For this lab, I created my own personal campus map. I did this through ArcGIS Online, and in creating this custom map, I highlighted locations that represent my daily lived experience on campus, such as Davis and the Rec Center. I was intrigued to see how the data from the .CSV file converted into points on the map. It was a seamless process from top to bottom. Adjusting the symbology and adding labels was easy and fluid. Adding the polygon feature layer took a little longer than I wanted it to. The process wasn’t hard in itself; it was just inconvenient to have to save the map and make a feature layer and then go back into the map to apply it.
Working with ArcGIS Online showed me how powerful, as well as accessible, GIS tools have become. The symbology feature demonstrates how dynamic maps can be, allowing users to change colors, sizes, and symbols based on the data, which creates many new opportunities for data analysis. Although I didn’t use it, the pop-up tool stood out to me because it gives a more immersive and interactive experience than a paper map ever could.
All in all, I had fun with this assignment. It showcases the profound potential of web mapping for DH work in general. It turns abstract data into reality by connecting information to locations, giving researchers the ability to tell spatial stories.