arcgis i introduction to gis

ArcGIS® I: Introduction to GIS

Student Edition

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Course version 1.2. Version release date February 2013.

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Course introduction

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................iCourse goals ...........................................................................................................................................iAdditional resources ..............................................................................................................................iiInstalling the course data ......................................................................................................................ii

1 The ArcGIS system

Lesson introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1-1The ArcGIS System............................................................................................................................. 1-2Author--share--use.............................................................................................................................. 1-3Getting to know the ArcGIS system ................................................................................................... 1-4Components used in this course ........................................................................................................ 1-6Lesson review ..................................................................................................................................... 1-7

2 The basics of GIS

Lesson introduction ............................................................................................................................ 2-1What is GIS? ....................................................................................................................................... 2-2The geographic approach.................................................................................................................. 2-4What can you do with GIS? ................................................................................................................ 2-5Think of ways to apply GIS ............................................................................................................... 2-10Exercise 2: Create and share a map with ArcGIS Online.................................................................. 2-11

Sign in to ArcGIS Online ............................................................................................................ 2-12Choose a basemap .................................................................................................................... 2-13Add a data file to your map....................................................................................................... 2-15Save and share your map........................................................................................................... 2-17(Optional) Locate a user group related to your work or area of interest ................................... 2-19

Lesson review ................................................................................................................................... 2-21

3 Understanding GIS data

Lesson introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3-1Turning geographic information into GIS data................................................................................... 3-2GIS data models................................................................................................................................. 3-3ArcMap and data models ................................................................................................................... 3-4Which data model fits better? ............................................................................................................ 3-6Working with tables............................................................................................................................ 3-8Documenting your data ..................................................................................................................... 3-9Exercise 3: Identify data types and examine metadata.................................................................... 3-11

Open ArcMap and set up a connection to the data .................................................................. 3-12View data in a GIS...................................................................................................................... 3-15Identify various file types ........................................................................................................... 3-15View an item description ........................................................................................................... 3-17Correct an error in an item's metadata ...................................................................................... 3-19Preview a dataset's geography and table.................................................................................. 3-21

i

Add data to the map ................................................................................................................. 3-22Lesson review ................................................................................................................................... 3-24

4 The importance of coordinate systems

Lesson introduction ............................................................................................................................ 4-1What is location? ................................................................................................................................ 4-2How spatial data stores location ........................................................................................................ 4-4Geographic coordinate systems......................................................................................................... 4-5Working with data in different geographic coordinate systems......................................................... 4-7Projected coordinate systems ............................................................................................................ 4-9Spatial properties and distortion...................................................................................................... 4-10Understanding distortion ................................................................................................................. 4-12Exercise 4: Work with coordinate systems ....................................................................................... 4-13

Identify the coordinate system for a dataset ............................................................................. 4-14Identify the coordinate system for another dataset ................................................................... 4-17Identify a dataset with a different coordinate system ................................................................ 4-19Identify a dataset with an unknown coordinate system ............................................................. 4-25Assign a coordinate system to a dataset without a spatial reference........................................ 4-29Change the coordinate system for a dataset............................................................................. 4-33

Three key concepts .......................................................................................................................... 4-37Lesson review ................................................................................................................................... 4-38

5 Acquiring and selecting GIS data

Lesson introduction ............................................................................................................................ 5-1Methods for obtaining GIS data......................................................................................................... 5-2Accessing GIS data............................................................................................................................. 5-3Considerations for choosing GIS data................................................................................................ 5-4Evaluating GIS data ............................................................................................................................ 5-7Exercise 5: Gather and evaluate GIS data.......................................................................................... 5-9

Consider the data you need ...................................................................................................... 5-10Examine the data you have........................................................................................................ 5-10Add data from ArcGIS Online.................................................................................................... 5-12Add data from another organization ......................................................................................... 5-14Transfer files from one geodatabase to another........................................................................ 5-18Import shapefiles into the geodatabase.................................................................................... 5-21Export select features from a file to a geodatabase .................................................................. 5-23

Lesson review ................................................................................................................................... 5-30

6 Using ArcGIS Online resources

Lesson introduction ............................................................................................................................ 6-1What are GIS services and web maps? .............................................................................................. 6-2What is a web mapping application? ................................................................................................. 6-4What is a mobile application? ............................................................................................................ 6-5Tools and data from ArcGIS Online.................................................................................................... 6-6

ii

Accessing content through ArcGIS Online......................................................................................... 6-7Exercise 6: Explore maps, services, and data on ArcGIS Online........................................................ 6-9

Search ArcGIS Online for web content ...................................................................................... 6-10Search ArcGIS Online for desktop content................................................................................ 6-20Use a web mapping application template................................................................................. 6-23Examine a web mapping application......................................................................................... 6-29

Lesson review ................................................................................................................................... 6-31

