Nicole's Geographic Journal

      For this week's lab, I began to learn the basic functions of Python. I completed for and while statements to create a dice-rolling game and a random number generator. I got stuck on one part of the lab, when I was attempting to remove an 'unlucky' number from a list I had generated in a previous step. Overall, this week's lab was challenging, but interesting, and I look forward to learning more about Python so I can gain a better understanding of what I am doing.

      This week, I started the GIS Programming course. This course goes over how Python is used in relation to ArcGIS. I have never used Python or any other coding language before, so I expect this course to be challenging, but I look forward to learning. For this week's lab, I got an introduction to IDLE and ArcGIS Notebooks.  Prior to starting this lab, I watched the Module 1 lectures to gain an understanding of IDLE, ArcGIS Notebooks, and creating flowcharts. The first step for this lab was to bring the GISProgramming file from the R drive to the S drive. I then ran the CreateModFolders.py file to create module folders for the entire course. This task gave me the opportunity to open IDLE and use IDLE. I then wrote a Python script in IDLE to convert degrees to radians, and create the corresponding flowchart in Google Slides. I had some trouble starting this lab because I have never used Python before, but I used the lectures to guide me through. It also wasn't obv...

      For the final lab of this term, I created a map of Florida's water features using Google Earth. I learned how to create a .KMZ file in ArcGIS Pro, so it can be used in Google Earth. I enjoyed learning how to use Google Earth and I really liked how I could record a video tour of my map. However, I was continually having issues with Citrix Workspace crashing as I was trying to do something, which caused me to have to redo parts of the assignment several times. I'm not sure if my computer was having issues, or if it was just the workspace. Overall, I really enjoyed the Computer Cartography course this semester, and I'm hoping to be able to take another cartography course in the future.