a deeper understanding of implementations of spatial data. So, I think it would be a fun course to take at some point with my data background. 

• Look into a few GIS Application Areas

1. 1. One application I found interesting was from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. They did a study of the active Newberry Volcano in Oregon. As you scrolled through the information in the black panel on the left, the map to the right would change to reflect the geologic and volcanic features they were talking about. Plus, I learned that California’s Death Valley actually structurally influences this volcano’s basin, and I went there this summer so I thought that was super interesting. This was made in ArcGIS Online with the StoryMaps feature. Link to this story map: https://netl-doe.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=2259f4a750fa44e5a2827e57100309fc

1.  
2. 2. Another interesting application I found was the use of ArcGIS online to predict models for Natural disasters. Over the summer, my boyfriend made a connection with someone who works for FEMA in Washington, D.C. so, I got to learn about how FEMA utilizes ArcGIS for natural disaster relief, cleanup, and predictions. So, I searched for one of their maps. This one is a predictive model for a hurricane located off the coast of Mexico. The link to this ArcOnline Map: https://fema.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/aa7bd84d448c4d74ae268335162167cc 

• Complete Delaware Data Inventory (I already completed this in 291)

Chapter 6

Application: This could be used in many ways with Delaware Data. My first thought would be to use it in the same general way using crime data. This could also be used with any other activity or information because it can show all different aspects of a data table.