When creating digital web maps with tools like ArcGIS Online, there are many possibilities and ways to add information to the map. For this tutorial, I will be sharing how to take a georeferenced map and add features to highlight certain aspects. This is an important skill for DGAH work as certain highlighted features will help with the storytelling and readability of the map. For instance, if you want to look at geographical changes over the centuries, you may want to highlight borders and areas of countries.
Step 1: Copy the xyz link of a geo-referenced map
If you don’t already have a geo-referenced map and are unsure how to here is a guide to using Allmaps Editor. When you have a geo-referenced map in Allmaps Editor click the export options button in the lower right corner, locate the xyz link, and copy the link.
Step 2: Upload the map to ArcGIS online
If you would like to change the basemap to suit your needs you can click basemap options in the left-hand menu.
Then in the upper left-hand corner click add, then add layer from url.
Paste the link in, ensure it is set to tile layer, then proceed to give the layer an appropriate title.
You should now see the map overlaid on your base map.
Step 3: Create a new feature layer and add it to the map.
Be sure to save the map you have. Go the home page, and then go to the content tab. Once there in the upper left-hand corner click add new item.
Click feature layer and then select define your own layer.
On the next page add elements as you like (different ones may suit your needs differently), I did one for points, one for lines, and one for area.
Proceed to give the feature layer an appropriate title. Return to the map you made previously, go to add layer, and make sure you add layer from the ‘my content’ tab.
Step 4: Begin highlighting the features that are important to the story
On the editor tab on the right-hand side, go to edit, and then click on whichever feature you wish to add to the map.
Once you have selected a feature, click on the map wherever you wish to add it. For lines and area, you can select the start and ending points, or hold and drag the cursor to follow a curved path.
You can they change how the features are displayed, color, width of lines, or adjusting the transparency.
Step 5: Finish customizing your map
Once you have all your features added, you may add pop-ups to give the viewer more information. By selecting pop-up and then clicking enable pop-ups you can add a title, additional information, and even images.
Finish customizing the map to suit your needs, then proceed to save and export the map.
Additional Resources:
For additional help creating, adding, and modifying feature layers: https://learn.arcgis.com/en/projects/create-a-layer-and-add-features/
For additional help adding a variety of layer types: https://doc.arcgis.com/en/arcgis-online/reference/add-layers.htm
4 thoughts on “Tutorial Week 9”
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I think this is a great use of ArcGIS because by highlighting certain features of the map such as country borders, it draws the readers attention to those specific areas. I think this allows for a more effective map especially when the map is used to tell a story because it shows the audience exactly what to be looking at rather than the audience just looking at the map as a whole and not being sure exactly what to pay attention to.
This is a great tutorial for ArcGIS because it shows how many features are offered on ArcGIS. I had a lot of trouble using it the first time we had a lab on it but this tutorial really cleared things up! I really liked how much of a story telling aspect here is for ArcGIS and I really appreciate how you highlight that aspect.
This tutorial is very effective, ArcGIS is a great tool for telling a story through maps. Adding borders can really help exemplify the creators’ argument. It could even simply draw the audience’s attention to a certain point on the map. The tutorial is very easy to follow and quite informative, good job!
Hi Alex. Your tutorial on ArcGIS is very informative and thoughtful. Personally, when we were using this for an assignment a couple weeks ago I struggled as there was little documentation on this tool. However, your tutorial was very clear and showed how many features are on ArcGIS. I agree with you that ArcGIS is a great tool for telling stories. I am very excited to see how this works on your final project. Great job & great work!