My First ArcGIS Experience
My ArcGIS experience went relatively
smoothly; I was able to follow the instructions and other than a slight panic
attack, I felt confident in what I was doing. The step-by-step instructions and
the accompanying pictures were simple and easy to follow. In addition, there
were one or two sentences before each task that explained what I would be
doing. These were really good, however I felt they weren't sufficient. A lot of
the times, I didn't fully understand what I was accomplishing exactly and sometimes
felt that I was simply clicking buttons. However, when I saw the changes on the
map, I was better able to comprehend what was happening. Also, it was really
helpful when Jason, my T.A. explained what each step meant in terms of the
bigger picture.
The entire experience was really
interesting overall. Though I don’t know where the data came from, it was
fascinating what a couple of random pieces of information could create. I liked
how the information could be layered in different ways to create maps that each
represented something different. Also, creating graphs on ArcGIS is much easier
than doing it on Excel.
GIS has the capacity to perform
various tasks to help convey evidence. Information can be taken and converted
into multiple visuals to prove a point or show a plan. Because access is
readily available, anybody can use it. Furthermore, the step-by-step
instructions allow people to quickly learn the skills necessary to operate the
system. Many news stations use GIS to present a visual for the information they
are conveying, helping further the understanding of viewers. Companies in
general can use GIS to present visuals about their plans and city planners can
use GIS to figure out what the city needs and the best place to put it.
Unfortunately, in my case I didn't completely understand what I was doing or what the function of each specific
step was. If someone does not understand what she is doing, then it is really
easy to misrepresent or misinterpret information. GIS requires a basic
understanding of what each step requires and what it signifies. It may be
difficult for some to get a firm grasp on the concepts and so the maps created
may not be accurate. In addition, people can misuse GIS to easily skew
information to fit their needs, leading to many false notions.
Overall, I enjoyed using ArcGIS,
especially when viewing the end product and learning what it all signifies.
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