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Chapter 1: Getting To Know Web GIS:

I found this introductory chapter very interesting, as it gave a brief history of the origins of GIS, and how GIS was first developed in the 1960s by Roger Tomlinson (who developed the Canada Geographic Information System). The idea was later developed by the the Palo Alto Research Company, who developed a mapping webpage in order to track and manage their projects, which was the original web GIS.

I also found it quite interesting to learn how ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online are being utilized by many multinational companies in order to track their growth and development, as well as those of their competitors. One application I thought of for WebGIS from this chapter was a webmap detailing the Hydrology of the state of Ohio, including stream orders and which hydrological systems feed into each other. This can be used by organizations such as DelCo Water, which operate in the realm of water treatment and anti-pollution efforts. However, one question I had was whether data that can be used to construct a webmap in WebGIS is limited to forms such as CSV, shapefiles, GPS Exchange Format (GPX), JavaScript Object Notation (GeoJSON, and whether other forms of data compilation and coding could be used.

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Chapter 2: Getting To Know Web GIS

The second chapter of “Getting To Know WebGIS” was also quite informative. It was very interesting to learn about ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, which provides ready-to-use content in the form of tens of thousands of data layers and maps. It was also very interesting to learn about the range of data available in the Living Atlas, including information on basemaps, infrastructure and even people.

I also enjoyed learning about ArcGIS StoryMaps, and how they can be used to construct a narrative or track the development of a certain region or regions anywhere in the world. One application I can think of for this function would be a StoryMap that tracks the infrastructural development of a town in Pennsylvania from the year 1976 to 2026 and getting to see, for example, how different buildings and structures get demolished to make room for others.

However, one question I did have while reading this chapter would be what type of coding language ArcGIS Arcade utilizes, and whether multiple languages can be used depending on the user’s comfortability.

Chapter 1:

Chapter 1 provides an overview of the ArcGIS Online platform. Readers learn from behind the scenes what WebGIS (in which ArcGIS falls) offers its users many benefits. These include ease of use and maintenance, cross-platform capabilities, low-cost, scalable cloud technology, and global sharing. These are the reasons why everyday people to government agencies use it. It has evolved from a one-way (information) flow closed website. To the modern age of portal technology, cloud services, 3d/virtual maps, and spatiotemporal data. Connects with newer, two-way open geospatial web services. It contains various content types: data, layers, web maps and scenes/tools, and apps.

The book’s first tutorial guides the user in creating a Web GIS app. Taking the fundamentals and puts them into practice. Requiring them to publish a hosted feature from provided data. Adding and altering layers, as well as attributes. Finally, taking what they entered or created and making an instant or regular web app with it.

Application: Creating a map of Columbus’ Arena District. The map would contain various points of interest like restaurants, hotels, apartments, and arena buildings. Attributes would include the building name, description, service hours (if applicable), address, longitude, and latitude.

Chapter 2:

Chapter 2 discusses smart mapping and storytelling with GIS. It explains why they’re important and how to use them. Readers learn about the various types of feature layers that fall under two main categories: hosted layers and hosted feature layers. These layers in question have to be styled in a way in order to show off the bigger picture (messaging and patterns). Smart mapping plays a role by using data visualization, symbols, and colors to present geospatial patterns. Examples of these styles include heat maps, predominant, continuous timelines, and vector fields. Readers will also learn about the purposes of pop-ups, ArcGIS Arcade Living Atlas, and StoryMaps.

The next tutorial in the book guides users on creating a Web GIS app. Using data to represent spatial patterns. Requiring them to create feature layers using geocoding. Configuring layers with smart mapping styles and layer pop-ups (using ArcGIS Arcade). Using available information to insert charts and images into layer pop-ups. Finally, interacting with swipe blocks and express maps on StoryMaps.

Application: Creating a map that compares vegetation coverage of Delaware County. Using today’s data and contrasting that with data from a century ago. The StoryMap would explain details about the types of vegetation in the area. It would also explain why these changes occur and what actions should be taken.

