Creating and Sharing Maps with Online Tools

The wide availability of free, authoritative mapping data and easy-to-use mapping tools provide individuals and communities unprecedented access to all the resources needed to create attractive and effective maps that can support planning and collaboration. This Story Map will briefly revisit some considerations in gathering data and some characteristics of digital geospatial data. It will then make a deeper exploration of some free tools that can be used to display geographic information and create sharable and printable maps. We will specifically look at how to work with our own and publically accessible data using the following tools:

• The National Map Viewer. The U. S. Geological Surveys's online mapping and data dissemination tool. This is a gateway to data from many government sources. It also provides drawing tools and the ability to view your own data.

• Google Earth. Among the most popular tools for displaying and sharing geographic data. Many public datasets are available in Google Earth's kml/kmz file formats. Many GPS data collection apps allow data to be output in kml/kmz format. Google Earth also allows the viewing of many common geographic information system file formats such as the ESRI shapefile. Google also has a companion, web-based version of Google Earth with excelled data viewing capabilituies, but more limited data and map sharing.

We will also briefly described these tools as alternatives:

• ArcGIS Online. ESRI provides a certain level of free capability for its popular ArcGIS Online web mapping tools.
• Google Maps. A popular, browser-based tool for creating and sharing geographic information. Google Maps can be easily shared via a link or via embedding in a website.

This Story Map is for those with little or no background in geographic information technology but would like to learn how to make simple online and printed maps that can support their planning and activities.

• The National Map Viewer
• ArcGIS Online
• Google Earth
• Google Earth Web Viewer
• Google Maps

• Source of Information (Is it trusted/authoritative)

• Age

• Spatial Detail and Accuracy (scale)

• Content Detail and Accuracy (scale and intended use)

This information is found in the metadata for digital data.

Most online and free mapping services use these file formats for geospatial data:

• Shapefile: ESRI file format for GIS data. usually must be zipped when working with online mapping tools.
• CSV: Comma-Separated Values. Form of text file used for tabular data. .csv files with coordinates can be uploaded and viewed based on the coordinate values. It is best to use decimal degree values, though some applications will allow multiple types. Use only one header row and avoid complex column heading names.
• KML/KMZ: Google Earth Keyhole Markup Language (KML). Google's format for creating and viewing geographic information. KMZ are packages of data based on a kml, but with other layers and data such as images.
• GPX: GPS Exchange. No-propriety format for sharing GPS data. Many recreation-grade GPS units and apps allow data to be export as a .gpx in addition to whatever proprietary format is associated with the device or app.
• GeoJSON: Open standard GIS data format commonly used in web maps and webapps.

Note: There may be a limit on the number of features in a single file that can be uploaded.

Some data are accessed directly from the "cloud" through various forms of online map services. Not all viewers can interact with all types of services.

Here is a link to the Story Map for the data sources webinar:  https://arcg.is/1qnrbu0 .

In this scenario, we will create a map using the National Map Viewer, upload some local data, view some data from a map server, and create and download some features. We will then export a .pdf and jpeg version of the map.

Scenario: The U. S. Forest Service has proposed a fuels reduction project in the Manzano Mountains near the popular Manzano Crest Trail. A public tour of the project area and some nearby completed thinning projects will be held to help address any concerns about the impacts of this project. As the recreation coordinator for the Mountainair Collaborative, you have volunteered to make a map showing the location of the project area and tour route.

1. Open the National Map and zoom to the area of interest.
2. Turn on desired additional data directly from the National Map. (Watershed Boundary Dataset, NLCD Canopy Cover from Layer List. Adjust transparency.
3. Use the Add Data tool to add National Wetlands Inventory (NWI Wetlands) from Featured Data; Wildfire Hazard Potential, Version 2020 from ArcGIS Online. Some ArcGIS Online data requires an ESRI account. Adjust transparency.
4. Add geographic data files from disk. (Capilla peak CFRP Boundary shapefile and Manzano Trails kml file)
5. Add a geographic layer from a web map server (Motor Vehicle Use Map: Roads (Feature Layer)  https://data-usfs.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/motor-vehicle-use-map-roads-feature-layer 
6. Sketch a geographic graphic layer. Draw, select, and Create layer and/or Export. Rename after download. Avoid spaces and special characteristics in file names.
7. Clear graphics and add saved graphics back to the map.
8. Export the final map as a .pdf or jpeg file.

