NDSU GEOL 105L ArcGIS Online Lab

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

“A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events
that happen on earth. A geographic information system lets us visualize, question, analyze, interpret, and understand data
to reveal relationships, patterns, and trends.” ~ ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute)

"GIS is an integrated system of computer hardware, software, and trained personnel linking topographic, demographic,
utility, facility, image and other resource data that is geographically referenced." ~ NASA (National Aeronautics and
Space Administration)

"In the strictest sense, a GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying
geographically referenced information, i.e. data identified according to their locations. Practitioners also regard the total
GIS as including operating personnel and the data that go into the system." ~ USGS (United States Geological Survey)

In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography (maps), database technology, and statistical analysis.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

ArcGIS Online gives you everything you need to create interactive web maps and apps that you can share with anyone.
The exercise below and your individual GIS projects are intended to provide you with an introduction to the basic functions
and capabilities of this tremendous free online resource.

Technical Support: Your instructor cannot offer technical support. For this, you should utilize ArcGIS Online Help. For
lab questions, refer to the bolded terms in the tutorial. Before you contact me, please attempt the assignment using a
different browser and/or a university computer. If you are using your own computer and are having problems, be sure that
you have the Microsoft Silverlight plug-in. Please email me as a last resort.

PART ONE: ArcGIS Online Hawaii Map Tutorial

Part one was modified from a tutorial by the Center for Hawaii Island Analysis, an ArcGIS Online organization by Esri.

1. Creating a public account

• Go to http://www.arcgis.com/features/
• Click on SIGN IN
• Click on CREATE A PUBLIC ACCOUNT (do not choose the Free 21-Day ArcGIS Trial)
• Click on ENTER YOUR INFORMATION
  ✓Username: Enter with no spaces: your last name, your first name, 2017 (e.g. RockJessie2017)
  ✓Fill in remaining mandatory fields, accept terms of agreement, and click on CREATE MY ACCOUNT

2. Joining the group

• Click on GROUPS then go to the search field and type NDSU Physical Geology Lab 2017 (case sensitive)

• Click on the group name or icon.

• Click on JOIN THIS GROUP.

• Click on SUBMIT REQUEST and a request to join the group will be sent to me. Once you are accepted in
the group, you can see what your fellow students are creating. Later, you will submit your map projects to the
group for others to see. Please do not attempt to copy or alter other student’s projects and submit them as
your own. As an administrator, I will be able to track these actions.

3. Print the ArcGIS Answers Page

• The ArcGIS Answer Page is the last page of this document, use it to record your answers to questions posed
throughout the document. You will hand it in on your last day of lab.
 Physical Geology Lab (GEOL105L) Department of Geosciences North Dakota State University

The Hawaiian Islands emerged from the sea millions of years ago. Each island is made of one or more volcanoes which
first erupted on the sea floor and then rose to the ocean's surface over eons. The island of Hawaii is a rare place where
people can witness the power of active volcanoes in surprisingly intimate ways. It's the home of Mauna Loa and Kilauea,
two of the most active volcanoes in the Ring of Fire. But with the awesome beauty comes significant risk. Hawaii Islanders
must cope with the very real hazards of lava flows.

1. Making a map
o Click MAP. You are now in MAP VIEWER
o Click on BASEMAP.
o Click on the IMAGERY icon.
o Type HAWAII in the search bar on the upper right.
o On your screen drag and zoom until you centered Hawaii (the big island) in your map viewer.
o Zoom in and out. Look around. Note the shield volcanoes. Look at the lava flowing to the sea.
o Change the basemap to OCEAN

2. Adding layers to your map

o In the toolbar on the left, click on the drop-down arrow next to ADD; select SEARCH FOR LAYERS.
o Make sure the box in front of WITHIN MAP AREA is checked
o In the IN field: choose ArcGIS Online.
o In the FIND field: type Hawaii owner:Learn_ArcGIS
o Click GO. In the results window, click ADD next to the HAWAII TERRAIN layer (by Learn_ArcGIS)
o Continue adding the following layers to your map.
i. HAWAII LAVA FLOW HAZARD ZONES (by Learn_ArcGIS)
ii. VOLCANOES (by Learn_ArcGIS)
iii. HAWAII ISLAND MAJOR HIGHWAYS (by Learn_ArcGIS)
iv. EMERGENCYSHELTERS_JAMESMARTINEZ_CGU (by Learn_ArcGIS)
o On the bottom left, click DONE ADDING LAYERS.
o Explore the layers by turning them on one at a time. When you are through, turn them all on.

3. Modifying layers
o In the left margin of your screen, CONTENT should be highlighted.
o In the CONTENT list, below the HAWAII LAVA FLOW HAZARD ZONES layer, click the
… symbol and select TRANSPARENCY and set it to 50%.
o Now change the TRANSPARENCY of the HAWAIIN ISLAND MAJOR HIGHWAYS to 50%.
o In the CONTENT list, below the VOLCANOES layer, click the CHANGE STYLE icon.
o Click OPTIONS select SYMBOLS.
o Click the drop-down arrow next to SHAPES and scroll to SAFETY HEALTH.
o Click on the ORANGE FLAMES SYMBOL and change the size to 25 px.
o Click OK. Click OK. Click DONE.
o Use your map and legend to answer the following questions.