*I have finished the Quiz and completed the assignments for Week 1*

My name is Tomorick Hutto, and I am a Junior majoring in Politics and Government. I previously took Geog 291 as a way of gaining technical skills of GIS for future internships and opportunities related to urban planning, and I am taking this course as a continuation of learning ArcGIS but for Web. As for the first week’s assignment, I was able to get a general feel for ArcGIS Web as well as the various courses that ESRI offers through their website. After taking the ArcGIS Online basic course, not only do I have a certificate proving that I have completed the course but I am also knowledgable of what web maps, web apps, 3D web scenes, and notebooks in ArcGIS Online are and how each of these can be shared with the public, organizational members, or with groups.

Chapter 1

This chapter first introduces a variety of background information on ArcGIS Online. ArcGIS Online is accessible to anyone on the web and is prominent in government, business, and daily life. The five main types of content in Web GIS include data, layers, tools, web maps and scenes, and apps. This was an interesting difference from ArcGIS Pro, because while the mapping features are similar on both softwares, Web GIS has the addition of web maps, web scenes, and apps. The tutorial of this chapter introduces me to feature layers and services. Feature layers can be hosted or nonhosted. Hosted features are when you create a web service based on ArcGIS managed data while nonhosted features are for situations when a web service connects directly to user managed data. In this chapter tutorial, I used hosted features. I was introduced to a variety of elements in ArcGIS online that included adding attachments to layers, how to add and edit fields, symbology, how to create an instant app, and a variety of back navigation tools. The chapter finished by offering answers to a variety of commonly asked questions. I found this section to be extremely helpful because if I were to ever have problems with a concept from this chapter, the information is all in one place.

Application Idea: I would create a map of my school’s campus from back home. There are a variety of buildings located in close proximity to each other that include the high school, middle school, agricultural building, technology building, central office, and a variety of sport complexes. These buildings would serve as my points. I would include attributes such as name, longitude, latitude, address, and year built. 

Chapter 2

This chapter continues to focus on feature layers and web apps. The chapter first introduces the idea of smart mapping. Smart mapping includes maps such as color and size, dot density, compare A to B, predominance, and several others. I was then introduced to ArcGIS Arcade. Arcade is an expression language used to style, label, and add values to pop-up menus. Finally, the chapter provides context for Story Maps. Through receiving advice on functionality and what should be included, I was informed on how to make a professional, yet interesting story. The tutorial in this chapter walked me through the process of configuring layer styles and creating a story through StoryMaps. While configuring layer styles mostly consisted of symbology, I did run into an issue with ArcGIS Arcade. My problem consisted of not being able to add the percent sign in the expression editor. I eventually fixed it by retracing my steps and learning I forgot to put quotations around the percent sign. While I remembered some of the information about Story Maps from GEOG 291, the tutorial served as a useful refresher.

Application Ideas: I would create a map that compares the percent change in annual rainfall throughout the United States from 2000 to 2025. From a personal standpoint, I have learned about the changing weather patterns and feel like the area I live in receives more heavy rainfall events. I would use the above and below theme and a color gradient to represent the percent change. The story would be focused on explaining the changes in precipitation and why they are happening.

I have completed the GEOG 292 quiz.

My name is Katie McMahon and I am a sophomore this year. I am from Lancaster, Ohio and I’m majoring in Environmental Studies with a SOAN minor. I am interested in the effects of climate change and analyzing the impacts it has on humans and the environment. I want to be able to look at changing patterns of the environment and I think that GIS is a way for me to gain knowledge in that area. I also like to study human behavior in SOAN and I think that these two disciplines are connected more than we think.

On my ESRI page, I was able to look at my past work and read through some of the basics of GIS. This was helpful because it made more sense now that I have some understanding of map making. It’s important to make maps based on what the viewers need and I think I will gain more practice from the training modules. I was able to look at some articles and maps from the ARC GIS blag page and I thought it was interesting to skim over some of that material. I think seeing this information after working on GEOG 291 will help me gain more understanding in GIS.

For my basic training, I was able to reinstate some ideas that have been brought up in the readings and in the tutorials. I thought the quizzes were helpful because it really reinforced some of the knowledge of tools in GIS. I learned about different layers such as the base layer, and how lines, dots, and polygons are the three main components for map making. I also learned about how web maps are important in displaying information. One thing I thought was interesting was the indication of fonts and italics on bodies of water compared to the font for land. Lastly, I was able to gain knowledge about the different types of maps for groups, organizations, public, and private.

