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Chapter 3

Working from basic Web AppBuilder to ArcGIS Experience Builder is basically like upgrading from a basic PowerPoint layout to a completely custom website designer. Instead of getting stuck in a premade template where you can only change a few colors, Experience Builder gives you total control. You can drag and drop map tools, images, text, and buttons wherever you want, and even build multi-page web apps without needing to write a single line of code. What makes it so useful is how it turns simple map data into an interactive visual dashboard. You can display 2D maps, 3D views, photos, and text side by side. It also lets different parts of the screen talk to each other. For example, if someone clicks a building on the map, a list next to it instantly updates to show details about that specific spot. 

Chapter 4 

Goes into Mobile GIS, which basically takes map data out of the computer lab and puts it right onto your smartphone or tablet. The biggest takeaway is realizing just how much we interact with location data every day without thinking about it—from food delivery apps tracking drivers to weather apps pinpointing storms. Instead of just viewing static maps on a desktop, Mobile GIS allows anyone in the field to collect real-time data, update map layers on the spot, and snap geotagged photos using specialized mobile apps.
The chapter breaks down several key tools, each built for a specific kind of field work. ArcGIS Survey123 feels just like creating a Google Form, but every response automatically links to a specific point on a map. ArcGIS QuickCapture is designed for high-speed data collection, like tapping a single big button on your phone screen while riding a bike to log road damage or tree locations instantly. Other tools  lettyou view hidden GIS data layered directly over your phone’s camera view of the real world. 

You could use a custom dataset that would be a Interactive Campus Recycling & Sustainability App. The main screen could feature a map showing every recycling, composting, and e-waste bin across campus. Users could click quick filter buttons to show only specific bin types, like electronics or aluminum. Clicking a bin location on the map would immediately open a side panel with photos of what goes inside and the pickup schedule. You could even add a second tab that takes users on a guided virtual tour of campus green spots like solar panels and community gardens. Experience Builder makes combining all these moving pieces easy.

Chapter 3

In this chapter, I learned about the different aspects of ArcGIS Experience Builder. Experience Builder is an app that uses widgets to combine different apps such as mapping, table views, querying, charting, and reporting. The app layout is based on the components pages and windows. Pages provide the different sections of Experience Builder, while windows provide the content in those sections. Within the pages and windows, there are widgets. The two types of widgets include basic and layout. Basic widgets perform foundational aspects of the app such as maps, legends, layers, filters, and charts, while layout widgets help organize these basic widgets. In this chapter’s tutorial, I created a web experience using Experience Builder. I learned skills such as how to integrate 2D and 3D maps into the app, organize and animate widgets, configure map actions, configure dynamic content, and many other basic functions of the app. While I was able to complete the tutorial successfully, I did run into a few minor issues. For example, some of the book steps did not exactly line up with the app, leaving me to explore the app to find the point of reference. I also could not add the link to the “Alerts” page. To fix this, I went to the site and copied the new URL that was compatible with the app.

Application Idea: I would create a web experience based on my application idea from chapter 2 (percent change in annual rainfall throughout the United States). One half of the experience would be a 2D map displaying the percent annual change in rainfall throughout the United States in the form of graduated colors. The other would be a 3D map with height representing the quantity of change and color representing a positive or negative change. I would add map actions to mirror the location of selection on both maps. Other pages would include one detailing a variety of statistical analyses and one linked to a flood relief website.

Chapter 4

This chapter explored all there is to know about Mobile GIS. This chapter was particularly interesting to me because although I knew that GIS was involved in many things, it really put into perspective just how widely it is used. While the chapter initially detailed some navigational information, it mainly focused on the different apps of Mobile GIS. By explaining what the apps were for and how they are directly applied into society, I was able to identify the apps that were and will be the most useful to me. Something that I appreciated in the tutorials of this chapter was that it was split into four different exercises. By doing this, I was able to more thoroughly understand the apps better since I was able to individually work with each one. The first exercise was focused on ArcGIS Survey123. This app reminded me of Google Forms and was easy to navigate and use. During the second exercise, I had some trouble completing the final part because I could not find the steps the chapter was referring to in the app. Exercise three was simple and worked with the QuickCapture app. I enjoyed the premise behind the app because the project that we made in the tutorial seemed like it could be extremely useful. Lastly, the fourth exercise taught me how to prepare data with AuGeo.

