For this lab, we took a dive into ArcGIS to make a map showing the provenance of the object we previously 3D modeled. If the embed of the app doesn’t work, you can see our app using this link.
While it’s neat being able to see this final map, the process was a bit frustrating at times. Our object had an unknown importation location, and we couldn’t figure out how to add a point that we could label and change the symbology of, so we chose to not include the point in our app. I imagine with cleaner data and more practice with ArcGIS, the process would go much more smoothly.
Web mapping has an abundance of potential for DH projects, as it gives a way to visualize locations in a way that other methods aren’t as successful at doing. Being able to see the exact location on a map where something happened is quite powerful, as well as having additional information be available when you click on a point. Using location to tell a story can be more understandable than some of the previous methods we’ve seen in this class.
The ArcGIS platform as a whole is interesting, to say the least. It seems like a great host platform for interactive maps, and the sharing tools it has are very powerful and convenient. However, it seems a bit clunky having to create a separate item to add elements to the map, such as not being able to create the line and the additional point straight on the original map. Personally, the site’s layout in map form wasn’t very beginner friendly as well; for something as simple as adding labels, this proved to be a challenging task and the labels button seemed a bit hidden. However, having such a platform available is still very beneficial for creating sophisticated maps.
2 thoughts on “ArcGIS Assignment”
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I could be thinking about something else, but for your location importation problem, my group and I might have had the same issue. We solved it by deleting the “Dynasty” part of the origin location. Great map! I really like the symbols you used for each location. I do agree that some of the features available were harder to find, especially adding the line layer.
I think understanding the limitations of data is important here, especially when there is missing data like your artifact. I would also find it challenging to communicate that there is missing data from the path of your artifact but definitely something to think about to ensure there is not any misinformation. Overall, I like your map!