Lab 4

ArcGIS is a geographic information system (GIS) for working with maps and geographic information. It can be used by any people to use ,create compile, analyze, manage and share the geographic data.In this lab, we learn how to use ArcGIS by reading the software tutorial. By using the maps and data the professor provides, we create school and noise contour map, Land use within noise contour map, population density map, as well as a bar chart of land use in noise contour in ArcGIS. We learn about examining maps, creating legends, deriving data from the maps, adding roads on the maps etc.


Although I don't have any experiences in using geographic software, when I begin to learn how to use ArcGIS,  I discovered that it is not as hard as I thought. This program is pretty easy and clear to understand even for fresh people. The tools are clear without much explanation. Because the clear setting and the "undo" button, I can even do many creative options without worrying too much. Besides, the maps we tends to create is reality based. We may see such maps elsewhere before. Therefore, creating these maps will not be abstract so that we can get the idea without confusion.


Without much experiences in using ArcGIS, It won't be much for me to write about the difficulties I encounter. However, I do remember a difficulty I encountered while using ArcGIS. When we use the data view, we click the zoom in and zoom out button on the tools bar. When we switch to the layout view, there are more buttons relating to the map size. Sometimes,  click on the wrong button will mess up all the maps.


Overall, ArcGIS is a really powerful program. People can create the maps in detail and compile it with changes. Besides, this software can also create map with a special theme, such as the population density map we make. We can easily make the maps to illustrate the idea we want by gathering data in this software. Furthermore, ArcGIS also provides opportunities for everyone to create maps, encouraging people's interest in Geography. However, this widespread opportunities may bring pitfalls in ArcGIS. As we add the Airport Dr, which is not there at first on the map, people can edit maps based on their own knowledge and understandings in ArcGIS. Therefore, errors may be appeared in maps made by ArcGIS. Generally, ArcGIS is still a excellent software, providing benefits to people's life.