Application Idea: The application that I would create would be based on one of the projects that I learned about in one of my classes. I would choose to have people from Delaware County report populations of flowering and native plants they have present on their properties. The survey would consist of them specifying their location, submitting a photo, and describing what the plant looks like and what time it blooms. From this, I would create a map of the possible places for pollinators in Delaware County. The data would represent the pollinator habitats and areas of possible habitat growth.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 provided a new way to create interactive web applications using ArcGIS Experience Builder. Experience Builder is an Esri application that allows users to create interactive web applications without any programming skills. It combines maps, data, images, charts, and other tools to create professional web experiences. Users can build applications that provide information from geographic information, locations, view statistics, and interact with maps.

There are different components called widgets to provide specific functions. For example, the Map widget displays geographic information, the Search widget helps users find locations, and the Filter widget allows users to display selected information. There are many different widgets that also assist in organizing data and can present information in special ways. Another important feature of Experience Builder is its ability to combine 2D maps and 3D scenes. A 2D map displays geographic information on a flat surface, while a 3D scene allows users to explore geographic features with height, depth, and perspective.  Using the action function allows widgets to communicate with each other. For example, when a user selects a location from a list, the map can automatically zoom to that location and display related information. Connecting different widgets can make the application more interactive and easier to use. Dynamic content in maps can also be filtered to fit the needs of the user. 

Users can create multiple pages within an Experience Builder application and organize them using layouts, menus, and navigation tools. For example, a tourism application may contain separate pages for tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, and transportation. Overall, ArcGIS Experience Builder is an application that makes developing web applications functional for all kinds of users by combining geographic data, maps, and visual information.

Chapter 4

Mobile GIS is useful because access to geographic data outside the traditional office environment is flexible for some users. One advantage to Mobile GIS is its ability to collect user time data and it records locations more accurately. Mobile GIS also makes fieldwork easier because information can be collected electronically instead of using paper forms. Some mobile GIS applications support offline data collection, allowing users to work in areas without internet access and synchronize their information when a connection becomes available.

Mobile GIS uses different types of geographic features, including points, lines, and polygons. Points represent locations, lines represent features, while polygons represent areas such as buildings, lakes, and parks. Feature layers store these geographic features together with their attribute information. Users can edit feature layers by adding, updating, or deleting information. Domains can also be used to restrict attribute values to specific choices, maintaining accurate and consistent data.

There are several approaches to developing mobile GIS applications, including browser-based, native, and hybrid applications. Browser-based applications operate through web browsers, native applications are developed for specific operating systems, and hybrid applications combine web technologies with native mobile features. These approaches allow GIS applications to operate on different devices and provide access to features such as GPS, cameras, and location services. 

There are many subsets of applications that ArcGIS provides for mobile GIS. ArcGIS Field Maps allows users to view maps, collect geographic data, and edit geographic features while working in the field. ArcGIS Survey123 is used to create digital surveys and forms for collecting information. ArcGIS QuickCapture allows users to collect information quickly using simple buttons, while ArcGIS Navigator helps fieldworkers find and navigate to assigned locations. These applications improve the efficiency of field data collection and help organizations manage geographic information. Virtual Reality is a growing type of technology that is making it possible for scientists in the field to gather data underground. 

Another important concept in Mobile GIS is Location-Based Services (LBS). These services use the geographic location of a mobile device to provide relevant information or services. Mobile GIS also supports Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), which refers to geographic information voluntarily contributed by members of the public. People can report traffic accidents, flooding, road damage, and other events, helping organizations gather information from different locations. Mobile GIS is widely used by different companies and agencies. It allows organizations to collect and share geographic information more efficiently, improve field operations, and make better decisions using accurate location-based data.

Application:

One way that I could apply chapters three and four is tracking different wildlife populations. This would be using multiple approaches such as using Mobile GIS and ArcGIS Experience Builder to create an interactive map showing accurate data. Researchers would use Mobile GIS to collect data and animal sightings and place it directly to coordinates. 

