GEOG 571
Intelligence Analysis, Cultural Geography, and Homeland Security

6.8 Introduction to Google MyMaps

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Introduction

So far this course has focused predominantly on Esri’s ArcGIS Online platform to conduct exercises relevant to the coursework. As part of your StoryMap exercise in generating a spatio-cultural analysis of a cultural landscape, you may want to include a map of those landscapes. In addition to using ArcGIS Online’s Map Viewers, it may be easier to create a Google MyMap to embed into your story map.  This brief tutorial will introduce you to the basic functionality of Google MyMaps.

Google MyMap Basics

  1. You’ll need a Google account. You can either use your existing Google account, or you can create an account for this course.
  2. Go to the Google MyMaps page.
  3. From the Google MyMaps main page, select “Get Started”:
    Screen capture of the front page of Google MyMaps
  4. To create a new map, click the “Create New Map” button at the top left:
    Screen capture of the Create New Mao button
  5. This will open a blank map called “Untitled Map.” Left click on the words “Untitled Map” to change the name and provide a description.
  6. Using the search bar to the right, you can type in coordinates, addresses, or search for the name of a place you wish to include on your map.
    Screen capture of search window
  7. When you click enter or the search button, the possible results will populate the map and the left layers area.
  8. To add this point to the map, click on the “Add to Map” button.
    Screen capture of add to map button
  9. It adds it to an “Untitled Layer.” We’ll address how to change this next, but first, let’s change the marker for Penn State. To change the symbol, click on the little paint bucket at the bottom. This will allow you to change both the color and the style of the icon.
    Screen capture of change symbol window
     
    • I changed the icon from the standard pin to this graduation cap:
      Screen capture of changed icon that looks like a graduation cap
  10. The pencil next to the paint bucket allows you to change the name in the popup, as well as add a description.
    Screen capture of editing the name of the popup window.
  11. The camera allows you to add a photograph in case you’d like to showcase some photos of the landscape you are describing.
    Screen capture of add photo window
  12. To change the name of the Layer, left click on the three dots to the right of the layer, and click “Rename Layer”
    Screen capture of the rename layer window
  13. You can also change your basemap clicking on the arrow to the left of “Basemap” and making a selection
    Screen capture of the change basemap window
  14. Once you’ve added all of the places you want, make sure to enable link sharing to your map. To do so, click “Share”
    Screen capture of the enable sharing button
  15. Then make sure the settings in the 'Share map' window are set to 'Anyone with this link can view' and then close the window.
    screen capture showing 'Anyone can view' setting in the share map window.
  16. Once you have made all of your selection for your map and are ready to embed it in your StoryMap, click the three dots to the right of your Map’s Name and select “Embed on my Site”
    Screen capture of the embed window for Google Maps
  17. This will generate a popup with some code. Copy this code.
    screen capture of the 'Embed this map' window

You will now switch to the ArcGIS Online Portal:

  1. Sign into Penn State’s ArcGIS Online Portal with your Penn State credentials.
  2. Click on the square with nine dots to the left of your Name at the top right of window:
    Screen capture of the ArcGIS options menu
  3. Select StoryMaps from the list of options
    image of the ArcGIS Online StoryMaps icon
  4. Select “Create story" and choose "Start from Scratch".
    screen capture of the 'Create Story' button
  5. In your ArcGIS StoryMap, click the plus button to add content. Under the “Media” subheading, click on Embed.
    Screen capture of the StoryMaps embed window
  6. Paste the code you copied from the 'Embed on my site' step above into the gray box and select “Add”
    Screen capture of the add web content window

Your Google MyMap should now be added to your StoryMap.