Category: Uncategorized

Hello! My name is Wasif Karim, I’m from Bangladesh, doing a double major in CS and Physics at Ohio Wesleyan University, and I am set to graduate in May 2026. I’m taking this class because of my growing interest in geography and how technology, especially GIS, can be applied in diverse fields. Additionally, this course provides me with the perfect opportunity to integrate my programming skills and problem-solving techniques into new and exciting areas. Outside of my academic pursuits, I have been working in a Fortune 500 company as a software engineering intern since my sophomore year. I’m also the current president of OWU Robotics Club where enjoying working on various robotics projects like self-driving cars, autonomous drones, and so on.

Upon diving into ArcGIS Online, I first focused on the account settings and customization options. I found the platform’s user interface to be intuitive and straightforward, which significantly streamlined my navigation through various features like profile settings, data management tools, and training resources. One aspect I particularly appreciated was the flexibility to integrate and manage multiple data layers, allowing for more complex spatial analyses. The data integration and querying capabilities within the platform are impressive, especially considering my background with data-driven applications. The connection to external APIs and the ability to leverage Python scripting for automating geospatial processes is an exciting prospect for further exploration. Additionally, I explored the “My ESRI” section, where I could track available resources and training, which aligns well with my previous experiences in utilizing online development environments.

One notable takeaway from the reading was learning how ArcGIS allows for adding different layers to maps, which not only helps visualize multiple data sets simultaneously but also enables collaboration by sharing maps with others. Additionally, I appreciated the detailed explanations in each section of the reading, which will definitely be useful whenever I need guidance on how to perform specific tasks within ArcGIS.

For my free training this week, I completed the “ArcGIS Online Basics” course. I learned about different types of web layers, their functions, and how to work with them in a more efficient manner. I especially enjoyed the hands-on practice with the platform’s map creation tools, which gave me a solid introduction to creating interactive maps and using GIS data. Here is a screenshot showing the completion of the activities in the four main sections of the course:

For my Google Scholar search (Carte de postes en eau autonome – Map of posts in eau autonome), as I was particularly interested in how GIS is used in the field of robotics and autonomous systems, areas I have hands-on experience with. One interesting article I came across was about using GIS to optimize autonomous vehicle navigation and path planning, which aligns closely with my personal project of developing an AI-driven self-driving car.

For my second Google Scholar search (Dron- loisir drone survol zones), I focused on the use of drones for recreational and environmental surveying. One article I found discussed how drones are being used for mapping and surveying various zones, including environmental and urban areas. The study highlighted how drones can capture high-resolution imagery and geospatial data, making it possible to monitor environmental conditions such as vegetation, water levels, and urban expansion over time. The integration of GIS with drone technology allows for detailed analysis and monitoring of areas that are otherwise hard to access, and it serves as a great tool for sustainable urban planning and conservation efforts. This aligns well with my interest in leveraging drones for advanced environmental and spatial analysis.

I’m excited to continue learning more about how GIS can complement my knowledge in programming and autonomous systems. The first week has been a great introduction, and I look forward to exploring more advanced features and applications of ArcGIS Online throughout the course.

Hi everyone. My name is Owen. I’m a senior here at Ohio Wesleyan University I’m a zoology major. In the beginning half of the semester, I took GEOG 291, so now I’m finishing the semester off with GEOG 292.I learned a lot and 291. It was very informative class. I felt like i took a lot away from it so I’m excited to learn more in 292

Having taken 291 my mind was already blown with the sheer vast capabilities of arcGIS as a program. And after looking around the website and scrolling through the settings, I can say that I am less overwhelmed at the start of this arcGIS online then I was at the start of 291.

The introduction on arcGIS was straightforward and left me with little to no questions. I found the ability to make maps off-line to be extremely interesting, especially compared to 291 which I had to do on a desktop working with arcGIS online. Makes this class and this is fieldwork much more helpful.

