Geography 292: Geospatial Analysis with Web GIS

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.

Chapter 3

The flexibility and customizability of the experience builder is pretty amazing. Once again the relative simplicity of webGIS is a breath of fresh air. UI design is intuitive and the widget combination process is easy to understand and iterate upon. I can’t see myself using this too much because I don’t plan on making super complicated interactive stuff but it certainly useful to know how to do.

Chapter 4

AHHHH I hate mobile stuff. This whole “post-pc world” thing is absurd. One day sure, but phones just aren’t there yet. They’re finnicky and slow too dumbed down to be useful. I suppose learning this stuff is important for the future but for now its just irritating. All that being said, mobile data collection is fascinating, and the addition of AR and VR support to webGIS is pretty exciting.

Project Idea

Just based on the suggestions for survey123 applications at the end of the tutorial I think it would be really funny to make a crime reporting app and call it something like “brother eye” or “big brother” to really hammer home the 1984 vibes. Honestly I just don’t like working with phones so I don’t find any of these ideas interesting.

Chapter 1

Most of this is just going over stuff we learned last week with the introduction, I don’t really have a lot to add here. The simplicity of the web app over the desktop app (GIS pro) is a welcome change, and the utility of creating web apps directly in the application is quite useful for setting up website data. I also really like the ability to share and work on maps as a group which makes collaboration much easier.

Chapter 2

Smart mapping is actually awesome, I have seen webGIS story maps used in things like New York Times articles and learning how to make them could be really fun. The level of customization with each type of web app is breathtaking, and on the other side I really appreciate the auto-filled suggestions for things like UI design to be super helpful given how overwhelming the customization can be.

Applications

A pop-up map of my favorite places to visit in my hometown would be a fun (if simple) project to make. Given how most of the people at this school are from the Midwest a map detailing some of the best places to visit in Boston could be a fun way to show off my area. It could also provide information about the easiest routes to reach the selected location via public transit or the addresses of nearby public parking lots.

Hi I’m Max, sorry I took so long to actually start doing the homework. I’m a junior environmental science and geography major. I’m from Newton Massachusetts and I love maps. I really like making maps, I really enjoyed the 291 class and I am currently enjoying remote sensing. Other than maps I like playing videogames, reading fiction, and fighting. I run the Medieval Combat Club here at OWU and if you ever want to try sword fighting you should come check it out Tuesdays and Saturdays at 430pm.

Getting Started Article Notes:

• I didn’t know webGIS could do collaborative work. I think it would be super fun to work on one big map with a few other people at once.
• I like how much more simple and straightforward a lot of the UI design is for webGIS is. Arc is fun but it can get kind of annoying trying to find all the hidden functions.

Interesting web courses:

ArcGIS Pro: Essential Workflows

The Systems Approach to ArcGIS: An Introduction

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=e59532bdfb334b1da691f74e7e879685

Here’s a cool map of all recent volcanic and tectonic activity

ESRI also has a Roads and Highways tool that lets you plan routes check traffic conditions etc.

In Chapter 6 of Getting to Know Web GIS, the focus was on spatiotemporal data and the use of real-time GIS, tile layers, and on-premises Web GIS systems. One of the most interesting takeaways was how tile layers are used to efficiently deliver basemaps or large raster datasets over the web, allowing for fast and smooth map performance. The chapter also explained the benefits of hosting Web GIS on-premises, which is especially valuable for organizations that work with sensitive data or prefer local control over cloud-based hosting. Tools like Esri’s GeoEvent Server enable real-time processing of streaming spatial data, which opens the door to powerful applications such as live traffic monitoring, environmental tracking, or emergency response systems.

A few questions I had while reading include: what are the main limitations of on-premises Web GIS compared to cloud-hosted platforms? And can tile layers be updated dynamically with real-time data, or are they mainly used for more static visualizations?

Based on ideas from Chapters 5 and 6, one application I would be interested in developing is a real-time air quality monitoring dashboard using the Delaware Data from Geog 291. This dashboard would use tile layers for the basemap and historical context while integrating spatiotemporal data streams from air quality sensors placed throughout the state. The system could track variables like PM2.5 and ozone levels and display live readings with visual alerts for high-pollution areas. This type of application could be extremely useful for public health officials, school systems, and residents concerned about environmental quality—especially during times of wildfire smoke or industrial emissions.