Geography 292: Geospatial Analysis with Web GIS

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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My name is Camryn Henderson and I am a freshman from Wadsworth, OH. I am an ENVS and Theater double major with a PG minor. I took GEOG 291 in the first half of the semester and am excited to expand my GIS knowledge.

In 291 I looked a little bit into my ArcGIS online account but I looked more in depth this week. One interesting thing I found was the different categories in the Training section. There are numerous different programs to help familiarize you with ArcGIS which I think will be very helpful for the rest of the semester. The other interesting thing was the ArcGIS blog which has many articles discussing updates and different things you can do with ArcGIS.

One really cool thing I learned from the Introduction page was all of the different ways you can share your work. You can create notebooks, and web apps, and collaborate with other users to make something together. The other cool thing is that once you are a member of ArcGIS online you are able to communicate with other members and all of your work will be saved in a cloud.

During the course one thing I had not known about was what all of the different app builders that you can use. I was able to learn how to use Instant App which allowed me to quickly make my map an interactive web map. Another interesting thing I learned in the course was about the different levels of sharing you can have for a map. Private, Group, Organization and Public all provide different levels of privacy for a map and are used for different things.

Two courses I find interesting were “Collect Data in the Field using ArcGIS apps” and “ArcGIS Online Fundamentals”

The first map I found was about the migration patterns of Great White Sharks off the coast of Australia. They tracked sharks using GPS and the heat map technique to show where most Great Whites tend to reside during their migration period.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=c7463757611446ee8867c8fb6b028a9b

The second map was about criminal activity (specifically burglary) in a county in Florida. The yellows and reds indicate a higher amount of burglary than the blue areas. I found this on a website that gave a tutorial on how to best symbolize criminal activity on GIS maps.

https://www.napsgfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Tutorial-3_Crime_Mapping_Final_PostNGPS-1.pdf

Hello! My name is Ashley Bahrey and I am a junior Zoology, Environmental Science, and Geography major. I am from Bristolville, Ohio and I like to make jewelry and crochet in my spare time. I also have three cats that I love and adore!!!

Upon poking my OWU ArcGIS Online account, I was able to discover a lot about Esri and the resources that I can interact with. I did not expect the available training courses to have estimated completion times ranging from hours to weeks. I also found the Field Operations training curriculum category surprising, but it certainly makes sense that enhancing field data collection accuracy would improve the overall efficiency of GIS projects. I have stumbled upon the Esri Community page while troubleshooting for desktop GIS and I think it’s really cool that there is a public place where users can come together to solve problems and the records of these exchanges can be used to craft a solution to a similar issue. 

Reading through “Get Started: What Is ArcGIS Online” exposed me to loads of awesome tools I will be able to use to visualize 2D and 3D data with ArcGIS Online. I learned that the ArcGIS Notebook Editor includes a Tasks feature that allows you to schedule notebooks to run automatically, meaning ArcGIS can process data or generate reports on a set schedule without you having to run them manually. I was also introduced to Instant Apps for quickly building web apps, Web AppBuilder for more customizable apps, and Field Apps for data collection in the field, which are selected based on what you want the app to do (viewing, analyzing, or collecting geographic data).

ArcGIS Online Basics Training Course:
The ArcGIS Online Basics training course showcases the general capabilities of ArcGIS Online and provides a good summary of web layer types and functions. The scenarios for choosing the appropriate sharing level (private, group, organization, or public) at the end of section 3 demonstrated why it is important to consider who can access your organization’s content in certain scenarios. Section 4 taught me about how ArcGIS app builders allow you to create interactive web apps without coding, offering tools like Instant Apps, Dashboards, StoryMaps, and Experience Builder to enhance your content and engage your audience.

Two Esri online training courses that look interesting to me are “Getting Started with Data Management” and “Using GIS to Solve Problems”. I believe that learning how GIS data is structured, stored, and accessed as well as a five-step process to solve a problem using GIS would better equip me with the skills to utilize GIS efficiently in the future.

Search 1: “ArcOnline atrazine”

This map is found in a StoryMap made in ArcGIS Online which recaps a 2021 study led by Atreyi Guin, graduate student at the University of Michigan, that identified the stream networks vulnerable to pesticide (atrazine) contamination within the North Raccoon River Watershed in northern Iowa using the weighted overlay method in ArcGIS Pro. 55% of streams fall under the risk of being contaminated with pesticides from the adjacent corn fields and of those “at risk” streams, nearly 19% are in close proximity to highly populated areas with a population of more than 10,000 people.

Search 2: “ArcOnline superfund sites Ohio”

This is a map of Superfund reuse sites, or formerly contaminated Superfund sites that have since been remediated and are being repurposed for new, safe, and productive uses (green space, commercial, residential, public service, industrial, military/federal use, or mixed use projects) in Ohio. Data points were obtained from the Superfund Enterprise Management Systems (SEMS) database and the map is updated as more sites are placed into reuse (last updated on October 8th, 2024).