• Great viewer for geographic data from a wide variety of sources with quick access to USGS map layers.
• Limited flexibility in editing the appearance of features in map and margin.
• Can also save and share data using an ArcGIS Online account.

Learn more by visiting:

• Training: Using The National Map Products and Services:  https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geospatial-program/training 

ESRI ArcGIS Online (w/o account)

• Foundation of National Map Viewer.
• More options for appearance of data and labels.
• Data a little more difficult to search.
• Cannot upload kml or kmz files.
• Fewer options for map layout and layout elements.
• Tools not available.

Learn more by visiting:

• The ArcGIS Online product page:  https://www.arcgis.com/home/index.html .
• Learn ArcGIS  https://new-user-learngis.hub.arcgis.com/ . (These lessons require an account to complete; however, they can beviewed wtuihout an account.)

Create annotations and layout in PowerPoint or similar program

• All the advantages and disadvantages of the National Map Viewer and ArcGIS Online in dealing with data and layers.
• Easier to arrange map elements and create labels and annotations.

In this scenario, we will create a map using Google Earth, add some local data, view some data from a map server, and create a simple map. We will then export a .pdf and jpeg version of the map.

Scenario: The U. S. Forest Service has proposed a fuels reduction project in the Manzano Mountains near the popular Manzano Crest Trail. A public tour of the project area and some nearby completed thinning projects will be held to help address any concerns about the impacts of this project. As the recreation coordinator for the Mountainair Collaborative, you have volunteered to make a map showing the location of the project area and tour route.

1. Open the Google Earth and zoom to the area of interest.
2. Add geographic data files from disk. (Capilla peak CFRP Boundary shapefile, Cibola National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map kml file, and Manzano Trails kml file).
3. Add some streaming data. (Google Earth Streamflow KML Files from  https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/new/?id=real&sid=w__kml )
4. Add Topo Map kmz files downloaded from USGS topoView  https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/ .
5. Sketch a geographic layer and save it to disk. Draw and save as a kml/kmz.
6. Save map as kmz.
7. Export the final map as a .pdf or jpeg file.

• Great viewer for geographic data from a wide variety of sources including tabular data.
• Not very many kml/kmz web services. cannot ingest other web file formats.
• Can view GeoTIFF and other georefernced image file types; however, this can get unwieldy.
• Good flexibility in editing the appearance of features.
• Can create and save individual features.
• Can save interactive view of the map.

Google Earth on the web  https://earth.google.com/web/ 

• Lighter version of Google Earth Pro.
• Limited availability of tools.
• Share via Google Drive.
• Can only use kml/kmz files; however, those may not be shared in project.

Learn more by visiting:

• Video Tutorial:  https://youtu.be/-XcLcF-huCo 
• Web tutorial Create a map or story in Google Earth Web:  https://www.google.com/earth/outreach/learn/create-a-map-or-story-in-google-earth-web/#create-a-project-and-add-places-1 

Google Maps My Maps  https://www.google.com/maps/about/mymaps/ 

• Limited layout design.
• Share via Google Drive.
• Easy to embed in websites.

Learn more by visiting:

• Visualize your data on a custom map using Google My Maps web tutorial  https://www.google.com/earth/outreach/learn/visualize-your-data-on-a-custom-map-using-google-my-maps/ .
• Many videos on the web.

• The National Map and ArcGIS Online (free version) offer powerful data viewing tools and basic data creation tools. The ability to save and share your own data is limited and maps can only be shared as static maps. Cartographic presentation is pretty good, especially when paired with a desktop graphics program.
• Google Earth Pro and the related Google products have very good data and interactive map sharing via Google Drive. The ability to embed Google Maps into websites is very useful. Basemap and layout options are limited.
• There any many other free and inexpensive map creation and viewing tools, including some that are very sophisticated geographic information systems such as QGIS and MapWindow.
• You get what you pay for (time and money).

The New Frontier on GIS and Collaboration: ArcGIS Hub

• ESRI Community Engagement Environment
• A bridge between GIS team and community