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Chapter 3

In chapter 3, we learn about the experience builder that allows you to create web apps with no programming. This builder seems accessible for those who have never worked with this type of program before, with its premade templates. I’ve been finding these tutorials easier than 291, which I was kind of surprised by. I enjoyed creating a map with a 2D and 3D perspective. 

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 discussed how we have moved past using PCs and are now relying on smartphones and other wearable devices. Being able to use Web GIS on these devices is important for mobility and near-real-time information. One thing that caught my attention was using virtual reality. I feel like it would hurt my head trying to use a map in VR. 

Application Idea

My application is kind of inspired by iNaturalist, but I think it would be interesting to use a web app that tracks the location and amount of invasive insect species in Delaware. The app would allow people to take a picture and provide their location. Some invasive insects are the elm zigzag sawfly, the spotted lantern fly, or asian longhorned ticks (not an insect).

 

Quick edit to say I have already completed the Delaware Data Inventory in Geo 291.

Chapter 3 dives into ArcGIS Experience Builder, and I found it to be a really flexible and user friendly tool. It stood out because it supports both 2D and 3D maps and gives you the freedom to organize and design how you want your content to appear. Pages act as the main structure, and widgets tools you can place on the page let you customize interactions. There are different types of widgets, and each one can perform specific actions, including message based interactions that connect with other parts of the app. What made it all easier to understand were the tutorials. They walked me through the steps in a way that made everything feel approachable, even without a strong GIS background. It’s a great example of how the platform isn’t just for professionals it’s accessible to anyone who’s interested.

Chapter 4 shifts the focus to Mobile GIS, which is becoming increasingly important as more people use smartphones rather than computers or tablets. Mobile GIS makes it possible to access, collect, and work with spatial data from anywhere, thanks to wireless internet and the speed of mobile devices. While it’s not always easy to work on a smaller screen, especially with large datasets or complex features, mobile apps like QuickCapture and ArcGIS Indoors really open up new ways to engage with GIS in real time. I liked how the chapter made clear when it makes more sense to use mobile GIS versus WebGIS. It helped me understand that while mobile is great for on the go work, certain tasks still benefit from the broader screen and functionality of a web-based setup.

After working through the “Explore your surroundings in AR” tutorial, I started thinking about how cool it would be to create something similar for downtown Delaware. I’d love to develop an app that lets people learn about historical landmarks and local attractions just by pointing their phone camera at them. It would be a fun and educational way to explore the city, using augmented reality to make the experience interactive and engaging.

Since I took GEOG 291, I’ve already completed the Delaware Data Inventory. It was interesting to revisit some of those layers now that I have a better understanding of how they can be used in different GIS applications. Layers like Zip Code, School District, Parcel, and Building Outlines offered a strong foundation, while more specialized layers like E911 Data, PLSS, and Annexation added deeper historical and emergency context. The Recorded Document layer was one I found especially interesting it was cool to zoom in on OWU and see university housing data pop up. Another standout was the Dedicated ROW layer, which shows which roads are designated for public access. Even the more complex or less familiar layers, like Subdivision or Farm Lot, offered a glimpse into how much information is available to work with if you take the time to explore and interpret it.

When comparing Experience Builder with Web AppBuilder, both tools are solid for creating web apps, but they differ in style and flexibility. Experience Builder feels more modern and creative, with its drag and drop interface and mobile friendly design. It’s perfect for mixing maps, dashboards, and charts all in one place. Web AppBuilder is a little more straightforward, using pre made templates and a library of widgets to help get basic apps up and running quickly ideal for quick projects or for folks who are just starting out.

For my own application idea, I want to use the Delaware data from GEOG 291 to build a web app in Experience Builder that highlights flood risk zones across the county. The goal is to let users explore which areas are most vulnerable, compare that with demographic data, and link to local emergency planning resources. With customizable widgets, I can make it easy for users to filter by flood zone severity or population characteristics. I think this kind of tool would be valuable for both public awareness and local planning. I’m also interested in using Survey123 and Field Maps for future applications tied to public health or environmental data, since mobile GIS makes real time data collection and access in the field so much easier.