2
 Physical Geology Lab (GEOL105L) Department of Geosciences North Dakota State University

A. Click on the extremely low hazard zone on your map to find out which mountain erupted so long ago that it is not
formally considered a volcano. Your legend will display zones. (Record on Answer Page)

B. At the Kilauea Rift Zone, lava flows originate at volcanic vents. Click on the photo to see how much of the southeast
coast of the big Island has been covered in lava since 1983. (Record on Answer Page)

C. If you were camping in the area southeast of Mauna Loa, you would be protected from rift- or summit-derived lava
flows by the topography of the volcano itself. However, you’ve been told to evacuate due to threats associated with lava
bombs, hot ash, and mudslides. Which shelter should you go to? (Record on Answer Page)

4. Pop-up task A (Seamount)

o On your map, locate the LOIHI VOLCANO (zoom to the water just south of the big island) and click
on the flame symbol. This will open a POP-UP window containing specific information about that
feature including a high resolution captioned photo. Use the information within to answer the
following questions.

D. What type of volcano is this? (Record on Answer Page)

E. CLICK ON THE PHOTO to open a new tab. What kind of rock is building this seamount? (Record on Answer Page)
F. What do volcanologists predict the seamount will do in the next 10K years? (Record on Answer Page)

5. Adding map notes

o Return to your map and click on the drop-down arrow on the toolbar next to ADD.
o Click on ADD MAP NOTES.
o In the NAME field, type Green Sea Turtle.
o In the TEMPLATE field click MAP NOTES.
o Click CREATE and the ADD FEATURES window will appear on the left.
o Choose the PUSHPIN and place it in the water just off the coast of the easternmost part of the island.
o In the POINTS pop-up window, go to the TITLE field, type Chelonia mydas (Green Sea Turtle).
o In the DESCRIPTION field, type Green sea turtle near Pahoa.
o Place the following web address in the IMAGE URL field:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Hawaii_turtle_2.JPG (case sensitive)
o Place the following web address in the IMAGE LINK URL field:
https://conserveturtles.org/information-about-sea-turtles-their-habitats-and-threats-to-their-survival/
o Click on CHANGE SYMBOL (you may have to scroll down inside the POINTS window to see this).
o In the CHANGE SYMBOLS window, click on the drop-down arrow for symbol categories. Scroll down
and select PEOPLE PLACES.
o Select the MAGNIFYING GLASS icon in the top row.
o Change the size to 20 px.
o Click OK in the CHANGE SYMBOLS window.
o Click CLOSE in the POINTS window.
o In the horizontal toolbar in the top left corner of the screen, click DETAILS.
o Click the … symbol below the GREEN SEA TURTLE layer and select SAVE LAYER.
3
 Physical Geology Lab (GEOL105L) Department of Geosciences North Dakota State University

6. Pop-up task B (Sea turtle)

o On your map, click the MAGNIFYING GLASS symbol, then click on the image to open the link.

G. What is the greatest threat to Green sea turtles in the wild? (Record on ArcGIS Answer Page)
H. What is the estimated population of nesting females? (Record on ArcGIS Answer Page)

7. Saving your map

o Return to your map and click the drop-down menu to the right of the SAVE button.
o Click SAVE AS and save your project as follows: Last Name, First Name, HawaiiMap2017. Getting
this name right is worth 10 points. My project name would be RockJessieHawaiiMap2017. In the TAGS
field, type NDSU 2017 and click SAVE MAP. Getting this name right is worth 10 points.

8. Create Presentation
o On the top left corner of the page, click on the ArcGIS drop-down menu and select MY CONTENT.
o Beside your map title, click on the drop down button to select which interface you will you open your
map with. Selecting MAP VIEWER will allow you to quickly create/edit/view maps that contain a
basemap, layers, and attribute information. This is what you have worked with until this point.
Selecting CREATE PRESENTATION, allows you to create a slide presentation. Choose to open your
map with CREATE PRESENTATION.

9. Creating slides
o Above the SLIDE PROPERITES toolbar click on ADD to create your first slide.
o Click inside the title field and type “Hawaiian Islands”.
o A list of your map layers is displayed. Turn off all layers by clicking on the arrows in the checked
boxes to the left of each layer name.
o On the map, zoom until you can see all of the Hawaiian Islands (land masses above the surface).
o Set the basemap to IMAGERY
o In the SLIDE PROPERTIES toolbar, under LOCATION, Click SET TO CURRENT
o Click the SAVE icon on the toolbar at the top of the screen to save your first slide.

o Click on ADD to create a second slide.

o Click inside the title field and type “Active Volcanoes on Hawaii Island”.
o On your map, zoom in and center the island of Hawaii on your map screen.
o Turn on the VOLCANOES layer by checking the boxes.
o In the SLIDE PROPERTIES toolbar, under LOCATION, Click SET TO CURRENT
o Click the SAVE icon on the toolbar at the top of the screen.

