For this week’s lab, I made a web map showing five spots on campus that I visit often, along with footprints showing where they actually are. I’m also going to link the spreadsheet I used for the data HERE and a link to the final web app below so the map can be interacted with instead of just being looked at!
The process of making the map went mostly smoothly, and the instructions helped a lot, especially once I started following them step by step. When I started, it was honestly stressful, as adding stuff to the map was confusing at first and not working the way I expected, which made it frustrating. I spent a good amount of time just trying to get my data to show up correctly, but once it did, and I got the hang of how layers and everything work. Everything started working way more smoothly.
What I liked the most was being able to customize the map. Changing the symbology and drawing the building outlines made it feel somewhat more personal, rather than just basic maps in general. It also made me think more about how spaces are represented and how small choices, such as the ones we made, can change what stands out to people reading the map. This project helped me see how web mapping can be useful beyond just plotting locations, especially for things about everyday space and how we move through it.
I really enjoyed visiting your map. I agree, I was very frustrated at first because it took me a while to get the hang of the different moving parts of the map. The directions were very helpful, though, and I found that to really help me as I progressed through the project. I really appreciated how you laid out the project and all the attention to detail!
I thoroughly enjoyed your map. I completely agree with your frustration, particularly because my computer crashed without saving my first completed map. However, on my second attempt, I was significantly more efficient, and the directions that were provided were incredibly helpful as you mention. Overall, I believe you did an excellent job on this map!