ArcGIS First Lesson

Activity 1: Explore Variables by State

A) Go to this lonk for this ArcGis Geoinquiry on USA Demographics: http://esriurl.com/humanGeoInquiry4 (it may take a moment to load).

Note: the left hand box has two main icons – "Show Contents of Map" and "Show Map Legend". Also note that - at this time - you are viewing population density.

B) Show the legend (by clicking on it):
What do the colors mean on the map?  How does population density differ from total population?  How is population density calculated?

C) Use the left slider bar, use your mouse wheel, double-click on the mouse, or hold down the shift key while dragging a rectangle on the map to zoom in or out until you see the map at the scale in which entire states have one base color.  Click on individual states to see the exact population density.  Which state has the highest population density? Which state has the lowest?

Activity 2: Explore Variables by County

A) Looking at the toolbar at the top of the map, change the basemap to “Terrain with Labels” so you can see features underneath the data.  Zoom in on a state with a high population density.

B) Start with Florida. As you zoom in, you will see population density by county.
Which parts of Florida have the highest population density? (check the legend)  Which parts of Florida have the lowest population density?  Examine the cities in Florida. What influence do cities have on population density? Why?

Activity 3: Examine Population Change:

A) Zoom back out to the United States and change the variable to population change, 2010-2012 (you will need to unclick "USA Pop Density" to see the layer underneath).
What pattern do you see of the fast-growth states versus the slow-growth states? (check the legend)  Think about what factors would influence why people move, and hence, why population changes.

B) Zoom to your county, and then to your community. 
Do you notice any pattern?  Why do you think this is?

Activity 4: Experiment on your own:

A) Under Layers, check USA Median Age.  You may check other variables.

B) Looking at the toolbar at the top of the map, select Add Content, type “USA Historical Tornadoes” in the space provided.  Click Add.  You can check it off under Layers at any time.

C) Experiment on your own.  Type in other layers that you can think of … historical hurricanes, USA territory acquisitions, earthquakes, elevation, climate, World Bank age and population, and any others you can think of … (be sure to look within the folders in the Layers pane to find even more interesting layers and data).