Lab 4

 

ArcGIS is a very powerful tool for geographers of all skill levels.  Rather than presenting people with sterile statistics and mundane data, it is often times more effective to use maps to convey one's message.  GIS allows for one to manipulate layers, attributes, and spatial data and inevitably utilize this information in public policy making or private decisions.  With a click and a drag, layers of information can be hidden, made more pronounced, or edited.  As seen in the documentary shown in class regarding Geographic Information Systems, often times a language or educational barrier may prevent communication between two parties.  In such cases, a visual aide can bridge this gap and create a springboard for innovation and change.  GIS has many potentials and pitfalls.  

One of my first thoughts of the ArcGIS suite and specifically the ArcMap program was how intriguing it was.  Unfortunately, due to the high resolution-- although great for viewing a lot of detail--made ArcGIS very slow at rendering images.  This phenomenon was exacerbated when I was working through a Remote Desktop Connection.  Being a self-proclaimed “computer geek,” I was amazed at the capabilities that the software had and was instantly wanting to explore it.  The graphic interface was very organized and clean.  The menu bar was very straightforward allowing the user to annotate the map as they pleased.  A few clicks on the “Insert” menu and one could add a title, legend, scale bar, north indicator, etc.  The “wizards” that appeared for every annotation proved to be very helpful to the novice as the systematic processes provided very detailed directions.  To the expert, GIS enables the user to represent the data in a variety of ways to best suit ones purpose.  If one representation of map elements is not satisfactory, another one can be selected.  The many color schemes, for instance, allowed for an eye appealing customization of data; e.g., when representing the parcel land types in the Land Use data frame. 

However, after the initial learning curve was overcome, I quickly realized how cumbersome ArcMap could be.  After learning the basic concepts of how ArcMap adds elements to current projects, I found that adding elements now became a tedious process.  The keyboard shortcuts defined in the help menu were not common to many other applications and were very awkward to use.  For example, adjusting the page settings, a simple task in many other programs, became lengthy as one needed to be in Layout View and then access it from the File menu.  The wizards that were initially helpful became an inhibitor to one’s goal.  One could have easily produced the same results in one window rather than separating the options into different panes.  For example, the graphing utility, although capable of producing an indisputable representation of data, is much more difficult than programs such as Microsoft Excel.  

Because GIS is a system ordinarily reserved for government and higher-education institutes, it only allows for a select number of people to utilize this expensive mapping and analysis program.  Having completed the tutorial on four separate occasions, I personally found the ArcGIS interface both intriguing and cumbersome.  Although such a system might be state-of-the-art in many regards, the amateur user finds themselves overwhelmed with the plethora of options laid before them.  In order for one even begin to understand ArcGIS one requires countless hours of practice and practical application.