 

For my map in my module, I was able to download data of hiking trails in California. After, I labeled each trial and indicated the peak of the trial by using a mountain symbol. I lastly added a geographical base map to showcase the land formations around.

Hello, my name is Henry. I’m from South Florida. I’m a senior here. I am a history major and a geography minor. After I graduate, I want to teach history or geography in high school, using tools like GIS to teach geography. I took Geography 291 last semester, and it was probably one of my favorite classes here at OWU. It was also the class I spent the most time planning and trying to understand because I didn’t know about GIS until I started taking geography classes. After poking around in my account, you know, I was really surprised after I clicked on the ArcGIS blog that people would be posting stuff till this day and also the community forums that people would be posting things that they’re doing, which is really surprising because you know not hearing about many people talking about GIS outside of here at OUW . It’s really interesting to see how other People are talking about it. Also, the other things, like the tutorials and ways to get help, can take you directly to resources that might help with something causing trouble during the experience, which is really helpful because GIS can be confusing sometimes, and it’s good to have extra help outside of Dr. Kryger. in the get started one of the first things I noticed was it’s just really helpful to specially to people are coming either back to GIS or looking to like start working with it, especially online version compared to the desktop version one of the first things I want to look at was work with Maps and this gives you a great introduction of how to view things how to set up directions and actually had a create them or share them into them to other people and that’s very helpful because sometimes even reading things over or talking to someone about how to do it having an extra way to read it or look over things is very helpful. Another one was the notebook notes and having them ready for whatever you need to, like maybe collecting data on something so you can instantly add it to your GIS map, and it’s just interesting to see that some samples, especially slightly further down, in it, of sample notebooks of what they look like and maybe notes of them, and it’s helpful to see some examples of that primarily because this looks like something that could be used for this class.

GIS has made understanding battles much easier because it can depict troop movement, the battle’s actual geography, and the defenses and offensive maneuvers each battalion or army used. Take, for example, the Battle of Gettysburg. Many troop and army movements weren’t fully understood until tools like GIS became available. Now you can also easily display battle maneuvers and how things were done, making the battle and its movements easier for people to understand and learn about. 

Reimagine a historic battle with visibility analysis | Documentation 

The next one I pointed out was the National forests. Surprisingly, a lot of people forget that national forests exist, and a map like this that pinpoints where they are, how big they are, and where they are in the region is actually helpful. When I drive up from where I live now in North Carolina, I didn’t realize I was going through a bunch of the areas near national forests or going through them directly, but not having stuff like GIS where I. Where they are on the map, it now helps because now this gives me a way to, in case I want to go stop after a long drive to go into one of the national forests in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, or South Carolina, it gives me something to do and knowing where they are definitely gives me more of something to go look for, especially trying to pinpoint things in these areas. 

ArcGIS Web Application

Hello, My Name is Janie Bailey I completed GIS 291.  I also completed my Quiz for GIS 292.  I am Majoring in Enviromental Studies.  This year I am  a Senior.  I logged into my account and finished the introduction to Getting  to Know Web GIS.    I learned about the advantages of web GIS and ESRIS geospatial Cloud and sharing with different groups and the privacy settings.  I added layers to a map that helped identify connecting paths .   Viewing the 3D web Maps was fun. I actually felt like I was physically in the location I was viewing.  I completed the introduction and obtained my certificate.  I am a Morel mushroom fan so I found a  arc online Mushroom  map .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have finished my quiz and completed my assignments. 

 

My name is Makaylin Bailey. I am a senior double majoring in Environmental Studies and Fine Studio Arts. During the first half of this fall semester I finished GIS 291 and now am enrolled in 292. 

At first glance ArcOnline seems easy to navigate and find basic information. In the Esri reading, the site seems almost if not identical to functions of ArcGISPro except the layout and creative freedom when it comes to creating a map which is completely different which is a bit confusing. 

 

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c07422391fff4b02ba94f0ab9a8618a3

Bike trails within Delaware state as well as bridge markers. 

 

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=862

State parks and recreational areas including bike trails and motor trails within those areas.

 

My name is Keira Bruner and I am a sophomore Environmental Science and Botany major with a minor in Sociology/Anthropology. I took 291 just last module and I am taking 292 to get a bit more comfortable with GIS software in general while exposing myself to more of the online system. Outside of academics, I am a member of Philosophy Club and choral arts society and I really enjoy crafting and being outside!

