ArcGIS Online includes everything you need to create your own maps by accessing a gallery of basemaps, Â adding your own layers, and configuring mashups that you can share with others, embed in your own website, or incorporate into useful applications and story maps. Â Â In this section we will create a basic web map showing geospatial data of Clemson's campus. We will explore and use the different parts of this GIS interface, add data to the map, customize the symbology of layers, and use a few basic mapping tools. By the end of the session, you will have created an interactive, customized map that can be accessed from anywhere on the web. 1. Navigating ArcGIS OnlineOne of the main components of ArcGIS Online is the Map section, where you can explore content, add your own data, perform analysis and save your own interactive web maps.
2. Creating a new mapWhen this new map opens, you will notice it is not empty. A basemap is shown, which is a foundational layer which can be displayed with a variety of other data. These have different styles, such as political maps, streets maps, aerial and satellite imagery, or thematic maps.
Practice zooming in and out using the roller button in your mouse. Zoom in to a particular location to examine the level of detail available in each basemap.
3. Adding layers to the mapBrowsing the Living AtlasArcGIS Online has a wealth of data, many from many trusted sources such as NOAA, USGS, and Esri, as well as content from other ArcGIS users. We will first search for some of the rich data available through the Esri Living Atlas.
Notice the wealth of data ready to be added to your map! Let's start by adding some additional basemaps.
You can browse through all of the available categories of data, such as:   - Imagery   - Demographic Information   - Landscape   - Urban Systems   - Transportation  Try adding other datasets to the map! We could propably spend an entire class section exploring all the data available through the Living Atlas. Let's take a look at some other example data you can add.
Take a look at this data layer in the Contents section and notice there are two layers that were added. What did the Item Details say about these two layers? So far you have seen the geographic component of a few data sets. Remember that the data also have attributes, or information about what they represent stored as a table of values. Let's explore the attribute data for the layers we have added. First, we will examine the pop-up window of the data, which provides a snapshot of information about each item.
The pop-up window is very useful for learning more about a particular feature. You can also view the attribute table for a dataset, which shows all the attribute information. It can also be queried to identify features which meet certain criteria.
5. Customize a layer's symbology When you added the layers to the map, most already had the symbology set by the creator. Most of the time, data you add to a map will take on a default symbology. Your map begins to tell a story when you apply different symbols to your data based on their attribute data -- this is the world of cartography! It is both a science and an art to create effective, intuitive, and visually appealing maps and symbology that communicate the message you intend. Let's remove the wind data and look at precipitation data along with the current status of rivers. Are any rivers currently in a flood stage in the US? Is it related to precipitation patterns?
What kind of patterns can you detect in stream levels? None, right?? We will change the plain symbology to one which makes rivers in flood state stand out.
As you can see, setting up the symbology is quite easy to do but can be totally customized as you desire. Now let's compare the stream gauges showing higher than normal flows to the precipitation trends.
Your map has come a long way in a short time! 6. Adding your own Map NotesMap Notes are an easy feature to make annotations. You may want to highlight a feature, note a place for observing in the field, or to compare against another map layer. You can add on-the-fly data by adding Map Notes. Imagine, in our case, that we want to add some information to our map, such as a boundary which highlights the current flooding in the central US. We will do so by adding Map Notes. Click on the Add button -> Add Map Notes. Name:  Current US Flooding Zones Template: Map Notes You will see the Add Features panel.
7. Save the map
Title: My first Map in GIS Tags: Clemson, GIS Summary: A web map I created during a class session showing precipitation and rivers currently flooding. 8. Sharing your map
Notice that you can share the short link to the map. Anyone visiting the URL will be able to view the data in your map. 9. Getting a printable version of your mapYou can export your map as a hard-copy to include in a report, website, or other location. At the top of the page, click the Print button. Notice the two options: You can print with or without a legend 10. Managing your content in ArcGIS OnlineYour map that you created is saved and is part of your content section in ArcGIS Online, where you manage all your data, maps, and apps. In the upper left corner, click the Home menu and select  Content. Notice the Web Map that you created in the list. This map is saved and you can come back to open and edit the map at any time. Congratulations, you are now a successful GIS user! |
Creating and Customizing a Map
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