Geography 292: Geospatial Analysis with Web GIS

My name is Halle Kozak, I am a senior majoring in Zoology and Botany. I already did 291 the first half of the semester. I read the syllabus and schedule, took the quiz and scheduled the required meetings with Dr. Krygier. In my account I explored my profile and the other tabs. I found out that you can see different posts from community members regarding ArcGIS online, and I saw all of the different settings I can apply to my account.

What is ArcGIS online:

1.  ArcGIS allows you to explore and visualize 2D and 3D data. It also allows you to share personal maps, work collaboratively to create maps, scenes, apps, and notebooks, and access analysis tools to better understand your data. 
2.  One interesting/important point that this webpage includes is how to create a map on ArcGIS online. The steps include choosing a basemap, adding layers, applying styles, configuring popups, and saving the map. In GEOG291 we learned how to do all of this using ArcGIS. 

ArcGIS online basics

This course taught an overview of ArcGIS online. One thing that I learned was that an ArcGIS online organization is a virtual space within the ArcGIS Online cloud that enables an organization to manage content and foster collaboration. Users with organizational access can participate in groups and share work with other members of the organization. I also learned that there are seven types of operational and basemap layers. These include feature, tile, map image, imagery, elevation, scene, and table. Operational and basemap layers are used to classify layers based on their use or how their data is structured. 

Applications

The first application that I chose is from a paper titled “Influence of landscape heterogeneity on the functional connectivity of Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) in Virginia”. The map shows the locations of rock habitats trapped for Allegany woodrats in Virginia. 

Citation: Kanine, J. M., Kierepka, E. M., Castleberry, S. B., Mengak, M. T., Nibbelink, N. P., & Glenn, T. C. (2018). Influence of landscape heterogeneity on the functional connectivity of Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) in Virginia. Conservation Genetics, 19(5), 1259-1268.

The second application I chose is from a paper titled “ Predicting habitat suitability of the critically endangered Be’er Sheva fringe-fingered lizard”. This map shows the binary habitat suitability using the species distribution model for Acanthodactylus beershebensis. 

Citation: Horesh, S. J., & Ovadia, O. (2024). Predicting habitat suitability of the critically endangered Be’er Sheva fringe‐fingered lizard. Ecology and Evolution, 14(8), e70108.

Hey, I’m Haruno Tadokoro and I’m a junior majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Politics & Governance. I took GEOG 291 in the first module.

This week, I reviewed the course blog, syllabus, and schedule, completed the required readings and training, and took the quiz. 

Since I already completed the ArcGIS Online account setup and the “ArcGIS Online Basics” training in GEOG 291, I reviewed my account briefly this week and made sure everything still works.

After reading ESRI’s “Get Started: What Is ArcGIS Online” page, I learned that ArcGIS Online is very convenient because I can access it from my own computer and work anywhere. I also like that publishing and sharing data online reduces the burden on internal systems and makes data management more efficient.

While taking the ESRI Training Course “ArcGIS Online Basics,” I found information about basemap layers, operational layers, and 3D scenes.
Basemap layers provide geographic context, like imagery, boundaries, or roads, while operational layers are placed on top and contain the data you can interact with—such as viewing information, editing features, or running analyses.
I also learned that besides creating 2D web maps, ArcGIS Online allows users to build 3D web scenes to better visualize and analyze geographic information in a three-dimensional environment. Both the Map Viewer and Scene Viewer can access a default collection of Esri basemaps.

I’m interested in two other ESRI courses: ArcGIS Pro Fundamentals and ArcGIS Pro: Essential Workflows. They both seem helpful for improving my GIS skills and learning how to use ArcGIS Pro effectively.

I found an interesting layer in the ArcGIS Living Atlas called “Asian Alone or in Any Combination by Selected Groups.” It shows recent ACS 5-year data about Asian populations by tract, county, and state. I thought it was cool that the layer updates automatically every year and can be used in different ESRI apps like ArcGIS Pro and Story Maps.

Also, I found a map called “Metro Population Growth and Decline in the United States.” It shows how metro populations across the U.S. are growing or shrinking based on both domestic and international migration.
According to the data from the U.S. Census, large metro areas like Houston, Dallas, and Phoenix are growing fast, while some big cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami are losing domestic residents but gaining immigrants. I thought this was a great example of how GIS helps visualize complex population trends.

Hello! My name is Bret Becker and I’m a junior here at OWU. I’m a Physics and Environmental Science double major, and I like to sleep a lot.

I took GEOG 291 in the first half of the semester, so I already messed around with my ArcGIS account. While reading through the site, I learned that you could use ArcGIS Online to create apps. I also learned that they could customize the website for a specific course’s desires if wanted.

I learned more about how to find different features available with ArcGIS Online and I also learned more about the levels of sharing and why to choose each one.

One application of ArcOnline I found was to use it to map greenhouse gas emission factors to study them by area.

Another application I found was to use it to map solar panels in the United States.

Solar Infrastructure in the US 

Hello, my name is Brendon Hess and I am a Sophomore majoring in Biology and Environmental Science. I am from Perrysville Ohio and I am on the Men’s Soccer team here.

I looked more closely into some of the basic functions and features of my account and I thought it was a very cool layout. I looked through the ERIS Community page a little bit and found that very interesting, its nice that there is one platform for everyone using this site to communicate through and collaborate with each other on ideas, topics, and projects.

Then I read the “Get started: What is ArcGIS Online“, this was a very informative read. I think that it is cool that this Online version can be used for field work, I never thought about that when I was taking Geog 291. I also find it very cool that you can collect your own data and input it into your own system.

After that I went on to complete the ArcGIS Online Basics course, I got to lean about the different layers and how you can interact with them. I also learned how to keep your work within your administration, group and private as well as public. Here are some of my screenshots from the course as well as the certificate.