7 Interacting with a map in ArcGIS for Desktop

Lesson introduction ............................................................................................................................ 7-1Symbology and visualization .............................................................................................................. 7-2Finding, identifying, and selecting features ....................................................................................... 7-4Asking questions and getting answers............................................................................................... 7-6Getting information from a GIS map.................................................................................................. 7-7Exercise 7: Explore a map using ArcMap ........................................................................................... 7-9

Navigate the map ...................................................................................................................... 7-10Modify symbology ..................................................................................................................... 7-14Identify features ......................................................................................................................... 7-17Find features .............................................................................................................................. 7-21Select features ........................................................................................................................... 7-24Examine an attribute table......................................................................................................... 7-31View data change over time ...................................................................................................... 7-32

Lesson review ................................................................................................................................... 7-34

8 Performing spatial analysis

Lesson introduction ............................................................................................................................ 8-1The geographic approach - revisited ................................................................................................. 8-2Questions you can answer with GIS ................................................................................................... 8-3What is spatial analysis? ..................................................................................................................... 8-4Common analysis tasks ...................................................................................................................... 8-6Analyze crime data ............................................................................................................................. 8-9Exercise 8: Analyze hurricane storm surge data............................................................................... 8-11

Open ArcMap and examine the map document ....................................................................... 8-12Extract features in your area of interest ..................................................................................... 8-12Identify vulnerable facilities in Lee County ................................................................................ 8-17Overlay the Cat3 layer with Lee County .................................................................................... 8-22Identify hospitals close to the storm surge inundation polygon................................................ 8-27

Lesson review ................................................................................................................................... 8-33

9 Sharing results

Lesson introduction ............................................................................................................................ 9-1The importance of sharing results ...................................................................................................... 9-2Common ways to share results........................................................................................................... 9-3

iii

Exercise 9: Share hurricane analysis results ........................................................................................ 9-7Export the map as a PDF ............................................................................................................. 9-8Create a map package and upload it to ArcGIS Online ............................................................ 9-20Create a web map...................................................................................................................... 9-25Create a presentation ................................................................................................................ 9-34(Optional) Remove the content you created.............................................................................. 9-37

Lesson review ................................................................................................................................... 9-39

Appendixes

Appendix A: Esri data license agreement ..........................................................................................A-1Appendix B: Suitable projections.......................................................................................................B-1Appendix C: Course roadmap ...........................................................................................................C-1Appendix D: Answers to lesson review questions

Lesson 1: The ArcGIS system.......................................................................................................D-1Lesson 2: The basics of GIS .........................................................................................................D-2Lesson 3: Understanding GIS data ..............................................................................................D-3Lesson 4: The importance of coordinate systems........................................................................D-4Lesson 5: Acquiring and selecting GIS data ................................................................................D-5Lesson 6: Using ArcGIS Online resources ....................................................................................D-6Lesson 7: Interacting with a map in ArcGIS for Desktop .............................................................D-7Lesson 8: Performing spatial analysis...........................................................................................D-8Lesson 9: Sharing results..............................................................................................................D-9

iv

Introduction

For thousands of years, humans have created and used maps.Prehistoric man painted maps to communicate danger in theenvironment. Explorers studied maps to guide themselves throughunfamiliar territory. Rulers commissioned maps to document theboundaries of their political empires and to plan for expansion.Merchants used maps to determine the best trade routes. These staticmaps were painted on cave walls, engraved into animal hides,inscribed on clay tablets, or printed on paper; your ancestors usedthem to make informed decisions about the critical choices thatdetermined their survival or demise.

Today, more and more people carry maps with them wherever theygo. Today's maps, however, are often digital. With that mediumcomes GIS—a system that digitally integrates information aboutwhere something is with information about what it is. ArcGIS is acomplete GIS system that harnesses the power of computertechnology to help you analyze increasingly complex problems,model the implementation of potential solutions, and ultimately shareinformation and resolutions with others. GIS maps and data can beaccessed through GPS units, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and othermobile devices from just about anywhere at any time. In the end, themaps created and used today continue to be as important as theyever were—or perhaps even more important—to sustaining the earth,our environment, and ourselves.

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of GIS and themajor functionality contained in ArcGIS software and services.Throughout the course, you will work with a variety of ArcGIScomponents to gather and organize data, create and share maps, andsolve geographic problems with GIS.

Course goals

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Create and share a GIS map.• Find and organize geographic data and other GIS resources.• Accurately display features on a GIS map and efficiently access

information about them.• Analyze a GIS map to identify where features that meet specific

criteria are located.• Share analysis results so they can be viewed using desktop

applications, websites, and mobile devices.

i

Additional resources

ArcGIS Resource Center - http://resources.arcgis.comThis site provides unified access to web-based help, online content,and technical support.

Esri GIS Dictionary - www.esri.com/gisdictionaryThis dictionary includes definitions for GIS terms related to geodata,analysis, GIS modeling and web-based GIS, cartography, and Esrisoftware.