o Click on ADD to create a third slide.

o Click inside the title field and type “The Summit of Mauna Loa Volcano”.
o Change the BASEMAP to TOPOGRAPHIC
o Zoom to the summit of MAUNA LOA VOLCANO until you can see the contours
o In the SLIDE PROPERTIES toolbar, under LOCATION, Click SET TO CURRENT
o Click the SAVE icon on the toolbar at the top of the screen.
4
 Physical Geology Lab (GEOL105L) Department of Geosciences North Dakota State University

I. What is the elevation of the highest contour on Mauna Loa? (Record on ArcGIS Answer Page)

o Click on ADD to create a fourth slide.

o Click inside the title field and type “Hawaiian Lava Flow Hazard Zones”.
o Zoom out until the island of Hawaii fills the map screen.
o Turn on the layer, HAWAII LAVA FLOW HAZARD ZONES by checking the box. .
o Change the BASEMAP by clicking on the dropdown menu and selecting OCEANS
o In the SLIDE PROPERTIES toolbar, under LOCATION, Click SET TO CURRENT
o Click the SAVE icon on the toolbar at the top of the screen.

o Click on ADD to create a fifth slide.

o Click inside the TITLE field and type “Green Sea Turtle Sighting”.
o Change the BASEMAP by clicking on the dropdown menu and selecting OCEANS.
o Turn off the layer, HAWAII LAVA FLOW HAZARD ZONES by un-checking the box
o Turn on the layer, GREEN SEA TURTLE by checking the box.
o On your map, locate the MAGNIFYING GLASS symbol and click on it to open the pop-up window.
o With the pop-up window open, go to the SLIDE PROPERTIES toolbar and scroll down until you see
POP-UP and check the box next to INCLUDE OPEN POP-UP IN PRESENTATION.
o In the SLIDE PROPERTIES toolbar, under LOCATION, Click SET TO CURRENT
o Click the SAVE icon on the toolbar at the top of the screen.

10. Automate your Slide Show

o Click OPTIONS and set the auto advance to 5 SECONDS.
o Click the SAVE icon on the toolbar at the top of the screen.
o Click on PLAY to view your own presentation as an interactive slide show.

11. Sharing your map and slides

o Share your project with the group. Your project is not automatically shared with the group just because
you joined. When you are ready to share:
✓ Exit the presentation interface by clicking on the ArcGIS dropdown button in the top left corner of
the page and select MY CONTENT.
✓ Click the box next to your map title and then select SHARE on the horizontal toolbar.
✓ Check the box in front of EVERYONE, then check the box in front of our group NDSU Physical
Geology Lab 2017
✓ Close the SHARE window by clicking OK.

Congratulations! You have completed part one. Part two is on the following page.

5
 Physical Geology Lab (GEOL105L) Department of Geosciences North Dakota State University

PART TWO: ArcGIS Online Plate Boundary Map

Compile a layered map that shows the distribution of geologic features at active plate boundaries. Layers could include
volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain ranges, plate boundaries, trenches, age of the sea floor, topography of the seafloor,
etc. You might have one slide that focuses on the world’s plates and another that features just the Ring of Fire, or the
Andes, or the Aleutian Islands. An imagery basemap might work for some slides, while on other slides, the ocean
basemap could better show/label features such as mid-ocean ridges and trenches. There are many correct ways to
complete this project. Here’s what I’m looking for:
o You will add a minimum of 5 map layers that show evidence of active plate boundaries
o Your presentation must contain at least 5 slides. Each should have different basemaps, layer combinations, and
overall focus.
o Each slide should feature two or more visible layers (have two or more turned on). Basemaps are not layers.
o All slides should have descriptive titles that reveal boundary types and geographic/geologic features. For
example, Ocean-Continent Convergence at the Andes Mountains or Seafloor spreading at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

You will submit your map projects to the group as you did earlier. Please do not attempt to copy or alter other student’s
projects and submit them as your own. As an administrator, I will be able to track these actions and search for similarities.

□ Save your project as follows: Last Name, First Name, PlateBoundariesMap2017. Getting this name right is worth
5 points. My project name would be RockJessiePlateBoundariesMap2017. Use the same tags as earlier.
□ Share your project with the NDSU Physical Geology Lab 2017 group in the same way you shared your tutorial.
□ Print and hand in the Answer Page from task one during your final lab. To hand in before the due date, place it
in my mailbox in Stevens Hall 201 or drop it by my office (if I’m not there, just slide it under my door). Please do
not email it to me.

GEOL 105L ArcGIS Answer Page Name _______________________________________ Section __________

A. Which mountain erupted so long ago that it is not formally considered a volcano?

B. How much of the southeast coast of the big Island has been covered in lava since 1983.

C. Which shelter should you go to?

D. What type of volcano is this?

E. What kind of rock is building this seamount?

F. What do volcanologists predict the seamount will do in the next 10K years?

G. What is the greatest threat to Green sea turtles in the wild?

H. What is the estimated population of nesting females?

I. What is the elevation of the highest contour on Mauna Loa (zoom in as needed to see the contours)?