GLOBE, ArcGIS Online Mapping and Storymaps

This is a small data set that I will overlay in ArcGIS Online with a layer called Urban Heat Islands (UHI), imported from the Living Atlas within ArcGIS Online.

From there, we will develop some possible research questions about the two layers. In the process, we will also create this Storymap.

• Construct a draft Outline
• Hand write - the old fashioned way!
• Visualize beforehand the story to tell
• Prepare graphs/charts to help tell story
• Consider what data to map
• What type of map symbology is best?
• Then input GLOBE data into ArcGIS Online Map
• Add other layers to supplement story
• Add a title and save your final maps
• Save/screenshot your final graphs/etc.

Only then, begin with your Storymap.

STEP 1: COLLECT & ENTER GLOBE DATA ONTO GLOBE WEBSITE

STEP 2: EXTRACT GLOBE DATA & IMPORT INTO ARCGIS ONLINE MAP(S)

STEP 3: CHANGE SYMBOLOGY, ADD LAYERS, ADD TITLE, SAVE 

STEP 4: CREATE TABLES, GRAPHS & CHARTS OF YOUR DATA, SAVE

STEP 5: CREATE OUTLINE & THEN BUILD YOUR STORYMAP

Go to either the GLOBE Visualization System or use the Advanced Data Access Tool (ADAT) to retrieve a small data set of your choice.

For this example, I utilized the GLOBE Visualization System to extract a set of Surface Temperature data from July 02, 2021 for the United States.

My data set is 16 data points of Surface Temperature from sites scattered across the United States.

Note that although all of my data points say they are from the University of Toledo, I had created student accounts for the SEES UHIE Group participants, so their locations are considered part of my school organization (although their physical locations are scattered across the U.S.).

Once you are signed in, click on Map at the top. 

Tip!

Remember that anyone (i.e. students) can play with the Map and Scene functions WITHOUT signing in!

You can use www.arcgis.com as a quick engagement tool with students to get them playing with GIS mapping.

Example: have them click on Map and then enter their home or school address. Then, have them use the Measure Tools to calculate area, perimeter and distance of different buildings or features.

In the ArcGIS Online Map view, click on Add+ at the top left, and select Add Layer from File.

Locate your .csv file of your GLOBE data and upload.

The ArcGIS Online system defaults to show whatever column is immediately to the right of the latitude and longitude columns. This is usually Elevation, in a GLOBE data file.

Use the dropdown menu to select Measured Value instead.

This will display your data - Surface Temperatures in this case.

Use the options on the left to select a symbology display type. The Heat Map feature works nicely for Surface Temperatures, but try the others.

Some symbols may work better for some data types than others, so try them all out.

The default file name for your data when you extract it from the GLOBE system is usually not the best way to title your data set.

Click on the "..." symbol next to the layer to show the menu, and click Rename.

You can also use this menu to do other operations, such as adding labels or changing the layer's transparency.

The power of importing your GLOBE data into ArcGIS Online is that you can then combine your data with other, related data layers.

Use the Add+ button at the top left and select Browse Living Atlas Layers. Then, enter a search term related to your data.

For this example, I searched for "Urban heat", and the "Urban heat islands for U.S. Cities" layer popped up.

Clicking on the layer title brings up an information box about that layer. That way, you can read about it before you add it to your map.

After you have read about the layer, and if you think it will be a good addition to your data set, click the blue button "Add to Map".

Now that I have added the Urban Heat Islands (UHI) layer from ArcGIS Online's Living Atlas, I can zoom in and explore.

On the left, you can see that I expanded the legends for both layers so they are visible.

From this zoomed-in area around Mansfield, OH, you can view one of our GLOBE data Surface Temperature points, and the predicted hot areas as shown by the UHI layer.

This then begs the question: where else could we collect data around Mansfield, OH to find the hottest locations?

You could also ask students to critique the UHI layer. Does it match up with what they know about their city? Is it missing some areas that they think would be hot?

Finally, you could use this as a starting point to get students to brainstorm some research project ideas.

Don't forget to SAVE your map!

You will need to SAVE your map so later you can embed it within a Storymap.

DRAFT OUTLINE FOR MY STORY:

1. Surface Temperature data collected and entered into GLOBE website
2. Data extracted and imported into ArcGIS Online
3. Data layer added from Living Atlas (Urban Heat Islands)
4. Zoomed in to a city or place
5. Develop question: Where else could surface temperature data be collected, based on the UHI layer?
6. Critique: What problems might there be with the Living Atlas UHI layer?
7. Go further: What kind of research question could be developed?

Use your draft outline to create your Storymap.

Now that you have created (and saved!) a map of your GLOBE data within ArcGIS Online, you can use it and other images and information to build your Storymap.

To reiterate: the powerful combination of ArcGIS Online maps + Storymaps is that you can embed an active map of your data within your Storymap.

We'll see what that looks like below. First, let's log in to Storymaps and start building.

Log in to www.storymaps.arcgis.com.

Click on New Story.

For this Storymap, I chose the template called "Sidecar". However, you can try out other templates, or choose to create your Storymap from scratch.

Then add a title, subtitle and your name.

Add a cover image or video.

Hitting the Enter button after any line brings up a + sign, which you can click to add more content.

Use the green + sign button on the bottom right of your screen to add a new "slide" or content area to your story.

Choose from the dropdown called Add Media to add an image or video, a map, an embed or a swipe.

Something annoying is that the default for uploaded images is to Fill (crop) the image. This often cuts off parts of your image.

To change this (which you will probably have to do each time you upload an image), click on the cog wheel symbol over the image. This brings up the Image options box shown on the right.

Scroll down and select Fit (do not crop).

Then click Save, and you entire image will show.

To add your saved map of your GLOBE data (+ your added Living Atlas layer), add a new slide and then click on Add Media and select Add Map.

Your list of saved maps in your ArcGIS Online account pops up. Choose your map, but don't hit the green Place Map button at the bottom right just yet!

Notice that the default is to embed the map at the zoom level you last viewed the map with. In this case, it is still showing Mansfield, OH.

Use the zoom buttons to zoom out to your level of preference. Then click on the cog wheel symbol at the upper left to change some attributes of the map before you embed it in your Storymap.

After you click the cog wheel symbol at the upper left, toggle the map configuration options as you would like.

For this map, I chose to zoom out to the U.S. level, and then chose to allow map navigation, search and to show the legend.

Then click the green button on the bottom right called Place Map.

Now we have an embedded, active map within our Storymap!

Use the zoom + and - signs on the bottom right to zoom in to an area of the map of your choosing.

Notice that you have to zoom in pretty close to view the UHI layer I added from ArcGIS Online's Living Atlas.

Click the search tool button at the upper left to type in a city name and zoom to it.

Click the Legend button at the bottom left to view the legends for both layers.

Now you see how an embedded, active map within a Storymap can be a powerful learning tool!

When you are finished creating your Storymap, click the Publish button at the upper right.

Then you will have a link you can share.