When tasked to google and find arc online, I chose something that I enjoy doing on my weekends here at a Ohio Wesleyan University that being hiking. So I googled arc online mountain trails. And began searching. I found one that described geospatial tool development for the management of hiking trails specifically in the holy side of meteora this was interesting to me because last semester I used the tools in 291 to make the maps and now I’m seeing them coincide with something I’m interested in and AR online

TqsTX4-ArcGIS Online Basics_Certificate_03222025

Potsiou, Chryssy, et al. “Geospatial tool development for the management of historical hiking trails—the case of the holy site of Meteora.” Land 12.8 (2023): 1530.

Hi everyone! My name is Maggie, I’m a senior and I am a psychology major and business minor. I’m taking this class because my roommate is a geography major and recommended that I dip my toe into the geography world (I also needed a 0.5 credit to graduate in May). I’m excited to learn more about geography and to have a little challenge during the last half of my senior year spring semester. In my free time, I enjoy doing puzzles, playing Fortnite, and hanging out with my cat named Frankie (she is perfect).

After looking through the account settings and poking around this website, I found that I enjoyed the idea of being able to set my own color theme for my viewing pleasure. I also liked how everything seemed pretty straightforward and easy to navigate.

One notable and interesting idea I learned from the reading for this week was that you can add layers to your maps with ArcGIS and allow other users to view/use them as well. Another thing I noticed was how detailed and helpful each section was for certain actions one can take in ArcGIS. I will definitely be referring back to this article when I need assistance or clarification in the future!

I did not take 291, so for my free training this week I completed the ArcGIS online basics course. One of the first things I learned from this course was the different types of web layers and their purpose/function. I also received some practice actually working with a map in the website which is something I had never done before, so I enjoyed that!

ArcGIS Online Basics_Certificate_03212025

In regards to my Google Scholar search, I was interested in seeing anything having to deal with cats. The first article I came across was about the distribution of feral cat trapping permits in Los Angeles, California. In this area of California, and in other urban areas, feral cats are an increasing problem. In this specific area, there is an estimated amount of 3 million feral cats, and only specific places have permits to legally trap feral cats for a multitude of reasons. The following map shows a distribution of locations where forms/documents have been filled out by individuals when trapping a feral cat.

An additional application I was interested in was the number of cannabis dispensaries in specific areas in the United States. The state that came up in my search was Oklahoma, which I know nothing about and so I thought that was intriguing! The following map shows the density of cannabis dispensaries in the state of Oklahoma.

I really enjoyed the time I spent learning the basics of ArcGIS and I am eager to continue using this website to expand my knowledge in this area.

Sources:

Hi, my name is Will Siegenthaler. I’m from Chicago and currently majoring in Economics at Ohio Wesleyan University. I’m a member of the men’s lacrosse team and also work as an economics tutor on campus. Tutoring has been a great way for me to strengthen my own understanding of economic concepts while helping other students succeed.

I recently started exploring ArcGIS Online through my OWU account. I was impressed by the amount of resources available, especially in the Training section where there are plenty of free courses for students. I also spent some time looking through the ArcGIS Blog, which features real-world examples of how GIS is being used across different industries. It helped me start thinking about how these tools might connect to fields like economics and sports analytics.

After reading “Get Started: What Is ArcGIS Online,” I realized how much more this platform offers beyond just creating maps. Features like the Living Atlas give users access to a wide range of datasets, and the platform encourages collaboration, which is great for team projects or research work.

I also completed the ArcGIS Online Basics course, which introduced me to how data layers work and how geographic information can be visualized in meaningful ways. One of the tools that stood out to me was the Web AppBuilder—it allows you to build interactive web apps without needing any coding experience. That’s a huge plus for someone like me, who’s more focused on data analysis than programming.

ArcGIS Online plays an important role in the public health world by helping professionals better understand and respond to community health needs. With the ability to visualize data geographically, organizations can track where services are lacking, streamline operations, and prepare more effectively for unexpected health events. The insights gained through spatial analysis lead to smarter planning and stronger outcomes when it comes to improving access to care and overall well-being.

