Introduction to ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Online is a web-based GIS platform that allows for collaborative creation and sharing of GIS data, maps, and web mapping applications. Many geospatial analytical capabilities of ArcGIS Desktop are integrated in ArcGIS Online, with the difference that the only software needed is a web browser (and Internet connection!).

In this lecture, we will use your crowd-sourcing efforts with Collector and create exciting interactive mash-up maps. We will embed these maps in your own website and also create powerful web mapping applications and interactive presentations.

Creating a map in ArcGIS Online

To access ArcGIS Online, open up a web browser (Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer) and type the following URL: www.arcgis.com. On the top right corner, click Sign in. In the screen that appears, type the Username and Password that Palak just gave you. Click the Sign In button. 

In the top menu, click on MAP. This is the section where you will be bringing the data created during your collection exercise to create your own interactive maps.

- In the search box on the top corner, type lasmalvinas. The map will automatically zoom into the Clemson area.

- Click the Add button to bring your data:

    - PointsofInterest

    - LasMalvinas boundary

    - LasMalvinas_Survey

Click Done adding layers. Take a look at the data in your new map.

Navigating ArcGIS Online

You can change your Basemap to one that offers more contrast with your data.  On the left hand-side of your screen, click on Basemap and select the one you think it fits better, for example, Imagery with Labels.

2. Search box 

You can search for a place or address by entering it in the search box on the top right handside. Let's look for Barrio Las Malvinas, DOM.

3. Details Menu

So we added a layer that appears to show LasMalvinas. What do the colors mean? Who created the layers? Where did the data originate? 

We need to look at a few things to understand our data. Let's first try to understand what is being shown.

    3.1. At the top-left of the page, click Details, and if not already selected, click Content.

This is the table of contents for our map. The layers are listed in the order in which they are displayed, from bottom to top. So far, we have our basemap (topographic, imagery, or other) on bottom and this layer, Las Malvinas Survey, above it. Let's examine the legend for this layer.

    3.2. Hover the mouse under the word Las Malvinas Survey and click the Show Legend button. 

    3.3. Click the three blue dots under Las Malvinas Survey to expand the drop down, and then click Show Item Details. A new browser tab will open up.

This page contains the Metadata for the layer; that is, this is data about the data. It should tell you who created the layer, the source of the data, the type of data (vector/raster,etc), the spatial extent, and other information. Data without metadata is virtually worthless.

Tip: The description of a layer can be opened in the Search tab to the map to assess its usefulness before you add the layer .

4. Attribute Table

Remember that all the data in a layer is kept in a database (think spreadsheet) and the GIS is simply displaying that information in a useful way.

 Let's look at the attribute table for some data and change how its displayed.   

    4.1. Find and add the layer USA Major Cities. Navigate to the table of contents.

    4.2. Click on the Show Table button to display the attribute table.

Changing the symbology 

Let's look at changing the symbology for your Las Malvinas Survey. Click on the Legend view to understand the current symbology. Let's change that based on symbol, color as well as size for this layer. 

Return to the Content view and press Change Style. In the Change Style window, notice the attribute to show is Unvaccinated_children. For drawing style, choose the first option: Counts and Amounts (Size), by clicking on OPTIONS. 

Click on the Symbols option to the top right. There you can change your base symbol. If you click on Use an Image, you can bring any image or drawing using its URL (for example, open up a browser, do a search for images and type: palmetto tree png clemson). You will see that you can use it as your symbol for this layer. Cancel that so we go back to the previous symbology.

Practice changing the symbology of other layers.

- You can change your Basemap to one that offers more contrast with your data.  On the left hand-side of your screen, click on Basemap and select the one you think it fits better, for example, Imagery with Labels 

Configuring the pop-up window

On your map, click on any of the points. Notice the pop-up window displays all the fields in its attribute table. Not all of this information is n
ecessary in the pop-up window. To change this, click on the three dots next to the Las Malvinas Survey layer and select Configure Pop-Up. A new window appears where you can customize the contents of the pop-up window for this layer.

Pop-up Title is where you change the Title of the window. Change it to "Las Malvinas Households Survey"

- Change the Field Alias for:Pop-up Contents is where you can select and format the attributes that get displayed. To change this, click on Configure Attributes. In the new window that appears, do the following:

    - Personal Talents to "Personal Talents (Primary)?"

    - Learned Skills to "Learned Skills (Primary)?"

- Similarly you can change the Aliases for all of them.   

Click OK. 

Click OK to save this setting. Click SAVE POP-UP to save all the settings for your configuration window.

Check out your results. 

Saving your map

Practice changing the configuration window for other layers. If you took photos, add them as pop-up media and check out the results!

On the top menu, click Save - Save.

- Title: Las Malvinas Survey by (Your Initials)

- Tags: LasMlavinas, Survey, HEHD

- Summary: Learning ArcGIS Online at Clemson!

Click SAVE MAP.

To make it public: Click on the Share Button on the top Menu. 

Check Everyone (public) and you will see a link to that map which you can share with anybody.