Creating Web Maps with ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Online includes everything you need to create your own maps by accessing a gallery of basemaps, adding your own layers, and configuring mashups that you can share with others, embed in your own website, or incorporate into a story map.

In this section we will create some basic web maps by adding data from various sources.

1. Navigating in ArcGIS Online

Sign in arcgis.com with your Clemson ID account as mentioned in the section before. Once you are signed in, go to Map at the top of the page.

One of the main features of ArcGIS Online is the Map section, where you can explore content, add your own data, perform analysis and create your own interactive web maps.

In the upper left section, click the Basemap button and choose a different basemap.

Explore different basemaps and practice zooming in and out using the roller button in your mouse.

You also have a search button to find places. In the search box on the top right, type Clemson.

Change the basemap to Imagery.

Now, try to change the basemap.

2. Your first map: Clemson University Stormwater Infrastructure

In this step, we will create a map of the existing stormwater infrastructure on the Clemson University campus.

2.1 Adding data to your map

ArcGIS Online has a wealth of data from many trusted sources such as NOAA, USGS as well as your own organization. To get started adding layers click the Add button. You can search for layers, browse Living Atlas layers, layers from the web, layers from files, and add map notes. Choose Search for Layers. In the window that opens, choose My Organization to look up items published in your organization; Clemson University.

Next, we will search for Clemson University campus data and add a boundary layer to our web map.

In Search for Layers box, type: Clemson boundary

The first result should be ClemsonUniversity_MainCampusBoundary. Click on the title. You can see that a panel opens up on the right that gives you information about this layer. Here is where you inspect your data and see its sources and the methodology by which it was collected. This extensive information about your data is called "metadata." Now, click on Add to Map. You can also click on the plus sign next to each result layer to add that to your map. Repeat the same steps for the following layers:

    • StreamsTrees

    • Water lines

    • Grass

    • Manholes

Can you think of any other layer that might be of interest to you?

Once you are done with adding layers, click on the Back arrow to go to the Content tab.

Hover your mouse on the Grass Study Clip layer so the icons under the layer appear. Click on the three dots and click on Transparency. Set the Transparency to 75% and see the results.

Now, try to change the transparency for other layers.

2.2 Adding your own observations on the fly with Map Notes

Imagine you have some locations you would like to highlight on the map and want to draw these in yourself. For example, you notice a number of water bodies, grassed areas, and streams on campus that are of interest to you, but after searching ArcGIS Online, you didn't find the data you wanted. You can add on-the-fly data by adding Map Notes.

Click on the Add button -> Add Map Notes.

Name: PondsTemplate: Map Notes

You will see the Add Features panel. Click on the Area and then click on an area of campus that you would like to add a pond. Call it Pond#1. You can also select a photo on the Internet for your entry to add as an image link. Click on CHANGE SYMBOL and change the color to blue.

Now, try to add another type of data. For example, suppose you have observed some wells on the field and you would like to create map notes for that. Which one of the features would you choose? Why?

2.4 Explore the Attribute Table

Try to do this for another layer.

2.5 Changing the Pop-up Window

Click on any of the points in the Stormwater_Manholes layer to open a pop-up window. Notice it displays all the fields and values from the attribute table for that manhole.To change the pop-up window, go to the ... below your layer's name and select Configure Pop-up.

For the Pop-up Title, remove Stormwater_Manholes and Type Information. Click OK and check the changes.

Open up again the configure pop-up window and follow the instructions below:

Pop-up Contents: select Diameter. Change its alias to Size

Click OK twice to see your results.

Save your map following the next step.

Click the Edit button again to leave the edit mode.

2.6 Saving your map

Above the center of the map, click Save. Select Save. Follow these settings:

Title: Stormwater_Infrastructure_your_initials

Tags: Stormwater. Clemson, Infrastructure

Summary: A web map displaying Stormwater Infrastructure in Clemson, SC

2.7 Sharing your map

Next, to the Save button, click Share.

In the new window that appears, check the box to share with Everyone (public).

Notice that you can share the short link to the map. In the next section, you will be embedding your new map in your Google site that you created earlier.

Hover your mouse on a layer of your choice. Here, we are going to look at the attribute table of the Stormwater_Manholes layer. Click on the table icon (if you keep your mouse on it, it says Show Table). This opens up the attribute table of your layer.