When I first started exploring ArcGIS Online, I found a heat map from a study focused on plant behavior. The map pulled together data from March through May of 2014 and tracked plant activity during those months. This kind of visualization could be especially helpful in monitoring how flowering patterns shift when temperatures fluctuate, offering potential connections to allergy seasons or agricultural impacts both of which tie into public health planning in different ways.

Overall, tools like ArcGIS Online give health professionals and researchers a powerful way to turn data into action, leading to more targeted, effective, and sustainable health strategies.

Hi! My name is Parker Tomlin and I am a junior majoring in exercise science with a minor in coaching. I am from Westerville, Ohio. In my free time I like to play baseball, play video games, and lift weights!

I do not have any prior experience with ArcOnline, as I did not take 291. The introduction page had a great overview of what ArcOnline is, and how it is used.  You can explore data in both 2D and 3D, collaborate with people in and out of your organizations, and use analysis tools to understand your data better. You can also share maps easily by embedding them into web pages or social media.

The introduction course was all completely new information to me. The step-by-step guide the tutorials offered was simple and easy to follow. The quizzes at the end of the blocks were good to make sure I understood the things being reviewed. Learning how to create a new map and use online data sources, which we did with snow trails in the Sierra Nevada was also very useful for putting the skills we were reviewing to use.

I like to fish during the summer, so for my first search I searched for “ArcOnline Bass” and found a map looking at tidal bass habitats and the quality of their spawning zones throughout Washington and Maryland. Areas that were severely degraded looked to be areas with large towns or cities.

https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=82c67b8eba954e478ab84eab46fb0cb3&extent=-78.1535%2C37.8358%2C-74.0968%2C39.7072

I searched for “ArcOnline Grizzly Bears” next, and found a map looking at general grizzly bear locations. The population of grizzly bears seems to be concentrated in Canada, specifically in British Columbia. A small population of bears exists in upper Montana as well.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?layers=aa9c54be4b5a4db5beaf9cdc3bbf6fe8

Hello, my name is Gabrielle Plunkett and I am a senior majoring in Zoology. I’m from Cincinnati, Ohio and I have an orange cat named Finn. I took GIS 291 at the start of last semester so I may be a little rusty in the beginning, but I am excited to expand my GIS knowledge.

In 291 I believe I poked around the website a bit, but I don’t think I used it to its full potential. I remember having to upload something from it and it took a while to load. When looking at my profiles I can see I created web maps and feature layers. I looked around the gallery and thought it was interesting to see what data has been collected and maps that were made. The training section also looks like it’ll be good to use if I get stuck.

The introduction to ArcGIS was interesting and a good overview. I think one of the more interesting parts of the introduction was the “be mobile in the field’. Being able to create maps offline and also have the ability to sync them to the latest update has to be extremely helpful for fieldwork. Also being able to access it through a mobile app is cool.

The basics will definitely help me at the start of this course. I will have to look back and remember the difference between the layers.

Search One:
My first search was “ArcOnline Plants”. I found a study using geospatial cloud computing to monitor the phenology of plants. This map in particular is a heat map that shows aggregated March, April, and May 2014 plant data. This type of map could be used to monitor flowering patterns during unusual fluctuations in temperature.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954116301078#ab0005

Search Two:
My second search was “ArcOnline Crows”. I have always liked crows so I decided to search and see what would pop up. I found this map for possible American crow viewing points in California. This map would be helpful if someone was out birding or wanted to research crows and needed to find locations they could be at.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8ec23699138c46a08660108f2f44699f

Hi everyone! My name is Will White, and I am a Business Management major at Ohio Wesleyan University. I am also a member of the OWU men’s lacrosse team. I am excited to start this course and explore how Web GIS can be applied in different industries, including business and sports analytics.

I accessed my OWU ArcGIS Online account and explored its features, including My Profile, My Settings, My ESRI, Training, Community and Forums, ArcGIS Blog, and Help. I updated my profile information and found that the Training section offers a wide range of courses, many of which are free for OWU students. The ArcGIS Blog provides industry updates and case studies, which I found useful for learning about real-world applications of GIS technology.