I already used google scholar to look into GIS Applications in GEOG 291.

Hi! My name is Sky Thompson. I am a junior majoring in Environmental Studies. I did take 291 in the first half of this semester, so now I’m doing 292 and this is my blog for week 1!

I first went ahead and read over the syllabus and schedule and took the quiz. I also scheduled the required meetings with Dr. Krygier. 

I took a look at the different sections in ArcGIS and it just went over my basic profile stuff as well as the Esri page and training. Going through all of it helps you get a better feel of ArcGIS and all the tools you can use. Two things that I made note of when I read the “Get Started: What is ArcGIS”, were 1. You can create both 2D and 3D maps and use a bunch of different tools to do so which we worked on a bit in GEOG 291 and, 2. You can expand your work to people all throughout your community and see other people’s work as well if they choose to share it. All your work can either be saved privately or used publicly to collaborate with others. 

I completed the online training as well and I learned quite a bit about mapping through that as well. A lot of it was just basics, but it’s good to know. I learned similar things to what I learned at the beginning of Geog 291 such as what ArcGIS is used for, how to share your maps with others, how to create a 3D map, and how to look for things such as trails on a map. 

(My photos will not upload so that is why there isn’t any on here!)

An interesting map that I found on google was a map of different land coverage for the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary. Deforestation can really negatively impact a lot of things including restoration and wildlife habitats. The hope in mapping forest cover and locations of encroachment are to help them carry out restoration in a better way.  

This is a link to the article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026483772032531X

Hi, my name is Hektor and I’m a senior(ish…) double majoring in art and environmental studies. I took the quiz and scheduled my appointment, and did a tutorial linked in the Getting Started pages and the Basics one as well. I already have an account from 291. In the getting started parts, I wondered right off the bat if we have access to the ArcGIS Companion app because it would be cool to be able to work on this on the go… or on location! I also thought the indoor floor view sounded interesting, and less limited than what the desktop version could do with splitting up features. Anyways, the first tutorial I did was mapping obesity rates in Alabama, which was linked in those pages. It was pretty straightforward once I got the hang of it, and similar to desktop GIS, just differently arranged. I did finish the tutorial in Alabama, I just had this one screenshot but the finished product is (should be) shared with everyone.

And here’s my certificate from the Basics Tutorial.

Then I looked for a couple maps. This first one is a whole infographic about runoff.

https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/arcnews/with-gis-communities-see-how-land-use-changes-may-affect-local-water-quality

The second one I’m linking because its an interactive map!

INTERACTIVE SMOKEFREE MAPS

Hi! My name is Samuel Baer. I am a junior from Mt. Gilead Ohio studying environmental science and geography.

I took the quiz and I have made my appointments for weeks 2 and 3.

Poking around the account was interesting. I wish My ERSI was a little more accessible but it’s fine. Also I think it was funny to see some of the community posts. Some of them were interesting, and some of them were a little strange.

The starting page was fine. I felt like the training was better at explaining everything, but if I was trying to refresh myself this article would be fine. It is a really good spot to quickly trouble shoot any issues.

The training wasn’t as meticulous as I was expecting. I liked that we were doing the practice maps with mountains,  just because I like that kind of stuff. I also thought the 3D imaging was cool. To be honest I would do that to plan a hiking or backpacking trip.

One of the two applications I found was  of Indian Ocean Ostracod sites. Having these sites mapped out allows them to overlay them with other environmental factors like wind and temperature.

The second application I found was from the Kansas Geological Survey. The map is a lot, but it shows constructed, reconstructed, and plugged wells in Kansas. This could help the state evaluate water management during extreme droughts. or they could use it to evaluate where to put a new farm.

• Field Data Collection and management Using ArcGIS
• Take Your Web Maps Offline with ArcGIS Field Maps

I liked these because they both felt like extremely practical applications for GIS. They seem like they would be really useful longterm.

Hello, I’m Dylan Patel and I’m a Jr currently majoring in Environmental Studies. I’m from Anaheim Hills near Disneyland.

This week I not only completed a quiz for the syllabus but also explored my account information and more on ARCGIS online. I discovered how to find my profile information, my settings, my ESRI, training, community & forums, ArcGIS blog, and how to seek help.

Within the info on Get Started with ARCGIS online in ESRI I found ArcGIS Online bundles map/3D scene creation, apps, analysis tools, and Python notebooks. I found the information to be very helpful when it came to navigating each I enjoyed how it broke everything down into there own categories.

Two courses that interest me are ArcGIS Online: Essential Workflows and Going Places with spatial Awarenes

ARCGIS ONLINE SOURCES THAT INTEREST ME

For me I really liked the website Gensler found and decided to write about it. This map shows the distribution of 9 banded Armadillos in the US. I always thought that Armadillo were in australia only but to my suprise they exsist in the Americas as well which also supprised me. Everyday you learn something new.

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/2/138

I’m Ben Lindley. I am a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science.

I took the quiz this week. I did the online stuff for 291.

Hi, my name is Aestelle and I am a junior majoring in astrophysics, and I also took GIS 291 earlier this semester.

After receiving the wordpress and ArcGIS emails, I logged into my respective accounts for both services and then completed the quiz and emailed Dr. Krygier. After this, I did the ArcGIS Online Basics training, which explained what ArcGIS Online is and the various functionalities it offers, along with things like the various sharing levels available and when to use each, as well as where to find layers to add to your map.

One use I found for ArcGISOnline was for mapping rail network history: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.7227/tjth.25.1.5, however I couldn’t figure out how to access the article to find any maps.

Another ArcGIS Online application I found was a feature layer showing the locations of the heritage barns in Washington state, which I felt was a cool use of the software.

https://owugis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?layers=39e31e3c81f34a49a21344100bb46096