Chapter 3:

This chapter focuses on the Experience Builder aspect of ArcGIS, which offers a bunch of new features that were not previously available. The main trait of the experience builder is that it is flexible and allows for configurations of layers. The scenes or maps that you can bring in can be either 2D or 3D and the layers you create and how you design them is all up to you. Pages are the main component and windows will appear next to any widgets. The two types of widgets have different functions and are customizable as well. There are two different groups of actions that are available for each widget, and a few components corresponding to one group, the message actions. Once again, I enjoy that the book provides in-depth tutorials for different applications, because it really helps a layfolk (like me) be able to put these new ideas into practice.

Chapter 4:

The ideas presented in this chapter are representative of the fact that many people nowadays use smartphones rather than PCs or tablets. In light of that, Mobile GIS, its advantages, and its features are described. Mobile GIS can be accessed without a wired connection and offers many more types of communication in the app. Mobile GIS also provides a quicker way of accessing the data we want since smartphones tend to operate more quickly than computers, and the wireless connection is what allows for this. There are a few limitations discussed regarding mobile GIS, which is the inconvenience of trying to work with so much data and so many features on a much smaller screen. For certain types of actions you can take in ArcGIS, it would make more sense to use WebGIS rather than mobile due to these limitations. The two features that seemed most interesting to me were the QuickCapture and the ArcGIS indoors mobile app.

Application:

I am super interested in the idea of highlighting the city of Delaware’s main attractions after looking at the tutorial titled “Explore your surroundings in AR.” I think it would be really  fun to go around downtown Delaware and use my phone for educational purposes in order to learn more about the key attractions downtown just by using my phone camera.

Delaware Data Inventory:

(I did not take 291)

• Zip Code: The 2000 consensus recorded all of the zip codes in Delaware county and they were then cleaned and evaluated in 2003. This specific layer was created using the USPS’s website and is updated each month.
• School District: This layer provides an overview of the different school districts in Delaware county. It was cool to see how the districts are broken up throughout the county.
• Building Outline 2023: This layer is super busy and contains over 100k records, as it is an overview of every building in Delaware county as of 2023. The site recommended that I zoom in, in order to be able to view all of the records.
• Parcel: This layer was really interesting! This is another one where you have to zoom in so that you can really understand what you’re looking at. It shows different pieces of land or property that are taxable, and if you click on different sections, it goes into even greater detail by showing you the owner of each property.
• Street Centerline: This layer shows every single street in Delaware county. These streets are all paved and are either public or private roads.
• Condo: The data for this layer is more spread out, as condos are much less common in Delaware county. If you click on a condo, it tells you the name of the condo neighborhood, and some other information.
• Subdivision: The data in this layer is split up by condos and subdivisions in Delaware county. I am less familiar with how to interpret this data, so it was a bit confusing.
• PLSS: PLSS stands for Public Land Survey System, and this layer consists of all parts of the PLSS parts of the US and Virginia Military survey districts in Delaware county.
• Township: This layer represents all the townships that are part of Delaware county. It was interesting to see how these were split up and what townships are surrounding me.
• E911 Data: This layer provides 911 agencies the information they may need if they were to comply with phase 2 of 911 requirements. It says this data is updated on a daily basis, which I thought was super cool.
• Building Outline 2021: Once again, this layer shows an outline of every single building or structure in Delaware county as of 2021.
• Original Township: This layer confused me a bit, because it is almost the exact same as the “Township” layer. Again, it shows the townships in Delaware county and how they are split up.
• Recorded Document: This layer shows all addresses in Delaware county that are certified. I zoomed into OWU and clicked on a few datapoints and they were categorized as University Housing, which is obvious but still cool to me.
• Dedicated ROW: This layer was probably one of my favorites that I have seen in this data inventory. This shows all streets that are designated as Right of Way, and almost all streets surrounding OWU count as designated ROW.
• Precinct: The properties of this layer give an overview of all the voting precincts in Delaware county. I do not vote in Delaware county because I’m from Cuyahoga county, so it was cool to see all the places that people can go to in order to vote.
• Map Sheet: This layer was very straightforward, with its summary stating that it shows all map sheets that are within Delaware county.
• Farm Lot: Different farm lots are split up in this layer. There was not much information provided on what exactly this could mean, so again I am unsure of the significance of this layer.
• Annexation: The data in this layer shows annexations in Delaware county from the year of 1853 up until now. There is one big data point of annexation for all areas surrounding OWU.
• Survey: There are many small data points in this layer, each representing a different section of land that was surveyed by the map department.
• Tax District: This layer shows how the tax districts of Delaware county are split up and provides information of the numbers that correspond with each tax district.
• GPS: This layers represents data points of all GPS monuments that are in Delaware county (super cool!).