I read through “Get Started: What Is ArcGIS Online” and learned that ArcGIS Online is a powerful platform for creating interactive maps and analyzing geographic data. One of the most valuable features is the Living Atlas, which provides access to a vast collection of datasets that can be integrated into projects. Another key takeaway is that ArcGIS Online enables collaboration by allowing users to share maps and data with others, which is beneficial for businesses, researchers, and community organizations.

I completed the ArcGIS Online Basics course, which introduced me to core GIS concepts. The course emphasized how feature layers allow for detailed data visualization, making it easier to analyze trends across different locations. I also learned about the Web AppBuilder, which enables users to create interactive applications without needing to code. This makes GIS tools accessible to people who may not have a technical background but still need to leverage geographic data in their work. I have attached screenshots of my course completion for reference.
While exploring additional ESRI training opportunities, I found two courses that seem particularly interesting. The first is “Spatial Analysis with ArcGIS Online,” which covers in-depth mapping and analysis techniques that could be useful for data-driven decision-making. The second is “Cartography with ArcGIS,” which focuses on effective map design and data representation. These courses could help me improve my GIS skills beyond the basics and apply them to business-related projects.

For my GIS applications research, I looked into two real-world uses of ArcGIS Online. The first is a map created to visualize evacuation routes and impacted areas during Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas. GIS was used to track flooded zones, population density, and shelter locations in real time, helping emergency responders and city officials make faster, more informed decisions. This application of GIS showed how spatial data can play a critical role in disaster response and urban planning. The map displayed not only road closures and water levels but also helped optimize the movement of people to safety.

The second project I explored is a historical population map of the state of Michigan from 1900 to 2020. This interactive GIS map visualizes demographic changes over more than a century, showing growth patterns, urbanization, and population shifts between rural and urban counties. It helps users understand how migration, industrial changes, and economic development have affected the state’s population distribution. Tools like these are particularly useful for researchers, city planners, and policy makers who want to visualize long-term trends in a clear and accessible format.

My name is Trey Weber. I am a Junior on the Lacrosse team here. I’m a Finance major and I’m minoring in Economics. I am from Denver, Colorado. In my freetime I like to ski and work on cars with my dad.  

I spent some time looking through last semester, but spent much more time exploring my ArcGIS Online account, and I was honestly surprised by how much it offers. The Training section is super helpful. It had tons of courses ranging from quick tutorials to in-depth lessons that span weeks.

One thing that stood out was the ArcGIS Blog and the Community forums. It’s cool to see how active the user base is, and I even found answers to a couple of things I was stuck on last semester just by browsing.

Through the “Intro to ArcGIS Online” page, I learned you can build and share maps in 2D or 3D, collaborate with others, and everything is saved to the cloud. I also didn’t know you could automate tasks in ArcGIS Notebooks or use Instant Apps to quickly turn your maps into interactive web apps.

The ArcGIS Online Basics course was also useful, it broke down different sharing settings (Private, Group, Organization, Public) and gave a good overview of app-building tools like Dashboards, StoryMaps, and Experience Builder. I really appreciated the step-by-step guidance and knowledge checks.

Overall, exploring the platform more deeply has shown me how much more ArcGIS can do beyond just making maps. It’s definitely something I’ll keep going back to throughout the semester.

Urban Planning: Enhancing City Development

ArcGIS Urban is a web-based 3D application designed to improve urban planning and decision-making. It allows planners to visualize projects within their local context, analyze data, and create sustainable environments. By evaluating multiple zoning, land-use, and development scenarios with 3D visualizations and urban analytics, stakeholders can address challenges such as housing shortages and climate resiliency.

Public Health: Improving Health Outcomes

ArcGIS Online is utilized in public health to enhance health outcomes, increase accessibility to healthcare, and build healthier communities. By applying GIS, public health professionals can identify coverage gaps, improve workflows, and plan for unforeseen events. This spatial analysis leads to better resource allocation and more effective public health strategies.

