J'Dante's GIS Blog

For week 6 of GIS lab, we dived deeper into Projections and what it has to offer. For this lab we learned how to downloaded data for Labins and FGDL were we had to unzip and extract the data which were Quads of counties. We also learned how to make XY data and transfer it to ArcGIS and we worked a lot more with changing the projections to match. We practiced with these methods and then for the final part we took what we learned and applied to to make our own map with a quad and other specific layers with little to no instructions. The last part I feel helps a lot to strengthen or knowledge and helps us use ArcGIS more independently. In the next few weeks of GIS Lab we become more independent creating maps and we're well on our way to becoming experts. The map above showcases call the layers we needed to show mastery of how to download data, make XY data, and change the projections.

For Week 5 of GIS lab, we dived into the world of Projections(Part 1)more importantly, projected coordinate systems and the characteristics of them. The PCS is important to consider because the maps that are viewed in ArcGIS are in in some type of PCS and they have differences. That difference can be the distortion, the way the map is placed, and also the size of the boundaries drawn.  In this lab we learn how to change the PCS or reprojecting shape files with the use of the geo processing tools and it as great practice for the second part of projections where we will expand more on PCS and specifics. The map above showcases the counties of Florida in three projected coordinate system and the area of select counties. Notice the slight chances in area among the counties due to the change in PCS.

For week 4 of GIS Lab, we took a step back from applying given data to our maps and we created our own. For this lab learned not only how to create data, but also create a feature class, how to collect data, and how to share maps in different formats. We downloaded the app called ArcGIS Collector to collect data and connected through ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro to map out a particular safety feature around UWF which in this case was blue lights. The snapshot above is one of four maps I prepared for sharing. It showcases blue light locations I collected from a google earth view. This lab to me shows just what goes into collecting data points and making maps. Such a detailed process yields extraordinary results and I have so much more to learn about what goes into GIS.