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 sort of lays out the basics of Web GIS. The biggest difference compared with desktop GIS is that you can actually make and use maps right inside a web browser, so sharing maps becomes easier and faster, with no extra steps. And the book shows where GIS is used up in government, business, science, and honestly in everyday routines too, not just in strict technical roles. The COVID-19 example stayed with me the most. I felt it was clear, really relatable, and a good demonstration of how normal people can follow real-world data while it keeps changing, not only read about it after it already happened. I also picked up the main pieces of a web map, like basemaps, operational layers, and web apps. The basemap is kind of the backdrop, the operational layers are where the information lives that you want to display, and the web apps are what let other folks interact with the finished map. In the tutorial we uploaded a CSV file, then turned it into a feature layer, and then built a map from that. Since I mostly work with Python, R, and SQL, I’m used to seeing things as tables and graphs, so seeing the same kind of data on a map felt different, in a good way, like a different angle. One thing I am wondering about is how straightforward it is to update the data after a web map has already been created. Maybe the book covered it, but right now I’m still a bit unsure about how it works in practice, and what the workflow looks like when you actually have to change things.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 talks about smart mapping and how fast geographic information gets presented so people can grasp it. I really liked that when you change colors, symbols, and sizes the patterns pop out right away, it feels kind of immediate. A map that shows population change is easier to read than a spreadsheet that’s just rows and rows of numbers. Also, the pop-ups help since users can click on a place and then see statistics, images, and even charts, all in one spot. ArcGIS StoryMaps was new to me, because I didn’t realize that maps, text, images, and videos can be stitched together into one interactive story. I think it could be a really good method to show a data analysis project to others who are not comfortable with the whole technical side. On top of that, I noticed ArcGIS Arcade too, which lets users write expressions to calculate values directly within a map. That immediately reminded me of writing code, so I would like to experiment with it at some point. I do have one question though, which is how much statistical work can actually be done inside ArcGIS Online. Since I already use Python and R, I’m wondering if it’s possible to connect them with ArcGIS Online for more advanced analysis, or if you have to keep the deeper stats outside the platform.

Application Idea

One possible application would be an interactive map that kind of compares household income and housing prices across the United States. Because I am studying Data Analysis and Quantitative Economics, I am interested in how these two factors differ by region, like maybe the Midwest versus the coasts or the South. I would use data from the U.S. Census Bureau to build a dataset with median household income and median home values for states or counties. In ArcGIS Online, I would use different colors to represent the values, and then add pop-ups with more detailed information for each area. After that, I would use StoryMaps to explain the patterns, especially in places where housing prices are high relative to income. I think this project would be a good way to blend my background in data analysis with the concepts from Chapters 1 and 2.

Chapter 3:

I found Chapter 3 very informative, as it discussed the features of WebGIS that allow the user to add important features like widgets onto a web map. The chapter also talked about the different types of widgets, such as basic widgets (functional widgets that can perform as app tools), and layout widgets (containers that help organize widgets on your page or windows). The tutorial within the chapter also allows you to practice adding and editing widgets on a web map, and I found the hands-on portion of the chapter very informative.

The chapter also talks about the basics of WebGIS Experience Builder, which allows the user to to create unique web experiences using flexible layouts, content, and widgets that interact with 2D and 3D data. With the Builder, you can make templates for mobile-adaptive apps, and later modify them for a variety of screen sizes. Mobile apps could also be constructed from the Builder, as the user has a large amount of creative freedom.

One question I had about the use of widgets is whether programming languages other than JavaScript and HTML could be used to create/edit their functions, or if they are restricted to these 2 languages.

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Chapter 4:

I found Chapter 4 of Getting To Know Web GIS very interesting. It talked about 2 functions I found very fascinating, 1) Mobile GIS/ app development and 2) tracking features within Web GIS. I found it interesting to learn about the different advantages mobile GIS has over traditional desktop, such as increased mobility, ease of data collection and near-real-time information.

Additionally, the chapter also discusses ArcGIS Indoors, a mobile app that provides an in-door mapping experience for understanding the locations of things and activities happening within your organization’s environment. There are several capabilities available within the Indoors app, including way finding/navigation, launch actions and calendar integration.

In addition, I found it interesting to learn about the different mobile app development strategies, such as the more traditional browser-based approach and the hybrid-based method, which involves uploading HTML and JavaScript contents into a native app. One question I did have about the chapter comes from this section; 3 methods were listed as ways one could develop a web GIS mobile app, and while looking through them I wondered whether there were any other methods of mobile app development, or if other development methods are currently in the works.

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Application:

One application I can think of from both these chapters is a national park (eg. Shale Hollow Park) creating a mobile app that would allow users to navigate the park without getting lost. Users can find the quickest route to different features of the park from their location using the way finding feature, and find 3D projections of the park’s layout, if the app was developed using the Experience Builder that was discusses in Chapter 3. This would allow users to get a more in-depth view of the park before they decide to visit/hike to certain features.

Chapter 3 focuses on ArcGIS Experience Builder, which allows the use of both single-page and multi-page layouts with scrolling screens, allowing us to use 2D web maps and 3D web scenes within a single interface. Through the use of triggers and actions, we are able to show inter-widget communication. For example, we used data on hurricanes and earthquakes and made many different charts and pictures to communicate the information. Fflo isdz so present the information in many different ways. The only thing that helped me back in this section is that there was no 3D map, no matter how much I looked. It never appeared on the page when I looked for it, so I couldn’t complete the parts that used it.

