During the pass two weeks, I had the opportunity to get a first hand experience with the software application, ArcMap. Throughout the different exercises, I found out many pros and cons with using such program. ArcMap, created by ESRI, is a fantastic piece of technology that allowed geographers to manipulate data in such a way that can help ease the understanding for map users.
I found a lot of potentials to ArcGIS. One advantage I found throughout the exercises is that I can easily go back and forth between layers of data. Data can be copied and extracted so I can edit it without overwriting previous data layer. In addition to data replication, I also found data organizing and managing is really easy thus making data analysis easier. I was very happy to have a wide range of tools to toggle my map and the ability to change content on the map easily. Another advantage to ArcGIS is the aid of visual analysis. Statistics can be viewed visually (i.e. filling areas of different colors to represent differences). I am very impressed with how it can handle complex and high volume of data while displaying it in a way that someone who doesn’t have good map knowledge can comprehend what the data is trying to say. Lastly, the maps that ArcGIS creates are aesthetically pleasing because the abundant range of colors, shapes, symbols, and orientations allowed users to make beautiful maps.
As good as ArcGIS can be, I also found pitfalls along the way. It’s not the most user- friendly program that I have encountered due to the fact that it requires time, precision, and saving the data frequently. The first problem I had immediately with ArcGIS is that saving the data is extremely important because if I forget to save frequently and it accidentally freezes on me, I can potentially lose work that aren’t saved. Since it’s my first time access to this program, I spend a lot of time reading the tutorial.pdf to make sure I am doing the right thing before I can proceed. Sometimes, the tutorial can lead to frustration because some of its information isn’t orientated the same way in newer version of ArcGIS. With the time consumption, it requires a lot of patience. Patience is especially needed when inputting figures and commands because even when one symbol is typed wrong, the data won’t come out right or, worse yet, wouldn’t let you proceed to the next step because it required previous information to be entered correctly.
ArcGIS can definitely improve with its user features to make it a better, faster, and more user-friendly. I am evermore fascinated by its technological progression with the fast upgrades that allow even wider range of user access. But, it can also led to frustration because such program requires a lot of time to understand its features, tools, and usage. In a way, users are required to use such program daily and very frequently in order to adapt to its functions. After the exercises, I already forgot some of the functions it can perform because it’s so vast. Despite the pitfalls, I believe ArcGIS got a lot more in its package and I will learn more about it with later labs.
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