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Maps & Geospatial: ArcGIS Online

This guide provides an introduction to using ArcGIS Online. ArcGIS Online enables the creation of web maps, web applications, and geospatial analysis projects to communicate with broad audiences related to spatial topics.

Creating a Web Map

Main tabs (For accounts within an ArcGIS Online organizational account)

  • Home: Home page of the organizational account
  • Gallery: View organization's featured content, and Esri Featured Content. User is able to show all, maps, layers, scenes, apps, tools, and files.Layers include web layers (feature layer, tile layer, map image layer, imagery, scene layers, and tables), and layer files.
  • Map: Map interface to create map, add layers, add map notes, choose symbology, choose basemap, perform analysis, measure, bookmark, print, save, and share. 
  • Scene: Scene Viewer enables the creation of visualizations with 3-Dimensions.
  • Groups: If a member of a group, these are accessible via the Groups tab. New groups can also be created. Groups enable users to share content and edit content that is shared to a group, if this option is desired. 
  • Content: Items created from the map tab are saved to the Content tab. Items can be added via the the Content tab, and the Add Item option (from my computer, from the web, and an application). The Create option enables a feature layer, tile layer, map, scene, dashboard, locator (view), apps from a template and the web appbuilder.
  • Organization: A listing of other members of the organization may be viewable. 

Search box

  • Top right corner includes a search box to search content within ArcGIS Online. 

Map Viewer

ArcGIS Online Content

Adding Content

From the Map Tab, explore the map interface. On the left side of the screen, a button called Add enables the user to add layers of information to the map via files, web, and to search for layers via ArcGIS Online and more.

Tabular Data: For uploading a user-created tabular .csv file. Click the Add button and choose Add Layer from File. Navigate to the desired .csv file in computer directories. Click import layer. Select the geographic fields (Latitude and Longitude). Observe the imported file with using the mouse to navigate. Tables can be created with multiple fields of information, for instance, name, latitude, longitude, description, image url, image caption, along with additional fields. Multiple sources for identification of latitude and longitudesGeocoding is also possible for place names.


Map Notes: Explore adding Map Notes by clicking the Add Button. Click Add Map Notes. Type a desired name, and click Create.  From the Add Features panel, select the desired icon, and place on the map as desired. Edit the attribute field as desired for the map note. Click Close when complete. Change symbol by the Change Symbol button.  Expand the dropdown of the Map Notes options, and select Disable Editing.

Saving and Sharing a Web Map

  • Click the Save map from the top right corner. Enter a desired name, tags, and summary.
  • Explore Sharing options. Click the Share button on the top right corner. Explore Options as desired.