A link to my spreadsheet can be found here. A link to my Web App is here.
For this project, I first decided to use a nightmap as the base map. I thought that this would help increase visibility and draw attention to the highlighted details and features. For the symbology, I tried out a few variations to see what looked best. I ultimately decided to use a yellow, diamond-shaped marker with black borders to help contrast with the dark background. Additionally, I styled these symbols so that the locations on campus that I visit more frequently have larger symbols, while the locations I visit less often have smaller ones. For the labels, I used white text with a black border placed above and central to the symbol to ensure that the viewer could properly read each label and know what it corresponds to. I also played around with the polygon feature layer where I highlighted the buildings. I found that I had to put the campus locations layer on top of the polygon feature layer or else it was much harder to see the symbols on the map.
I think web mapping is a powerful tool for the digital humanities, as it makes many DH projects much more accessible for people outside of the field. Individuals can identify and look for locations that are familiar to them, which helps create a more personal connection to the data being presented. Additionally, by visualizing the information on a map, people can better understand relationships and patterns that may be less intuitive in a text-based format.
I found the ArcGIS platform to have a relatively steep learning curve. I found myself getting frustrated when navigating parts of the website and needed to look at various tutorials online to accomplish specific tasks. I do see a lot of potential in ArcGIS as a tool, and there is a lot it can accomplish. However, it does take some time to initially understand the platform.