 

In Chapters 3 and 4, I learned about two powerful tools for creating interactive GIS applications: ArcGIS Experience Builder and ArcGIS Web AppBuilder. Both platforms allow users to create custom web applications, but they differ in terms of flexibility, functionality, and user interface.

Experience Builder felt like a more modern and customizable tool, especially with its drag-and-drop interface and responsive design features, making it well-suited for creating apps that work across devices. I found the widgets library to be highly versatile and liked that you can integrate dashboards, maps, and charts all into one seamless app.

Web AppBuilder, while slightly older, still offers strong tools for fast map-based application development. I appreciated its ready-to-use templates and the large collection of widgets, which are very helpful for creating simple, functional web apps without coding.

Application Idea (Based on Chapters 3 & 4)

For my application, I plan to use Delaware Data from Geog 291 to create a web app highlighting Delaware flood risk zones using Experience Builder. The app will allow users to view flood-prone areas, compare them with demographic data, and access links to emergency preparedness resources. By using interactive widgets, users will be able to filter the map by county, flood zone severity, and population characteristics. This app will be helpful for both public awareness and local decision-making.

Delaware Data Inventory

I have already completed the Delaware Data Inventory assignment previously in Geog 291.

 

Chapter 3 

Chapter 3 focused heavily on the Experience Builder, and I found the whole process incredibly engaging. What stood out most was how intuitive and user-friendly this tool is, even for individuals without a deep GIS background. Being able to create web maps using both 2D and 3D perspectives added a new layer of interactivity, and organizing content through widgets made the experience more dynamic. One idea that came to mind during this chapter was to build a web map visualizing crime patterns in Delaware County. With widgets and charts, users could explore what types of crimes occur most frequently, and where hotspots are located. It would be a powerful tool for community awareness and decision-making.

Chapter 4 

This chapter highlighted the importance of Mobile GIS, especially for real-time data collection and access. One of my favorite tools was Survey123, which was surprisingly simple to set up and personalize. I liked how I could tailor the survey to local issues, then deploy it on my phone and analyze the results back on my computer. I also learned how to publish editable feature layers and explore Field Maps—a useful tool for tracking and recording data while in the field. The rapid data collection section especially stood out for its practicality in fast-paced, real-world scenarios.

Application Ideas 

I’m thinking about applying these GIS tools to the world of urban infrastructure and municipal maintenance. Using web maps and mobile apps, cities could streamline how they collect, visualize, and respond to infrastructure issues. For example:

• Residents could report issues like broken sidewalks or illegal dumping via Survey123.

• City crews could access Field Maps to view problem areas in real time and log repairs.

• City planners could use a web map dashboard to identify which areas consistently have the most reported issues and allocate resources more efficiently.

This kind of system would make city services more responsive, transparent, and data-driven, while also engaging the public in maintaining the spaces they live in.

Data Inventory

Done in 291

Chapter 3

Exploring the experience builder was really fascinating. I believe this tool will be beneficial for individuals who may not have prior experience with GIS, allowing them to interact with the maps and develop an interest in the subject. The tutorials provided were quite useful for guiding me through the online interface. I also found the question and answer section to be a valuable resource for troubleshooting.

Chapter 4

The brief mention of the post-PC era really caught my attention and made me reflect on how much we take technology for granted. I often forget what it would be like to live without the devices I rely on today. Mobile GIS seems especially useful for accessing data quickly and easily on the go. I also appreciated the table that simplifies the process of sharing feature layers, it really made the concept clearer. The section on Rapid Data Collection was equally interesting.

Application Ideas

I can see how both of these sections are valuable for fieldwork or for individuals who may not be well-versed in GIS but still need to access data rather than build maps. One potential application I see is in the public health sector, where someone may need quick access to data about specific addresses or municipalities to identify clusters of disease cases. In the field, using a mobile app with this data would greatly enhance the ability to address and track health issues.

