Smart Mapping with ArcGIS Online

What it is, and how and why to use it in higher education

Kathy Cappelli Breier & Joseph Kerski

Goals

  1. What is smart mapping?
  2. How can you teach and learn effectively with smart mapping?

What is smart mapping?

Smart mapping looks at the geometry and attribute information in the layer you want to map and suggests symbology that works best with your type of data: text fields, integers, floats, date fields, and combinations of these types. As a result, you can quickly start analyzing patterns and trends. This is why we call it "smart"!

Smart mapping helps you symbolize your maps in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise. Smart mapping allows you to explore your data to help you understand what's worth calling attention to, and symbolizing what's important.

Smart mapping can be broken down into 3 simple steps:

  1. Choose attribute(s) to map.
  2. Examine your data that are now symbolized by the smart mapping capabilities.
  3. Optional: Explore more symbol options.

Examples of smart mapping:

Note: The activities in this story require an ArcGIS Named User account (a free public account will not work).

Activity 1: Applying smart mapping to a table of data

In this activity we will add a set of data collected in the field and use Smart Mapping techniques to uncover patterns and relationships in the data.

Activity 2: Examining Internet Access by Census Tract

In this activity we will map some social variables and use Smart Mapping techniques to uncover patterns and relationships in the data.

Activity 3: Mapping the Relationship Between Drinking and Smoking

In this activity we will use Smart Mapping's relationship mapping techniques to uncover patterns and relationships in the data.

Activity 4: Comparing Types of Power Plants

In this activity we will add a layer showing global power plants and compare where countries are using predominantly renewable energy versus fossil fuels.

Keep Learning!

  1. Some of these smart mapping hands-on activities are included in a new 10-activity "introduction to GIS" short course, here:  https://community.esri.com/t5/education-blog/an-introduction-to-gis-as-a-course-with-10-hands/ba-p/1204626 
  2. Smart mapping  lesson in the Learn ArcGIS Lesson Library .
  3.  How to smart map: Relationships . Essay with examples.
  4. Article: Smart Mapping Can Make Compelling Thematic Maps in Minutes | from ArcNews | Summer 2022.  https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/arcnews/smart-mapping-can-make-compelling-thematic-maps-in-minutes/