Chapter 4 covers ArcGIS Web AppBuilder, which showcased the modular framework built around predefined visual themes and functional 2D/3D widgets like attribute tables, queries, and spatial measurement tools. The chapter emphasizes its transition out of active development. Modern Web GIS practices now center on migrating legacy Web AppBuilder workflows and widget functions into Experience Builder’s more extensible architecture. I also struggled a little bit with this chapter even though it didn’t seem too bad. I think the change in the apps and how different WebGIS and ArcGIS is what is really getting me. Even though they are two different things, I continue to think that they will somehow be the same.

The Global Wildlife Migration & Human Coexistence Tracker applies the concepts from Chapters 3 and 4 to help wildlife biologists and park rangers monitor animal movements while mitigating human-wildlife conflict. Using ArcGIS Experience Builder, the application features a dynamic layout that links a 2D GPS telemetry map with a 3D terrain scene, enabling interactive triggers so that selecting an animal species or tracking ID automatically zooms the map, rotates the 3D elevation view, and updates movement charts. 

Chapter 1

Introduces the concept of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and explains how Web GIS is different from desktop GIS. Unlike traditional desktop GIS, Web GIS allows users to access maps and geographic data through web browsers, computers, tablets, and smartphones. GIS is more accessible because users can work with geographic information from different locations without depending entirely on their local computers. Web maps combine different geographic layers to display information in one place, while web applications allow users to interact with maps and geographic data.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 focuses on how geographic information can be presented through maps, charts, images, and interactive applications. It explains how smart mapping and storytelling help people understand geographic information more easily. One of the important topics in this chapter is feature layers. A feature layer is a collection of geographic features that can be displayed on a map. Geographic features are commonly represented as points, lines, and polygons. Points represent specific locations such as hospitals and schools, lines represent features such as roads and rivers, and polygons represent areas such as counties, states, and land boundaries. Feature layers can also contain attribute information, including names, addresses, population numbers, and other details about geographic features. Smart mapping is the process of using appropriate visual styles to communicate geographic information effectively. Smart mapping allows users to display information using different colors, symbols, and sizes to show patterns and relationships. Smart mapping makes maps easier to understand, helps identify trends, and allows users to compare geographic information. ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World is a collection of geographic information, maps, imagery, and other GIS resources that users can access and use in their projects. It provides information about population, weather, transportation, environmental conditions, satellite imagery, and other geographic topics. Instead of collecting all geographic data independently, users can find existing datasets through Living Atlas and incorporate them into their maps. GIS storytelling involves combining maps, photographs, charts, text, and other media to explain geographic information and communicate important ideas. ArcGIS StoryMaps is a tool that allows users to create interactive stories using geographic information. It helps communicate geographic problems and findings in a way that is easier for people to understand. These principles help users navigate maps and understand the information being presented. Geocoding is the process of converting addresses or place names into geographic coordinates, such as latitude and longitude. This allows addresses to be displayed as points on a map.  A pop-up may show a location’s name, address, photographs, statistics, and other information. Finally, Chapter 2 explains how images and charts can be added to map pop-ups to make geographic information more informative.

 

Possible Application:

A good GIS application should have a simple layout, clear information, organized content, useful interactive features, and an attractive appearance. Cedar Point is a popular tourist attraction located in Sandusky, Ohio, along the shores of Lake Erie. The purpose of this Web GIS project is to apply basic GIS concepts by creating an interactive map that identifies Cedar Point’s location and highlights important geographic features and nearby points of interest. The project demonstrates how Web GIS technology can be used to visualize geographic information, organize spatial data, and provide useful information to visitors.

Chapter 1

This chapter talked a lot about the advantages of WebGIS over ArcGIS. Some of these include: global reach/higher accessability (with lots of user exposure and the fact that it is a low-cost program), cross-platform/device accessability (so that it is more mobile and even more accessable), and ease of use. It is also easier to maintain compared to ArcGIS because updates happen system-wide rather than on individual devices. The chapter also talked about how it is used in the government, buisnesses, science, and daily life. I was interested to hear about the application of covid-19 tracking. Its accessibility really allows the general public to be informed about things such as that. During the tutorial portion of this chapter, it was a bit less intuitive than I found it to be in the introduction. I could not find some things, which led me to not really be able to do it right… But overall, the tutorials gave a good introduction to the basic functions of WebGIS and publishing things on there. We also learned about the 5 data types which are data, layers, web maps/scenes, tools, and apps/ We got to work with them in the tutorial.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 was all about “storytelling” with webGIS. It talked about pop-ups, mapping style and how t deliver a message through methods of mapping, and how feature layers work (and their different types). Regarding creating a story, it discussed style and the logistics of actually doing it. This was all pretty familiar to me from the WebGIS chapter in 291. It was just a bit different because we did not use ArcGIS for any of the process in these tutorials, which is interesting.

