Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Impressions of ArcGIS
We have completed several projects related to Geospatial Technologies. We have learned to use GPS, created maps with ArcGIS and have dealt with Excel documents to add X Y data. What are your impressions of this technology? What more do you want to know how to do? After seeing the presentations by Dr. Oberle's students what ideas do you have for a class project?
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ArcGIS has been something fun to learn about. It was nice to learn how to create maps in different ways. I liked our last project because it was cool how we got to find different points using the latitude and longitude of those places, putting the points on the map and then seeing how far apart each of those places are from each other. When I chose to do something on my trip from Germany, I had to make several different maps because of the amount of space it took up. But I still got to select the points out of the map and make different maps out of that.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was very interesting on how we had to create those maps and by using a website online or just using ArcGIS altogether was a cool experience and fun to learn about!
Well Mr. Nielsen, personally I sometimes enjoy using ArcGIS when we can make intersesting maps. But the whole X Y data thing is just not working for me because it's frustrating. Also i think that my experience with it has been negetive so if it would have just worked in the first place i would like it more. as of now i do not know what i'm going to do for the project.
ReplyDeleteKay, Thanks, Bye.
Well...ArcGIS is definitely a 'P.C' program if you know what I mean. Pretty un-aesthetically pleasing, and rather unattractive should you ever enlist the help of the help menu. The major functions are pretty much there and ready, but anything deeper is basically impossible unless you have immense previous knowledge about the program. It seems the totting around the million page manual is essential in some cases.
ReplyDeleteOnce around the initial hurdles of the program, you can usually easily create and print maps to your liking. A great feature of the program is the ability to add data, images and points into the GISdata folder. This means you are not limited to information provided by the company, rather you can use whatever strikes your fancy. The program is also complete with lots of colors, fills and backgrounds which is fun to create a creative and functional map! My only complaint is that the program almost discourages any tweaking of the map that isn't found in the basic, easy to use features. You either make the basic ho-hum map, or spend hours pouring over intense ArcGIS guidebooks and manuals...
I think this technology is very interesting. I can't say that I will be using it in my future, but using it at this point in time has been very useful. I would like to learn how to do more than just create simple maps. For a class project I have thought of possibly doing something that has to do with the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. I'm not 100% sure what I want to do yet, though.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with what Savannah said. I was very confused with what the whole XY data thing was a bout and it was very confusing at the beginning. I was not really interested in using that kind of stuff at first but then again i started to like it more and more as we kept on going with this activity and learn more about different ways to make maps!
ReplyDeleteDearest Kendall
ReplyDeleteI agree, i would also like to make maps that are not as simple. I also don't think i will be using it in my future but for now it is great fun :) i'm sure your project will turn out GURRATE!
Joni, I agree with you when you talk about needing further knowledge to use the parts of the program that are not already given to you. It is a little frustrating at times. This isn't a program that just ANYONE can really use.
ReplyDeleteNo way! I was just commenting on how I agree with you Kendall about trying to make more complicated maps. It's really quite impossible to make anything other than your "basic" map on this program. If you try to make things a little more advanced the programming becomes somewhat impossible!
ReplyDelete