The goal of this GIS assignment was
to learn how to download data from the internet to use in ArcMap. To begin this
GIS assignment, I went to the census website and used their fact finder option
and an advanced search. Then I completed searches for the necessary data. The
data downloaded was the “Population Total” files, with the geography “All Counties
within Wisconsin”. After adding the excel files to my folder, I then went back
to the fact finder page and downloaded the shapefiles of Wisconsin. After
downloading the necessary data, it is important to remember to unzip the
downloaded data files in order to be able to see and use them. Once all of the
data was unzipped and added to my folder, the next step was to open up a blank
map in ArcMap. To begin, the files that were just downloaded into my folder
were then placed into ArcMap on my blank map. I completed a join for the
shapefile table and the excel table that I had previously downloaded. Next, I
created a new layer in ArcMap, and then proceeded to choose my own data, which
was “Housing Units” to download and then project in ArcMap. After I downloaded
this data into my folder, the next step was to create a graduated color map,
which is the same map type as my previous map with population data as well.
With these two graduated color
maps, I then created a cartographically pleasing representation of the
population and housing data that was downloaded of Wisconsin from the census
fact finder website. In order to make a cartographically pleasing map, all of
the necessary elements needed to be added to my maps. This included a north
arrow, a scale bar, my name, a title, the date, and legends for each map. After
completing this part of the lab, the next step was to create a web map with
ArcGIS online. To do this, the “Housing Units” layer was removed so that “Population”
was the only map layer. I then used ArcMap to sign into my ArcGIS account and
then transport my map into a service.
The resulting maps that were
created included two density maps of Wisconsin and my service map on ArcGIS
online. Both of my maps had the pattern of higher (darker) values in the
Southeast part of Wisconsin. The source of the data that was used in my maps is
census.gov (Fact Finder). My completed map is shown below.
