Geography 292: Geospatial Analysis with Web GIS

Chapter 4:

This chapter emphasized the increasing mobility and accessibility of GIS across various devices. I found it interesting that Web GIS isn’t limited to smartphones and tablets—it’s even being integrated into wearables. It made me realize just how embedded GIS is becoming in our everyday technology.

Chapter 6

This chapter introduced the concept of spatiotemporal data—information that’s tied to both time and location. This idea is central to real-time GIS applications, and the chapter effectively demonstrated how it’s used in real-world scenarios. Examples like emergency response, environmental monitoring, and traffic tracking helped me better understand how these systems function in practice, beyond just theoretical concepts.

One part that really stood out was the discussion on the Internet of Things. While I’ve come across the term before, this was the first time I truly understood how the Internet of Things connects with GIS. Seeing how real-time data is gathered and processed using tools like GeoEvent Server and ArcGIS Velocity made the concept much clearer. These technologies automate the collection and analysis of sensor data, opening up powerful possibilities for live monitoring and informed decision-making.

Learning about ArcGIS dashboards was also a good experience. They seem incredibly effective for visualizing complex spatial data in a clear, user-friendly way. I also appreciated the deeper look into time-enabled layers and how they can be used to animate changes over time.

Chapter 3:

This chapter was fairly straightforward. I like that this assignment allowed us to create something we can actually publish.

Chapter 4:

I found this chapter engaging because we got to develop a new skill.. It was also interesting to see how GIS continues to evolve alongside the growing use of mobile devices.  I often use Apple Maps for directions, and I realized how heavily our daily lives rely on GIS technology. Although the mobile app tutorials were very in-depth, it was definitely helpful to take a deeper dive into what the Esri apps could do.

Application:

The Survey123 tool has a wide range of potential uses. One practical application could be tracking invasive species of bugs, plants, or other animals. With its variety of input options—including multiple-choice questions, map locations, file uploads, and email fields—it would make collecting data more efficient. Residents in Delaware County could report where the species is found, estimate the amount, indicate whether removal was attempted, and provide other useful details. This could help encourage community involvement and make managing and eliminating invasive species more effective.

Chapter 6

This week’s chapter focused on spatiotemporal data and real-time GIS. I’ve heard about IoT, but wasn’t sure of its definition, so I made sure to look it up (it gave the definition later). I’ve never considered how many sensors are used in everyday life, such as how smart cars use sensors and GIS data to calculate routes and recognize road conditions. The ArcGIS dashboard seemed really useful with being able to use real time data to track crimes, environmental conditions, and social media.

Application Idea

I would create a dashboard showing real time air quality across the map. The dashboard would use data from air quality sensors from around the state. It would track various pollutants and have visual alerts for bad air quality and its location. I would also animate the data so that you could visualize the patterns and trends of the air quality.

It’s nice that the intro for week two was also chill work, it let you explore ArcGIS online and explore different areas than last week, it lets you be independent in what you are learning and learn at your own pace. I like how these instructions are very different from the GIS 291 textbook, they provide a way more in depth explanation to what you need to do, and have really informative pictures explaining the instructions. An idea I have is that you could use this application to place pictures of voter registration sites and how many voters there are, you would use precinct data in Delaware County GIS data hub, and it will locate all the voting precinct areas. 

 

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 focused on spatiotemporal data, data connected to both location and time, and how it’s essential in real-time GIS operations. The chapter used practical examples like tracking 911 calls and monitoring environmental conditions live, which made the technical concepts easier to relate to. I found the discussion of the Internet of Things (IoT) especially eye-opening. Previously, I only thought of IoT in broad or historical terms, but this made it clear how devices, sensors, and networks come together with tools like GeoEvent Server and ArcGIS Velocity to collect and process live spatial data. I also learned about ArcGIS Dashboards, which lets you display real-time data with interactive maps, charts, and filters. Time-enabled layers were another key feature, allowing me to animate data over time—a technique I was introduced to in GEOG 291, but this chapter gave me a better grasp of its full potential.

For a project, I’d like to build a dashboard that tracks the impact of land development on waterways and wetlands in Delaware County. By integrating zoning maps, parcel data, and hydrology layers, I could pinpoint where construction might be encroaching on environmentally sensitive areas. Users would be able to sort parcels by zoning type, check statistics about buffer zones near streams, and use a time slider to visualize changes in development over time. This type of tool could help planners make more informed choices and encourage development that protects water quality and local ecosystems.

Week 4 Reflection

Chapter 6 focused on the concept of spatiotemporal data, which is data linked to both time and location. This concept is important in real time GIS applications, and the chapter did a good job of showing how it applies in real world settings. Examples like emergency response, environmental monitoring, and traffic tracking helped me understand how these systems operate beyond just theory.

One part of the chapter that stood out to me was the discussion of the Internet of Things. While I’ve heard about IoT before, this was the first time I saw how it connects directly to GIS. It made more sense seeing how real time data is collected and processed through tools like GeoEvent Server and ArcGIS Velocity. These systems help automate and interpret incoming data from sensors, which opens up a lot of possibilities for live monitoring and decision-making.

Another highlight for me was learning about ArcGIS Dashboards. These tools seem especially useful for communicating complex spatial data in a more visual and accessible format. I also appreciated the deeper dive into time enabled layers and how they can animate changes over time. I had seen some of this in earlier coursework, but this chapter helped tie it all together more clearly.