Data Inventory

I Did this in 291

Selecting Ideas

I’m considering focusing on public health and epidemiology, using concepts from Chapter 3 along with data from the Delaware Data Inventory, to create something that could benefit a health department in their work.

Chapter 3 focused on different parts of ArcGIS. I was able to create a web map using both 2D and 3D maps. I learned how to organize my web map by reshaping and moving my different items to look and function the best. This entire tutorial was very easy to understand and follow. The entire chapter used the web map and showed me how to do many different things with it. Not only did I learn how to add maps, but I also learned how to create different kinds of widgets as well. Each tutorial walked me through a different step of creating a web map.  In the last tutorial, I learned how to navigate multiple pages, which I struggled with at first, but I was able to retrace my steps and figure out what went wrong. For chapter 3 I could create a web map for Delaware County crime by using charts and widgets to show where the crimes are most prominent and what kinds of crimes they are.

Chapter 4 first started by explaining different things GIS on a mobile device can be used for which I then used throughout my tutorials. The first half of chapter 4 taught me how to create, publish and take a survey through ArcGIS Survey123. This is one of my favorite things I’ve learned how to do because it was so easy to navigate and can be used in so many subjects. I also liked that you are also to make it local to you by changing the location when creating the survey. After creating the survey I was able to take the survey on my phone and then look at the statistics on my computer. Then I learned how to make an editable feature layer which I did for the rest of the tutorials. I also learned how to access Field Maps and other extensions on both my phone and computer. For this chapter I would create a survey for students on campus to be able to report areas that need to be cleaned up do to trash.

Chapter 3 was all about additions of the experienced builder it contained widgets, i.e. basic widgets, their functional layout, and how they perform as Apple tools and layout widgets all the way up to target and triggers I think the widgets are good way to make a more interactive map from how we did in 291

Chapter 4 focuses more on mobile GIS, i.e., the mobility of itsmation accessing a large volume  real-time info of users. It was built around mobile devices operating mobile systems and wireless communication. I think that I would like to use the surveys for my final project since we don’t have a library anymore, and that was my favorite place to study. I would like to find out where other students study.

 

My name is Daniela Flores and I’m from Pennsylvania. I’m a sophomore, environmental science major.

I’m familiar with arcGIS since I took GIS 291 before spring break. I was familiar with the website and found it rewarding that I already knew how easy it was to navigate. It was cool to explore the new website and sort of start over in a way, learning the basics but through a different lens. The online basics training helped me go back into my memory at the start of 291 and really grind the foundational skills into my brain so I could learn them. Meow I really enjoyed the format of the basic training, it was simple information you could learn along with the quiz that helped confirm you learned the topics. I liked learning about things we had used in arcGIS, and learning what they are used for. 

One of my favorite ways GIS mapping is used is shark and sea life tracking. The website OCEARCH is a website that tracks sea life like turtles, seals, sharks and dolphins, with this they are able to see things like migration patterns that we have never seen before. Another GIS application is ASPCA to look at the locations of animals in their shelters, and most at risk to reduce shelter intake, and help the shelters that need it more.

Chapter 3

Learning about the experience builder was very cool, and I think that this type of tool will allow people who might not be familiar with GIS to fully engage with the maps and take an interest into the respective topic. The tutorials seemed to be very helpful when navigating the online interface. I also found that the question and answers section was useful for troubleshooting issues.

 

Chapter 4

I thought the little remark about the post PC era was interesting and actually very thought provoking. I tend to group all of technology together and honestly forget what it would be like to not have all of the devices that I have now. Mobile GIS seems to be very useful when you need to access data with the tip of your fingers. I also thought that the table that organizes the sharing of feature layers made it much easier to understand. The section on Rapid Data Collection was also very cool!

Application Ideas

I can see how both of these sections are useful for people out in the field or for people who might not be completely familiar with the backend of GIS and just need to access the data rather than build a map. I think an application for both of these sections would be in the public health field, where someone needs to access data about addresses and their specific municipality to understand where cases of a disease are clustered. Then, out in the field using some true boot strap epi, using the mobile app would allow you to access data and use this to your advantage when identifying issues.

Data inventory

I did this in 291!

Selecting Ideas

I am thinking of going the public health and epidemiology route to try to use concepts from chapter 3 with data from the Delaware Data Inventory in a way that could be applicable to the health department.