Sources: 

https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-urban/overview?

https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/health/overview?

Hi I am Jade and I’m a sophomore studying zoology and minoring in environmental science.

I have previously taken Geog 291 and have some experience using ArcOnline. I began by going through my profile and then went and looked around the rest of the website. The training section was interesting since it listed different courses you can take for free. These courses are made to help people gain better skills pertaining to GIS. Next, I went into the ArcGis Blog and it included many articles about ArcGIS and helpful tips for users.

The Introduction page was a great overview of ArcOnline and I was able to learn so much more about it. With ArcOnline you can share and collaborate on projects with people in and out of your organization. You can share maps or other content by embedding them into web pages or social media. It was helpful to learn that you can also create maps that will be used offline and set it up so that offline editors get updates.

The Introduction course consisted of new and some old skills that I learned in GEOG 291. Some of my previous knowledge was able to help me get through a little quicker than if I had never seen this before. I really liked this training module because it explained each step very well and made you think critically during each lesson. I enjoyed learning how to create a new map and use data from online sources as we did with the snow routes in the Sierra Nevada. Additionally, I also learned about different sharing levels for different purposes including private, group, organization, and public. The module did a good job at explaining the differences between each and when you would use different levels.

For my first search I searched “ArcOnline Bumble Bees”. I found an application that was looking at the occurrence areas and observations of bumble bees in the United States. This map was very detailed and interesting to look into. It had each species of bumble bee and where they are most prevalently seen.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=97296dc461714d60b5459ecc8fafdd41

Search 2:

For my second search I looked up “ArcOnline Walleye”. I don’t fish but this is just what popped into my head first for some reason. What came up was a very cool website that shows fisherman where hotspots are for walleye in Minnesota for free!  I thought this was such a cool idea and very fitting since Minnesotans are considered to be  some of the nicest citizens in the US! The website included pictures of different spots, sum catch, confidence level, and other fun facts. If anyone is ever taking a fishing trip to Minnesota definitely check out this website.

Hi! My name is Kelsea Cooper and I am a junior double majoring in Public Health and Genetics! I am from Kent, Ohio. I have a cat named Marlin (he is very mischievous). In my free time I like to read, craft, and watch TV!

I used the ArcGIS website a little bit in 291 but poking around the ArcGIS site was very useful. It was interesting to look through the gallery at some older projects just within the homepage. I also navigated to the training section which seems like it will be very useful to be able to go back to use in the future. I also checked out the Community and Forums tab which seems like it would be useful if you were having some sort of issue that you needed help finding a solution to! 

When reading through the “Introduction to ArcGIS Online” a section that really caught my eye was being able to use data in the field mobily by using the companion app and also making maps offline. I am sure that in some fields this is a very useful tool that makes data collection much easier and also saves them so much time! The explore content section that focused on maps also seemed to be very useful and would be helpful to look back on in the future. 

The overview course was very useful. I appreciated the knowledge check questions to make sure that I had an understanding of the terms being reviewed. I also appreciated the step by step guide to the tutorials. 

Applications:

In 291, I talked a lot about Public Health applications specifically related to tobacco. Public Health applications are my main interest, so for another application, I thought about alcohol consumption maps. This map from the CDC highlights the prevalence of adults who binge drink in the last 30 days (binge drinking is typically 4ish drinks in a two hour period depending on gender).

Another application is cat ownership in the US. This map shows the percentage of US Households with at least one cat. This data could be useful when having traditional conversations about cats vs. dogs.

Sources

CDC. (2025, February 25). Data on Excessive Alcohol Use. Alcohol Use. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/excessive-drinking-data/index.html

Cat Ownership by State – Maptitude Infographic. (2024). Caliper.com. https://www.caliper.com/featured-maps/maptitude-national-cat-day-map-october-29-map.html#:~:text=For%20National%20Cat%20Day%20(October%2029)%20we,(16.7%)%2C%20Maryland%20(18.6%)%2C%20and%20New%20Jersey%20(18.9%).

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