In creating my ArcGIS map, I decided to spotlight the top 5 crucial locations at Carleton College that hold significance for me: Myers Hall, Sayles-Hill, Weitz Center for Creativity, LDC, and the Recreational Center. I used a spreadsheet that included information such as the location’s name, function, the number of times I visited, and their coordinates. Importing this data into the platform proved efficient, requiring just a few clicks to integrate it seamlessly into the map.
Once the data was in place, I noticed dots marking each location, which I then customized with images I found online. To visually represent the frequency of my visits to these sites over the course of a week, I adjusted the icon sizes. Consequently, LDC and Myers Hall, which I visited most frequently, had the largest icons, while Sayles had the smallest.
However, I encountered a minor challenge regarding the labels of the polygons. Initially, all were labeled as “Polygons,” which puzzled me. The solution came when I realized I needed to create distinct feature layers for each building, naming them accordingly to display their respective names. I also added images to each building, enhancing the map’s aesthetics and interactivity.
In reflection, web mapping in the context of Digital Humanities offers a captivating means of visualizing data. While our lab assignment focused on personal essential areas at Carleton, web mapping has the flexibility to represent a wide array of data and information. My initial learning curve with ArcGIS was a bit steep, but as I delved deeper, I recognized the vast potential for creating informative and visually engaging digital maps. This experience has opened my eyes to the power of web mapping in DH and its utility for diverse projects.
2 thoughts on “Lab Post 6: ArcGIS Campus Map – Paul Jung”
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The efficient integration of data using a spreadsheet and the customization of icons to represent visit frequency demonstrate the versatility of web mapping tools. The challenge you faced with labeling polygons highlights the learning curve associated with such platforms, but your ability to adapt and enhance the map’s aesthetics with images is respectable. Your reflection on the broader potential of web mapping in the context of Digital Humanities is insightful. It’s indeed a powerful tool for visualizing data, whether personal or research-oriented and as you’ve discovered, it offers vast possibilities for creating informative and visually engaging digital maps. This experience underscores the valuable role of web mapping in DH projects and its adaptability to various applications.
Paul, I really like what you did with the size of the icons. It’s reminiscent of our data visualization lessons about communicating an accurate and deliberate message. I think mapping is a very versatile tool that can show more what a graph or table can do. The downside, like you mentioned, comes in the learning curve, which can be as frustrating as it is confusing for humanities scholars.