GIS 1 Lab 2: Downloading GIS Data

Introduction:

The goal of this lab is to learn how to download and map 2010 population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, and publish a web map using the data.

Methods:

The U.S. Census Bureau's American FactFinder website was used to download Wisconsin county demographic data. The total population of each county and population data about sex by age for WI counties were downloaded in the form of tables and a shapefile. After viewing the table data in Excel, the data was opened in ArcMAP and joined to the shapefile table, the data was able to be mapped (Figure 1). In order to map the population data about sex by age, the fields containing the male and female numbers for people age 85 and older were combined to show the total population age 85 and older in each county. Then this data was normalized by the total population to show the percentage of the population in each county that is age 85 and older.

Through ArcGIS Online in ArcMAP, the map was arranged to be and shared as a web map by creating a web map service, and published in ArcGIS Online as a web map.

Results:

Figure 1

The image above (Figure 1) is the side-by-side map that was generated in this Lab. The frame on the left displays the total population in 2010 for each WI county and the frame on the right displays the percentage of the population in each WI county that is age 85 and older.  In comparing the two maps' information, it can be observed that the counties with less total population have a higher percentage of people age 85 and older. Not all counties follow this trend, however; Menominee county is one that has a lower total population and a low percentage of people age 85 and older. It can also be recognized from this map that in counties where there is a larger city, such as Madison, there is a much less percentage of people age 85 and older. 

Webmap:

To view my published web map, follow this link:

http://uwec.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=f1c455e7b36645c0a6222d98ca36173f

Sources:

 U.S. Census Bureau 2010, American FactFinder