Introduction to and Applied Uses of Web Maps

SUMMARY

This script is to be used for presenting live examples of web maps in order to explain the basic components included in a web map on Cadasta’s Platform, based on the ESRI ArcGIS Online product.

DEMO STEPS

1. Explain what an ArcGIS Web map is by showing a slide with this description: “An ArcGIS Web map is an interactive display of geographic information that you can use to tell stories and answer questions.”

2. Describe the basic components of a web map by showing a slide and screenshot of a web map, a basemap, a set of data layers, an extent, and navigation tools to pan and zoom. Many maps also contain scaled symbols and other smart styling that reveal data and patterns as you interact with them.

3. Open the link for a blank web map and sign in with the organizational username and password provided by Cadasta Foundation.

4. Explain that this is an example of a web map without any data layers and show other basic web map tools or features (Details, Add, Basemap, Analysis, About, Content, Legend, Save, Share, Print, Direction, Measure, Bookmarks, a search bar to find an address and places).

5. Explain that the layers, also called web layers, are logical collections of geographic data that are used to create maps and scenes; they are also the basis for geographic analysis. Layers are the building blocks of web maps. Every map contains a base map layer and may also contain other layers that are drawn on top of the base map.

6. Explain that the map layers can be managed as Items in ArcGIS Online. These items are displayed on the Content page, can be shared with others, and are searchable in ArcGIS Online by browsing the Living Atlas Layer.

7. Explain how web maps can be used for many different use cases. Show a slide which has screenshots from different web maps/layers for each use case (For example: Forestry; Agriculture; Demographic; Land Use; Water Quality Status; Wildlife Conservation).

8. Open the link for the Land Use Web Map.

9. Explain that the visibility range for the Land Use/Land Cover map is set beyond county-level so it is unable to view when we first opened the map. That is the reason why we have to zoom into the New Jersey area.

10. Explain that this web map shows Land Use/Land Cover of New Jersey 2012. Type “New Jersey” in the search bar or zoom in to the New Jersey state on the map. Show the six different categories of land use of New Jersey as symbolized in six different colored polygons by clicking Legend on the web map.

11. Close the web map and explain that you will now show another example of a web map.

12. Open the link for the Demographics Web Map.

13. Explain that this web map shows the household demographics of the 2010 Census in the U.S. by states, county, tract, and block group. Each administrative unit has a unique layer and the Visibility Scale is also set accordingly.

14. Mention that if we click the Show Table tool under “Household Demographics in the 2010 Census – State” layer we can see the household data in the tabular format.

15. Explain that the state polygons can be symbolized using any data column from the table using the Change Style tool that is located on the right side of the Show Table tool and then selecting a different attribute from the table. For example, select “2000 Population in Families (US Census)” data and click Done.

16. Explain that each state has a different sized red-colored circle based on the population of the family. The higher the population, the bigger the circle and vice versa.

17. Describe that web maps can be created in a few basic steps and opened in standard web browsers, mobile devices, and desktop map viewers. They can be shared through links, embedded in websites, and used to create map-based web apps, operational dashboards, and story maps.

18. Demonstrate the use of web maps in web apps, dashboards, and story maps by showing the screenshot of each item in different slides.