Lab 3: Downloading GIS Data

Introduction
    The main objective of this lab was download data form a source and make two maps from the downloaded data.

Goals
1.) Download 2010 Census data (Total Population) from the US Censusu Bureau.
2.) Download a shapefile of the 2010 Census boundaries from the US Census Bureau.
3.) Join the downloaded data to the Census shapefile.
4.) Map the data.
5.) Download and map a variable of your choice.
6.) Build a layout with both maps.
7.) Post to blogger.

Process
  The first thing I had to do was download the data from the US census bureau's website. For my first map I choose to use total population by county of Wisconsin. After I downloaded the population data I had to get the Wisconsin shape file, which is also located on the US census bureau's website. After I downloaded both the shape file and the table data of the population I had to combine the data with the shape file. I did this by using the table join feature, the common attribute was the GEO_ID. After I combined the data with the shape I went to symbology and created a choropleth map.

Results
  The results

The map in blue is counties based of off Total male population by percentage and the yellow on the right is total population per county.

Source: United States Census Bureau 

ESRI vs MAG Labs

ESRI vs Mag Labs
  For this lab we had to complete the ESRI course Getting Started with the Geodatabase. It covered the basics of adding, loading, and importing data to a geodatabase that I created. This lesson was very specific in its instructions and easy to follow. After majority of the steps I had to complete there were images for me to look at to make sure I was following along properly, something I found to be very useful. Prior to this current ESRI course, I completed one other, it is called The 15-Minute Map: Creating a Basic Map in ArcMap. This course was very similar, it was precise, easy to follow, and interesting to follow along too. Also after you finish the project exercises, ESRI offers a quick review that goes over everything that had been learned. Based off of my experiences with the online ESRI courses I would highly recommend them to others.

  Besides the two ESRI labs, the rest of this semester I have been doing MAG Labs. MAG Labs are labs after each chapter that help develop the skills described in that chapter of the text book. MAG Labs are very informative and really help with understanding how ArcMap works and how to use it. The down side to the Mag Labs is that after awhile things either get repetitive or a little complicated to follow. So if I had to choose one over the other I would go with ESRI. Overall it seems that ESRI is easier to follow, helps you understand what you are doing and what you have learned better.