Week 4: Introducing ArcMap

     I felt comfortable using ArcMap for this lab. I found that the ArcMap Tutorial made it very easy to navigate through the system. The tutorial gave step by step instructions of how to add layers to data frames and add other attributes to maps and tables. The fact that I had to do repeat some steps for different data frames helped me understand how to work with ArcMap myself without much tutorial help at the end. The things I had difficulty with were very minor,  but overall I think I understand this program well so far. It was interesting seeing how my maps came together at the end. I thought it was amazing to see how data can be so precise and display much more about regions than just physical characteristics.
     Some of the downfalls of ArcMap are that it is too precise for it to be too widely used and used by masses of people. If one misses a step or does not do it in order, it can alter the entire map. Also, it is very detailed so the person using it has to have clear knowledge of what they are doing. It is definitely not as user friendly as user-centric Google Maps, etc because the program  is not widely accessible or free. It is still prone to errors, but it's accuracy is increasing with better development of technology.
     The benefits of ArcMap far outweigh the pitfalls of it. There are many things one can do with ArcMap, such as show demographics, noise contour and other multi-disciplinary aspects. It helps companies, organizations, scientists, and engineers understand what they want to know about an area, demographics, and physical land. The great advantage of ArcMap is that if the data is accurate, then the maps will be very precise.
      I enjoyed using ArcMap because of the level of accuracy and if used right, how informative it can be about a variety of aspects, not just physical regions. This program is clear to understand and it is easy to change things. I think the more it is widely known, the better it will be for continued environmental and urban planning, as well as informing companies and organizations for better marketing and outreach.