Chapter 4 brought attention to how GIS is becoming more mobile and accessible on different devices. It was interesting to learn that not only smartphones and tablets, but even wearables, are being considered as platforms for Web GIS. I hadn’t really thought about how many ways GIS is being integrated into everyday technology.

Application Ideas

For a potential project, I’d be interested in creating a dashboard that maps the relationship between land development and nearby waterways or wetlands in Delaware County. With access to zoning, parcel, and hydrology data, the tool could help highlight where development activity may impact sensitive environmental areas. Features like zoning filters and time sliders could make this a useful planning tool.

Another application idea would be a real time air quality monitoring system. Using live sensor data, the dashboard could display current pollution levels across a region, identify hotspots, and show alerts when air quality becomes unsafe. I think this would be especially helpful for public health and education systems, particularly during events like wildfire smoke or pollution spikes.

Lastly, I think it would be valuable to build a community reporting tool for severe weather impacts. Residents could submit reports about things like flooding or blocked roads, along with severity ratings. This information could then be mapped and shared with local officials to support quicker, more informed responses.

Chapter 6 introduced the concept of spatiotemporal data, information tied to both space and time, and showed how it plays a major role in real-time GIS applications. I thought the examples of real-world uses, like 911 call tracking or live environmental monitoring, really helped connect the technical ideas to practical situations. It was especially interesting to see the Internet of Things (IoT) mentioned, since I had only thought about it in a historical or abstract way before. This chapter made it more concrete by showing how sensors, networks, and real-time processing tools like GeoEvent Server and ArcGIS Velocity work together to collect and use data on the fly.One of the most useful tools introduced was ArcGIS Dashboards, which makes it easy to present live data using maps, charts, and filters. I also learned how to animate time-series data using time-enabled layers and web apps, something I had seen before in GEOG 291 but was able to explore in more depth here.

For my project idea, I would create a dashboard showing how land development in Delaware County may affect nearby waterways and wetlands. By combining parcel, zoning, and hydrology data, I could highlight where new developments overlap or come close to sensitive environmental areas. Users could filter parcels by zoning type, view statistics on buffer zones near streams, and interact with time sliders to see how development patterns have changed. This tool could support better decision-making for sustainable growth and help raise awareness about water quality and habitat protection.

Chapter 3:

This chapter was pretty straightforward and quite fun. I always love the assignments where we can make something that we can publish. I ran into a problem during 3.3 and ended up having to skip most of the chapter since I could not figure it out. It was nice to learn another important part of online GIS work and how it can convey such important information.

Chapter 4:

This chapter was interesting because we got to learn a new skill by making a survey. I also found it interesting how GIS has adapted to the changes we are experiencing with the increased use of devices. I also thought a lot about how much I use Apple Maps on my phone and how each of our lives run on GIS. I found tutorial 4.7 to be the most interesting because of how cool the QuickCapture app is. Overall, this chapter covered many important aspects of mobile GIS.

Application:

The Survey123 feature could be used for such a wide variety of things. I think that this could be applied to monitoring invasive species such as garlic mustard. Since there is so many options for inserts I could insert choice questions, map, file upload, and email to make data collection easier.  People in the Delaware County area can provide where, how much, if they tried to remove it, and any other information. This could promote community involvement in removing these species thus eradicating them easier.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 discusses spatiotemporal data. Spatiotemporal data refers to data that is relevant to the space and time it was drawn from. Think like a GPS in your car. It discusses how the recent extreme evolution of wireless technology has revolutionized the spatiotemporal data that is collected and how it is used. It was very interesting to see the IoT (Internet of Things) be brought up in this chapter! The last and only time I had heard of the IoT was in a communications class I took a few semesters ago. However, previously I had only thought about this internet in terms of its value historically and the importance of it, rather than a specific use for said internet.An application that I would use from Chapter 6 would be creating a real-time noise pollution map. I’m not sure if Delaware County has sensors for noise that are widespread enough to make this possible, so Franklin County may be a better location for this.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of the textbook focuses on the ArcGIS Experience Builder. It’s a really useful tool, especially when you need a very specific function that a web app can’t provide you. The textbook describes the Experience Builder as a tool that “allows you to create unique web experiences using flexible layouts, content, and widgets that interact with 2D and 3D data.” The chapter opens with an introduction to the Experience Builder before moving onto introducing things like ‘the basics’ and widgets. The tutorials continued in this chapter with instructions of how to use the experience builder. The largest hurdle for me to traverse throughout this chapter was being sure I was using the builder and following the tutorials correctly. It has been interesting to transition over to a web-based service after using a local file software so far this semester.

 

Chapter 4

Chapter four takes a look at how mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are quickly becoming the “pervasive client platform” for Web GIS. I am extremely interested in learning how Web GIS functions on wearable devices. Are people seriously using it on their Apple Watches? It’s very impressive how ArcGIS has been able to substantially stay up-to-date with the platforms at which Web GIS is not only available, but specifically designed for. The introductions to the many Esri Mobile apps were laid out very well (as always). Although it was very in depth, it felt necessary to dive deeper into these apps as they are all as unique as they are important.

 

Application

An application for these chapters that I thought of was creating a extreme related reporting system. The web app would have people submit things such as their location, the date, time, etc. What they’d be reporting on would be what comes along with extreme weather like flooding, downed trees, etc. The app would have designations such as “passable/safe” or “unpassable/unsafe.” Determining not only what kind of event is occurring but also the severity of it is crucial, especially as climate change continues to bring more extreme weather events. The severity levels on reports can be managed and changed by local municipalities.