I have done all of the things for this week

Comments on Account Features and the Website:

I have previously been on the online ArcGIS website, but I have never poked around on the profile links. I think the help tab will be very helpful when I am lost, and the training may be helpful in the future, if I were interested in taking a couple of courses just to get better used to the software. There is a Forest Regression Analysis course, which seems interesting, but it requires another course to take first. I may or may not take that prerequisite soon. Another course that interest me is Working with Imagery. The description mentioned some of the many uses it has, including forestry and disaster management, and that sounds interesting.

Comments on the Read-Through:

From the reading (and also from my brief experience with the website), I am getting the general idea that ArcGIS Online is just an extension of ArcGIS Pro, except it allows for easier mobility and sharing/collaborating on work. I find that a lot of the categories I read on were things I spent a small amount of time working with in 291. Although, I have never worked with apps or notebooks. I am still not entirely sure how apps work or what they …really are from the description, but I will likely learn during the tutorial when I see them.

Comments on the tutorial:

It is quite reassuring to see that most of the tools in ArcGIS online are pretty intuitive, and I probably will not struggle to decipher which features do what. From seeing what the reading meant by apps, I realize that they are another thing I have worked with. Overall, this tutorial is more of a review from the first 3 chapters of the GIS tutorial from 291.

ArcGIS Online Basics_Certificate_10232026

Application Examples:

*For whatever reason, this website is not letting me attach the photos of these visuals, so I will add them in my email.

One application is to asses how different social problems interact with each other. This example looked at domestic violence as it interacted with quarantine/stay at home orders. An advantage of using ArcOnline for this would be that people who look at the map are able to interact with it and see how it changes over time.

source: Shariati, A., & Guerette, R. T. (2023). Findings from a natural experiment on the impact of covid-19 residential quarantines on domestic violence patterns in New Orleans. Journal of family violence, 38(2), 203-214.

Another application I found was involving invasive plant mapping for a national park. The advantage of using ArcOnline here, again, is that it is interactive for anyone who wants to look at it. It is easy for viewers to look into specific features and areas that would otherwise be harder to see in a simple image of a map made with ArcGIS Pro.

source: Randall, J., Inglis, N. C., Smart, L., & Vukomanovic, J. (2022). From meadow to map: integrating field surveys and interactive visualizations for invasive species management in a National Park. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 11(10), 525.

 

I have finished all assignments for this week! 

Hello! My name is Robin, and I’m a sophomore majoring in environmental science and minoring in zoology! I’m from Westerville, Ohio (only 30 minutes from Delaware, I’m local! Feel free to ask me about what’s fun to do around in the Columbus area!) and have always been incredibly passionate about conservation and preservation of the beautiful nature and delicate ecosystems we have here in Ohio 🙂

I have taken GEOG 291, and have overviewed and updated my profile, along with overviewed the website and its functions.

In the ESRI online resources,  I learned about the different uses of ArcGIS Online, especially in certain applications I did not consider. Specifically, I did not consider the use of ArcGIS Online for field research, since most portable devices are unable to run or store all of the needed data for ArcGISPro. Additionally, sharing data from ArcGISPro is fairly difficult if another researcher does not have a Pro license, and ArcGIS Online could be used to share that data.

The course was fairly easy and faster to complete than expected. Having previous knowledge from GEOG 291 already made me familiar with some of the functions and terminology, so I found this course quite helpful in fully understanding ArcGIS Online.

 

I am someone who loves going herping (or trying, given the fact central Ohio can be lacking in herpetological biodiversity), so I was able to find an ArcOnline map dedicated to finding popular herping hotspots! This map filters for distance from starting location, and type of reptile or amphibian you are looking for (crocodilians, etc.) it is very fun to use!

Source: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=28b37c8772254de18d168d46fd367535

Additionally, my TPG project I did for ENVS110 was based on lead contamination and hereptology, so I started looking into maps focusing on sources of lead polution in the United States. This map was made specifically for the general public to access and see the data on the amount of lead in their drinking water, and was able to learn the drinking water in my hometown had around 1-50,000 ppb of lead in the drinking water. It was a very fascinating map to explore and look into.

Source: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/9e0800c2fcaf40da82a36864f0155743