Application:

One application of the information collected in these chapters would be to make a story to present information about how crime has changed over the years in an area, similar to the population change example in the book. I think, however, crime would be interesting to look at because it can be looked at while considering the course of current events and how crime trends seem to follow them. For example, drug charges would have increased during the opioid crisis, but other trends that maybe have not been thought about may come to light.

Chapter 1:

From chapter 1, it starts off by giving a brief history of the evolution of GIS and expands on its uses: government, local, business, and public use. I thought it was interesting that the chapter mentions the growth of Arc GIS after covid. GIS provides an opportunity for people to create content but also allows people to discover. The chapter also introduces the term “geo portal” which just refers to the gateway of web sources. Mobile and cloud GIS allow the information to become more mobile. GIS is also expanding its intelligence by using AI to scan and implement data. I liked how the chapter had a chart that represented the main types of GIS and had the privileges and apps on the chart. The chapter also defines tools, base maps, and operational layers, and describes how those components of a web GIS map. Next, the chapter introduces and defines hosted: a situation in which web service in based on Arc GIS- managed data, and non hosted: a situation where a web service connects directly to user-managed data. The chapter explains how photos and other media is important to GIS because it can show things that may be invisible to just the human eye. From the tutorial, I was able to download data and add it to my new file. I ran into a problem by not being able to find the tabs that it was showing in the pictures so that was a little discouraging . But I was able to get familiar to the process of downloading data and looking at the maps in the OWU Maps GIS.

Chapter 2:

This chapter begins by identifying the importance of web layers in GIS. It also defines the different types of layers. I liked the chart that showed the different types of mapping styles with a description and a photo. The chapter also goes into describing the way in which the information is presented almost in a story-like way because of the pop-ups and narration and how they can contribute to the map. In tutorial 2, we were able to upload chapter 2’s data and configure the layers by using the smart map tools. I still had a little trouble navigating through the online website so I think I will probably need to come back to this. But overall I enjoyed reading about new topics and seeing how they applied in the maps.

Chapter 1: Introducing Web GIS

Chapter 1 shows the fundamentals of Web GIS, including the concepts and its evolution over time. It helps present the advantages of using the app due to the large following and use of this website for different types of data that are mapped. The chapter details the core components of the ArcGIS Web GIS platform—specifically focusing on ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise—which act as centralized portals for managing, securing, and sharing spatial resources. We explored essential basic concepts like web maps, web layers, and apps, which is something that I haven’t really seen before. Something that I thought was cool was the fact that we could share our maps and information with certain people (like your workplace) or you could share it with everyone that uses WebGIS. This chapter helped present the change from ArcGIS, which you can’t share with others unless it is sent, to a more modern WebGIS, which can be seen by anyone with just one click of a button. Through introductory tutorials, we practiced navigating this system, handling comma-separated value (CSV) datasets, and executing foundational workflows to publish and share web maps across communities and organizations. To me, this chapter was a little difficult to start as it just seemed so much harder than ArcGIS, but once I got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing from there. The only problem that I really ran into was the book being different than the website due to updates, and also having to click back and forth between the book and the website.

Chapter 2: Hosted Feature Layers and Esri Story Maps
Chapter 2 transitions into hands-on data management and visual storytelling by focusing on hosted feature layers and Esri Story Maps. The chapter takes us through generating spatial data from tabular records, such as CSV files, using geocoding tools to place address data on a web map. Once we created the layer, we learned, step by step, how to build meaningful layer styles to visually communicate patterns, trends, and data attributes effectively. Finally, in Chapter 2, we explored the idea of using Esri Story Maps. It teaches students how to combine interactive web maps, explanatory text, images, and guided tour layouts to present spatial analysis in an engaging, easy-to-digest format designed for non-technical stakeholders and the general public. I personally didn’t like this part of the tutorial just because it didn’t seem very interesting to me. It was also just weird in some ways. I can see how it is important, though, as it is very easy to make something to present the data you find.

Application Description Using Own Data
One application idea that I can think of for Ch. 1 and 2 is looking at animal shelters and local pet adoption in a certain area. I would be able to use data from the shelters (hopefully) that contained information about the animals (like their name, species, intake date, and photo), which I would then upload to ArcGIS Online and create a layer that features different icons for the aesthetic. Using different calculations (like those done in chapter 2), we could show the number of days each animal has been in the shelter. We would be able to use all this information to make an Esri Story Map so people would be able to see all these animals perfectly.