Visualize GPS Data with ArcGIS Online

Whether you’re collecting water quality, weather, or species distribution data, there are often patterns that are only visible in a geographic context. Geographic Information System (GIS) software can help students visual data spatially but is often expensive and complex. With ESRI’s ArcGIS online you can visualize data in seconds with a FREE account! Here’s how to get started visualizing your geographic data!

1. Collect your data using GPS sensor.
   
2. Export the data to a text file.
   • Open the share menu
     
   • Select export data from the available options (connect a flash drive to export from the SPARK science learning system)
     
3. Edit your data
   • Open the tab separated text file in a spreadsheet editor to manipulate heading names. It’s important to remove any special characters like degree symbols from the headings.
     
4. Login to ArcGIS Online
   • Sign up for a free public account or login to an existing account and go to the MAP tab.
     
5. Drag the exported data onto the map.
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6. Map the data fields for latitude and longitude
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7. That’s it!
   • Now you can edit the layer to visualize the data for different sensors.