Creating a Story Map GIS Portfolio
An ArcGIS Online Story Map is a web application that allows you to combine maps with narrative text, images, and multimedia content into aesthetically pleasing presentations.
While there are other ways of creating similar types of web experiences, and ESRI Story Maps have numerous issues (vendor lock-in, content transience, page weight, etc.), Story Maps are a useful tool for organizing spatial information into a coherent whole.
This tutorial will cover the creation of a basic GIS portfolio using an ArcGIS Online Story Map.
Create the Story Map App
From your ArcGIS Online Content page, select Create app and Story Maps.
Name your Story Map with your name, and provide a compelling subtitle (GIS Professional).
Cover Image
A cover image is an image that appears at the top of your story map. This image should be something iconic that will draw viewers into your story and be something that viewers remember and associate with their experience.
To make the most efficient use of space, the image should be placed behind the title. Accordingly, you should choose an uncomplicated image that permits your title to still be readable.
- Click Add cover image or video and select the background image.
- Click Design and set the cover image to Full.
Section Headings
Section headings can be added by clicking the plus sign (+) to add a Text content block, and setting the type to Heading.
Map and Document Images
Graphics need to be inserted into ArcGIS Online Story Maps as images.
- Images should be around 700 pixels on the longest edge, which is a compromise between high resolution for large displays, and moderate size to improve page loading time.
- Images containing charts, maps, and text should be inserted as PNG (portable network graphics) files that can be large, but which preserve clear edges of lines and polygons.
- Photographs should be inserted as JPG files which are smaller than PNG files and generally look as good as PNG files with graphics without clear edges.
While you can share map images directly from ArcGIS Pro, the easier choice is usually to screenshot PDF files, crop the screenshots, and add them to the story map.
In Windows, you capture a screenshot to the clipboard by pressing the PrtScr key, and you can edit it by pasting the clipboard into the Paint app.
Captions
Caption text can be added at the bottom of image content blocks.
Captions can be converted to links by clicking on the icon that looks like a chain link and adding a URL.
ArcGIS Online Maps
Story Maps are distinguished from other web page builder apps by the ability to integrate ArcGIS Online maps.
Map content blocks can be added by clicking on the plus sign (+) and selecting Media, Map.
Immersive Sections
There are a handful of "immersive" section types that allow users to interact with maps and / or collections of images.
This example shows a map tour section with an image sidebar that changes as you scroll through locations captured with Survey123.
If your story map is primarily a sequence of location with associated photos, a map tour may be the primary section in your story map.
Navigation
Under Design, turn on Navigation if you want a navigation bar at the top of the Story Map that will make it easier for visitors to see and go to specific sections of your story map.
Publishing
To publish the story and make it visible to the world, press the Publish button.
To gain maximum exposure, share it with Everyone.
To get a link to your shared map, press the Share button at the top of the published map.
Reopening Your Story Map
Your story map will be listed under Content in your ArcGIS Online account if you need to edit it or get a link in the future.