Week 2 - Lab 2B

In my first experience with ArcGIS, I can conclude that the program is not first-time user friendly. Going through the tutorial, I often felt lost and unsure of what I was doing. Furthermore, relatively basic tasks such as classifying different regions by color seemed complicated. But as with most new things, technical skills develop over time. However, such a tool that is able to compute complex data can be powerfully used for many purposes.

Insofar as GIS is an information system helpful in organizing spatial data, ArcGIS provides the proper tools for insightful analysis. By breaking down spatial components into layers, the program offers combinatorial set ups that break down an area into its constituent parts. In the above example, the map contained different layers for the county, schools, the runway tarmac, as well as an area that averaged 65 decibels due to noise generated by the airport. By organizing maps in this manner, ArcGIS can isolate specific variables to determine relations between different parts of an area. For example, the software was able to isolate the districts within the county that were affected by noise from the airport. And that information was then able to be organized to give a spatial representation of how many people were affected by cross-referencing it to population density.

The main drawback I sensed from using the program was that the accuracy of the maps is entirely reliant on the geodatabase. If the information that is provided is wrong, then the entire produced map will be incorrect as well. In the tutorial, the data was provided. It was accurate and comprehensive. But if GIS was to be used in more unfamiliar or less-detailed areas, the accuracy can be severely compromised and it will have failed in organizing spatial data correctly. Nevertheless, with the availability of advanced technology, such as satellites that provide accurate imaging, data is readily available. As the adage goes: "garbage in, garbage out".

The aspect of ArcGIS that most impressed me was the ability to use sources outside of typical cartographic maps. In one portion of the tutorial where Census tract information was utilized, the software was able to create a layer that showed population density broken down by district. In being able to bring in various types of data, GIS becomes a versatile tool. Because all things occur within the realm of space, GIS can be adapted to any industry or field of study. For example, it is applicable to public health in that it can track the spread of disease and possibly locate the origin by mapping the outbreaks. And for civil engineering, GIS can be used to find the most favorable locations for building bridges and roads. In the tutorial, I was asked to build a new road on the map that connects an old road leading into the airport back onto an already established arterial. Custom features for building cities and developing areas makes it a powerful tool for urban planning as well.