Creating An ArcGIS Dashboard For Climate Data Management And Visualization

The College of Wooster Department of Earth Sciences has collected over the past 12 years (and continues to collect) hourly local climate indicator data including stream level and temperature, air temperature and pressure, precipitation levels, and relative humidity. This data is collected at the College’s research station, Fern Valley, located in Holmes County, Ohio and serves as a storytelling component for regional climate change. Upon initial investigation, the extensive dataset revealed a fundamental data storage problem within Earth Sciences, as there lacked a singular location to store complex datasets. Several technological solutions were explored to create a long-term data storage, management, and visualization solution. These solutions included establishing an ArcGIS enterprise geodatabase, restructuring the current local server architecture at The College of Wooster, and creating an online group through ArcGIS Online, all with the eventual goal of constructing an ArcGIS Dashboard as a data visualization tool. Although the enterprise geodatabase was (and remains) the most efficient and streamlined solution to the problem, time constraints and data limitations prevented the implementation of an enterprise software structure. Adapted from the enterprise geodatabase theory, an online group was formed by The College of Wooster database administrator that enabled a partial multiuser data sharing experience. After being faced with further data limitations when using the online group, an alternative solution was pursued that incorporated two separate data upload strategies: geoprocessing via web layer sharing in ArcGIS Pro and hosted layer uploading in ArcGIS Online. Following the data upload, the Fern Valley Climate Data Dashboard was created. The dashboard is currently active and utilizes a tactical strategy, incorporates intentional element selection, supports deep interactivity, and enhances the overall user data visualization experience. Though partially limited, the dashboard serves as an excellent representation of the potential ArcGIS Dashboards has for transforming traditional data management and visualization solutions. Considering future exploration of ArcGIS Dashboards as a data management solution in the future is recommended for The College of Wooster as it would provide opportunities for holistic data visualization, cross-organizational multiuser collaboration, and multidisciplinary educational advancements