Lab 1: Learning Cloud GIS Basics using ArcGIS online

Goals and Background

  One objective of this lab is to become familiar with web maps from ArcGIS online by experimenting with the basic functions of a web map including adding layers, changing legend content, changing symbols, and altering basemaps. After this, one should be familiar enough to create a web map and navigate one with ease. The last objective for this lab is create a story map and share it.

Methods

Part 1: Learn the Basic Components of Web Maps on ArcGIS Online

Step 1: Explore the Hawaii Island Lava Flow Risk Web Map

Fig 1.0: Mauna Kea Pop-up Window 

  Through the use of an ESRI enterprise account, the Hawaii Island Lava Flow Risk web map linked here and authored by Learn_ArcGIS was opened. Once opened, some of the information associated with the map was looked at including the sources, description, and layers. Then, some attribute information was briefly looked at though the use of the popup window as shown in figure 1.0. The attribute information includes the volcano name, elevation, volcano type, date of last eruption, and a photo. The importance of a popup window was emphasized as it is a valuable and simple way to display attribute information about point, line, and polygon features. To bring up the popup window, one can simply click on the feature.
  Next, the contents of the map were checked. The layers on the map included Emergency Shelters, Volcanoes, Highways, Lava Flow Hazard Zones, and Terrain. The Terrain feature is a LiDAR layer. This was then compared with the topographic basemap. Then, some of the layer properties where browsed such as the transparency and legend options.

Step 2: Customize the Map and Share it
  A new copy of the map was then saved so that some changes could be made. The first customization was performed by experimenting with different line widths, transparencies, and visibility ranges. It was left up to the author to decide which settings were appropriate. Then, the map was shared by clicking on the share tab and checking the Geog455Fall2017 group.

Step 3: Create and Modify a Web Map
  Next, to become more comfortable with ArcGIS online. A web map was created from scratch. This consisted of adding a topographic basemap and searching and adding the following layers: Streams, Emergency Shelters, Volcanoes, Highways, Lava Flow Hazard Zones, and Terrain. After that, some of the layer properties including transparency, labels, legend, and names were modified. Lastly, the map was saved and information was filled out in the title, tags, and summary boxes.

Part 2: Create a Story Map

  First, a new web map was created and shared with everyone, the UW-Eau Claire Geography and Anthropology group, and the Geog455Fall2017 group. A terrain basemap with labels was chosen to be used because the map is detailed enough for the reader to grasp important geographic information such as where the story takes place, but not so detailed that the reader doesn't know what to focus in on. Next, the Story Map Tour template was chosen to create the web app with. After that, the feature layer titled Geog 368 Texas field trip_Fall17 was created. Then, the pictures from the geography 368 field trip were added to the story. When adding these, some information had to be added so the story map would show the story. The following information had to be entered for each photo: geographic coordinates, the title, and a brief description. Sometimes, the geographic coordinates are already a part of the meta data of the photo and do not have to be entered. However, coordinates had to be entered this time because geotagging was not enabled on the camera device when the pictures were taken. Lastly, the web app was saved and shared with everyone, the UW-Eau Claire Geography and Anthropology group, and the Geog455Fall2017 group.

Results / Discussion

Hawaii Lava Flow Risk Map

Fig 1.1 Mean Annual Rainfall

 Below in figure 1.2 is an embeded interactive map of the the Hawaii Lava Flow Risk map created in part one of this lab. Shown in it are the streams, emergency shelters, volcanoes, and risk areas. The risk areas are represented using a severity code. The lower the severity code, the more at risk this area is and is represented by darker shades of red . The greater a severity code is, the less risk there is for an area. These areas are shown in yellow. Looking at the streams on the map, there are not very many streams located in the western portion of the island. This geographic distribution of streams makes sense when looking at the average rainfall on the big island of Hawaii shown at right in figure 1.1. The streams are mainly located where there is a greater mean annual rainfall. One last important thing to note in the map is the location of the emergency shelters. They area all located along the highways which is important so that they are easily accessible for large populations of people.
  To view the legend and map details in the map below, one can click the >> button in the upper left corner of the map.

                             Hawaii Lava Flow Risk Map

Austin Field Trip Story Map
  This interactive story map below in figure 1.3 gives one a quick synopsis of the field trip in Austin Texas taken by students in geography 368 at UW - Eau Claire. To navigate from photo to photo, one click on the List tab, the Media tab, or one can use the arrows under the Map tab. The photos are geotagged to the map with their corresponding number and are numbered in chronological order. By clicking through the pictures, reading the descriptions, and keeping an eye on the map, one can try to re-live the field trip. The story map can be viewed in a separate web page by clicking here.

                         Austin Field Trip Story Map

                                                        Figure 1.3: Austin Field Trip Story Map

Sources

Arc GIS Online, Esri, https://www.arcgis.com/home/index.html
Cloud GIS basics, Dr. Wilson,     https://drive.google.com/openid=0B1RJN5un8yU8VFhPWHRpd1U1b3c
Mean Annual Rainfall Island of Hawaii Map (n.d.) Retrieved from http://coraloha.weebly.com/coral-         reefs-an-overview.html