My Learning Experience with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro
This is a presentation on the maps I learnt to create using various ArcGIS programs.
I am a postgraduate student at the University of Queensland. While I have experience with ArcGIS Pro, I had never had the opportunity to learn ArcGIS Online until this subject, GEOM7200. It was an enjoyable experience learning to navigate such a user-friendly interface in comparison ArcGIS Pro. There is more room (and time) to create aesthetically pleasing maps.
The following include three maps I've learnt to create during the final practical classes of this subject.
AUSTRALIAN STATES POPULATION DATA This map is a population choropleth across the states of Australia. Data was classified into natural breaks with 8 classes (so that each state can be ranked on a gradient). The colour gradient of tan – red shows which states have higher populations than others, and it is also a strong contrast from the blue ocean in the basemap. The National Geographic basemap provides subtle secondary information to the map without distracting from the main focus, and is aesthetically pleasing.
MURRAY DARLING BASIN CATCHMENT AREAS This choropleth map is based catchment size of the Murray Darling Basin, which spans across several states of South-East Australian mainland. The data is classified into 5 natural breaks with a pink colour scheme (contrasting water). I added a hillshade layer from ArcGIS Online, and adjusted the visibility scale to be state – room (likewise for labels). This hides detailed topographic features at a broader scale (when viewing the whole basin, e.g. Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia), but still shows the information when zooming to a finer scale (e.g. between catchment zones). This layer, as well as the use of the ‘topographic’ basemap, aids the audience in understanding why catchment zones occur where they occur.
I've created maps similar these in ArcGIS Pro in other classes, which took significantly longer (and more technical skills) to achieve. With ArcGIS Online, the process was painless. The results are a beautiful, simple, interactive maps.
The following maps were created using ArcGIS Pro in another subject I've taken this semester, GEOM7002.
The next 2 maps are of a land suitability analysis in the Moreton Bay region for residential development.
This map in particular highlights areas that are suitable for residential development, containing less than 20 metres elevation, a greater distance of 50 metres from waterbodies and less than 500 meters from roads.
This map is similar to the previous one but only selects land that is currently assigned as agricultural.
The last two maps are of earthquake data in Australia.
This map shows the occurrences of earthquakes between 1841-1959.
The dotted lines are directional distribution (standard deviational ellipse, SDE) to two standard deviations, to show the spread of earthquakes in Australia prior to the 1960’s.
It shows direction of data, which is an important aspect to include when visualising earthquakes and other phenomena caused by plate tectonics.
This map is an Optimised Hot Spot Analysis of earthquake data post 1960's.
The neighbourhood size is derived from the incremental spatial autocorrelation (ISA) analysis.
There is a gradient of 90%, 95% and 99% confidence intervals.
Overall, I have learnt very different skills between GEOM7200 and GEOM7002.
While ArcGIS Pro has been monopolised in the subjects at UQ, I have valued being taught how to use Google Earth Pro, ENVI, QGIS and ArcGIS Online. It has been refreshing to take a step in a different direction during this class, taking a deeper dive into the different technologies Geographic Information Science / Spatial Science utilises.
Additionally, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history and development of GIS technologies (I told my partner all about Google's acquisition of Keyhole Inc.).
This subject has deepened my appreciation for all things spatial science, which is a nice change of pace compared to the nitty-gritty of ArcGIS Pro. I feel as though my toolkit has been diversified and enriched.
