Interactive Maps using ArcGIS Online
This session introduces you ArcGIS Online, a collaborative web GIS platform that allows you to use, create, and share maps, 3D models, GIS apps, layers, analytics, and all your GIS data (land-use and land cover, administrative boundaries, transportation systems, traffic, etc). With ArcGIS Online you can securely store, share, and collaborate all your geospatial data.
1. ACCESSING ArcGIS ONLINE
ArcGIS Online is a cloud-based mapping platform that allows users to share their GIS data and maps on the cloud. With ArcGIS Online you can accomplish most of the tasks you can in a traditional GIS desktop and all you need is a browser!
Students, faculty, and staff at Clemson University can create their own ArcGIS Online account under our Clemson University Organization by following the instructions below.
- Go to arcgis.com and click Sign in. You will see the window on the right, click on "Sign with ENTERPRISE LOGIN"
- You will be asked to Enter your ArcGIS organization's URL. Enter clemson and click CONTINUE.
- In the window that appears, select Sign in to Clemson University using Clemson University.
- Log in with your regular Clemson ID and password.
2. NAVIGATING IN ArcGIS ONLINE
ArcGIS Online is your mini-portable GIS software accessible through your browser. In the top panel, you have two important sections to pay attention to:
- Map - This is the section where you explore and add data, change symbology, do basic analysis, and create your maps
- Content - This section is where you store all your data and your maps. You also decide which content is private and which one you can share with groups or the public
To start exploring ArcGIS Online, click on the Map menu. Notice the default setting with a basic topographic map. Zoom in and out using your mouse or clicking on the + button to see how the content changes to adapt to the scale of the map.
2.1 BASEMAPS
Basemaps are background images to aid with the spatial reference of your map. To change your basemap, go to the upper left section of your screen, and click the Basemap button.
Explore different basemaps.
Zoom in to the local level to understand the level of detail each one offers.
2.2 FINDING LOCATIONS
The search box on the top right corner allows you to find and zoom into any address or place you are looking for.
Let's say, for example, you are interested in creating a map of the Clemson area. In the search box, type Clemson.
Notice how the map zooms immediately to the Clemson area.
3. YOUR FIRST MAP: CLEMSON TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY
In this section, we are going to explore the accessibility of the public transportation system at Clemson. To this end, we are going to need the following datasets:
- Bus stops
- Bus routes
- Transit Access: areas that are 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, and 1km away from the nearest bus, metro or train stop.
- Traffic information
3.1 DATA SOURCES IN ArcGIS ONLINE
In ArcGIS Online you can upload your own data or use data published by other users. For this session, we will use data published by people in our organization (Clemson University) and by Esri through the ArcGIS Living Atlas.
3.1.1 Adding data from Clemson's organizational account
First, let's add bus routes and bus stops published by CCGT in 2016. In the menu on the top left corner, click the Add button, select Search for Layers.
Next to My Content, click on the drop-down arrow to select My Organization.
In the search box, type bus.
Notice 14 layers appear on your search results.
Let's take a look at the Bus_Stops_CU_2016 dataset. Click on the title to see its description(metadata). This information is critical for you to decide if you should use it or not on your map. Who is the author of this dataset? Can it be used for commercial purposes?
Click the + button to add it to your map
Repeat the same process with CATBusRoutes_CU_2016.
Click the <- to go back to the map content. Notice your two datasets added to your map and available for modification under the Content panel.
3.1.2 The Living Atlas: Curated datasets you can trust
Now we are going to add datasets created by authoritative sources that are curated by Esri to be available to all users. Click the Add button, select Browse Living Atlas Layers.
In the Search box, type bus and add the Transit Access layer. How was this dataset calculated?
Repeat the same process to add the World Traffic Service dataset (search for traffic) and Highway Access North America (search for highway access)
Click the <- to go back to the map content.
Zoom out to the regional level to see the Highway Access North America. Notice the areas are calculated within 10 minutes driving time of major highways. This might be a very useful dataset for you in the future. For now, let's remove it from our map by clicking the ... under Highway Access North America and selecting Remove.
3.1.3 Exploring the Attribute Table
Zoom back to the Clemson area. Let's explore the information available for some of our datasets. For example, let's look at the Bus stops layer. In the Contents panel, hoover over the Bus Stops dataset and click on the table icon as shown below.
GIS data can be described as information associated with location. In this case, you can see that the bus stop name is associated with each icon on the map.
Let's now move to a more complex dataset and look up the attribute table of the Transit Access - Distance to Transit Stop sublayer (make sure to click on the arrow to the left of the layer to expand its content). Select one of the polygons in the Clemson area on the map (appears with turquoise border). What are the attributes associated with this polygon?
Rename the bus stops layer by clicking the ... under its title on the table of contents, and selecting Rename. Type Clemson Bus Stops as the Layer Name.
Let's not use the bus routes for now. To make them disappear from our map, uncheck the box next to each one of them. Drag them to the bottom of the contents panel, by clicking near the three vertical dots next to them and dragging them down.
Change the basemap to the Streets style.
It is time to save your map. On the top menu, click the Save button, Save:
- Title: Clemson Transit Accessibility by YourInitials
- Tags: Clemson, transit, accessibility, transportation
- Summary: example map for learning GIS for urban transportation planning
Click SAVE MAP.
3.2 SYMBOLOGY
We would like to change the symbology of the bus stops. Hover over the Clemson Bus Stops and select the Change Style as shown below.
In the menu that appears, select Location as the drawing style. Click OPTIONS.In the Showing Location Only panel, click Symbols.
Change the symbol size to 20 px.
Click OK, OK, and DONE.
Notice you could have changed the symbol type or even import your own symbol.
Let's look now at the Transit Access layer. Notice as the Change Style button is not available. The reason why is that this is not a GIS dataset, but just a layer (a picture if you wish) that cannot be modified in the way is presented. When you look for data in ArcGIS Online, pay attention to the true GIS datasets Vs. layers that are only for visual purposes.
3.3 POP-UP WINDOW
Pop-up windows are a great resource to add information that cannot be displayed at first hand on your map. Only secondary information should be added to the pop-up window as many readers of your interactive map might not know that there is more information hidden behind a click on the map.
Let's create an informative pop-up window on the Transit layer. In the table of contents, go to Transit Access - Distance to Transit Stop, click the ... and select Enable Pop-up. Click on one of the transit polygons on your map and notice the default pop-up window.
To change the default, go to Transit Access - Distance to Transit Stop, click the ... and select Configure Pop-up. In the Configure Pop-up panel, follow the instructions below:
- Pop-up Title: Distance to Transit Stop: {Name} miles
- Pop-up Contents: click Configure Attributes. Uncheck FacilityID, Name, FromBreak, ToBreak, and Version. In Field Alias type Time (minutes).
Click OK. Notice the new pop-up window.
Save your map.
3.4 SHARING YOUR MAP
Your map by default is private. However, many times you might want to share it with collaborators (even allowing them to edit it and add their own data or update some of your records), or with the public. In our case, we are going to make it public so that you can embed it on a website.
Next to the Save button is the Share option. When you click on it, the Share window allows you to control who can view your map.
Check the box next to Everyone (public).
Notice that now the EMBED IN WEBSITE button is available for you to copy and paste this map into your website as I did below.