Create a Slider on ArcGIS

CarletonStudent
Sat, 12 Nov 2022 05:55:34 +0000
Week 9, arcgis, ArcGIS Online, Digital Humanities, Maps over time, Online Mapping, Slider, Time Slider, Tutorial

If one were to use a map to study the spread of COVID-19 over time they would see that most cases from December, 2019 are in China. However, in the next few months, the virus arrived at other countries, such as Japan, Italy, Spain and the USA. Having a single map with all the reported COVID cases would not be helpful, as it does not report the progression of the virus over time. Similarly, if we had a different map for every day (or month), it would be overwhelming and a hard to compare. In order to solve this problem and others of the same type, we can use a slider, which enables us to see how information changed over time. With this tool the map only shows the information within the desired time interval.

To Create a slider, go to ArcGIS Online, and log in to your Carleton account.

To login, first click on sign in on the top right corner

Type Carleton as the organization name

Once you are logged in click on map, and then click on Open in Map Viewer Classic

Choose Open Map Viewer Classic

On the add menu, select the option add layer from file:

Select Option add layer from file

Then Click on choose file and select the file you want to upload:

Choose the file you want to Upload

Your dataset needs at least three fields: start date, end date, and something outlining the location (it might be Country, City, State, latitude and longitude, among others). However, the Start Date and End Date fields must follow a few standards. That’s the format I used for my dataset

Dates are on a YYYY/MM format

Once you have chosen your dataset, make sure the map is correctly picking up the location field of your file and click on Add Layer:

It is really important that you save your map.

Then go back to the home page and click on the Apps icon on the top right corner of your screen, which should be on the right side of your name and profile picture. Then scroll down and click on instant apps.

In the search bar on the top left part of your window type ‘time slider’ and press enter.

Select the following link:

Now, all you have to do is choose a random name and tags for your map, click on create map, and you will be redirected to a configuration page. In it click on map:

Now click on select map and choose the map you have just created with your external file.

Now, click on next and select time:

After that is done, click on publish and your result will be a map with a slider to control the displayed time interval. For demonstration purposes, I used the default ArcGIS default map which looks nicer.

For further reading use on the subject use this link, and for possible troubleshooting, use this link.