Installing the course data

Some exercises in this workbook require data. Depending on thecourse format, the data is available on a DVD in the back of a printedworkbook or as a data download. To install the data, place the DVD inyour disc drive or double-click the data download and follow theinstructions in the installation wizard. The data will automatically beinstalled in the C:\Student folder.

: Some courses use sample scripts orapplications that are supplied either on the DVD or on theInternet. These samples are provided "AS IS," withoutwarranty of any kind, either express or implied, includingbut not limited to, the implied warranties ofmerchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, ornoninfringement. Esri shall not be liable for any damagesunder any theory of law related to the licensee's use ofthese samples, even if Esri is advised of the possibility ofsuch damage.

ii

Icons used in this workbook

Notes point out additional information, exceptions, or specialcircumstances that apply to a particular topic or procedure.

Tips provide brief help for performing a task or clarifying concepts.

External resources provide optional, special-interest informationabout course topics.

Best practices offer industry or professional guidelines, help set goalsor priorities, and save time.

Estimated times provide guidance on approximately how manyminutes an exercise will take to complete.

Warnings alert you to potential problems or to actions that should beavoided.

iii

The ArcGIS system

Introduction

People everywhere are familiar with maps and how to use them. Mapsand geography are a common language—communicating andconveying large amounts of information in an organized,understandable way. The way people access and use maps asinformation has changed in recent times. More and more people usethe web and smartphones for a sophisticated range of activities inwhich they apply advanced information. On the web, systems likeGoogle Maps have familiarized millions of people with how to workwith maps online. Maps are also a standard feature on smartphonesand tablets, and they have rapidly become a standard feature in cars.

The purpose of GIS is to create, share, and apply useful map-basedinformation products that add value to the work of your organization,and to create and manage the necessary foundational geographicinformation to power your maps. ArcGIS allows people to create theirown maps and geographic data and to access and use online GISmaps, data, reports, and other informational products. These can beaccessed from a variety of organizational websites, smartphones andmobile devices, and internal networks that are part of anorganization's computing network.

Topics covered

• The ArcGIS System• Author—share—use (The ArcGIS workflow)

Learning objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Explain how the components of the ArcGIS system worktogether.

1

ArcGIS Explorer Online

ArcGIS for Desktop

ArcGIS for Mobile

ArcGIS for Server

ArcGIS Online

The ArcGIS System

Key terms

The ArcGIS system

1-1

The ArcGIS System

ArcGIS is a comprehensive system that enables everyone to work withand apply geographic information. The way in which most peoplework with geographic information is through the power of maps—notjust printed maps, but online interactive maps that provide insightinto your organization's information, analytical tools, and key tasksand workflows that people in your organization use every day to workmore effectively. The ArcGIS System is available everywhere usingweb browsers, mobile devices (such as smartphones), and desktopcomputers.

Figure 1.1

As the world's leading

platform for building and

using geographic

information systems (GIS),

ArcGIS is used by people

all over the world to put

geographic knowledge to

work in government,

business, science,

education, and media.

LESSON 1

1-2

Author--share--use

With the ArcGIS System, you can author maps and create andmanage geographic information. You can share your maps andgeographic information with members of your organization, others inyour industry, or ArcGIS users throughout the world. You can also usethe ArcGIS System to access and use information that has beenauthored and shared by others.

Figure 1.2

ArcGIS is a complete

system for authoring,

sharing, and using

geographic information.

The ArcGIS system

1-3

Getting to know the ArcGIS system

The ArcGIS System provides ways to connect traditional GISprofessionals to everyone else (and vice versa) by facilitating andencouraging sharing and collaboration. It is a system that anyone canuse to work with maps and geographic information.

Figure 1.3

ArcGIS is a system that

runs everywhere.

ArcGIS is a system that runs everywhere: on professional desktops,servers, the cloud, standard web browsers, smartphones, mobiledevices, and tablets. The way you choose to interact with the platformis based on what you are trying to do.

LESSON 1

1-4

The ArcGIS System has a number of key components: ArcGIS forDesktop, ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS for Mobile.These components allow ArcGIS to be accessed through a variety ofdevices.

Product Description

ArcGISforDesktop

Software used by GIS professionals to compile, use, andmanage geographic information.

ArcGISforServer

Software used by GIS professionals to share resourcescreated using ArcGIS for Desktop via the web.

ArcGISOnline

Website used by GIS professionals and anyone interestedin finding, using, sharing, and/or creating rich, interactive,intelligent maps and data. (ArcGIS Explorer Online is partof ArcGIS Online.)

ArcGISforMobile

Software used by anyone who wants to connect to andwork with ArcGIS using mobile devices, such as theiPhone, Android, Windows Mobile Devices, etc.

Table 1.1

This table lists short

summaries for each of the

major software

components in the ArcGIS

system.

Throughout this course, you will get hands-on exposure to manycomponents within the ArcGIS system and finish the course with asolid introductory understanding of what GIS is and how the ArcGISsystem can be used to bring GIS to everyone.

The ArcGIS system

1-5

Components used in this course

The following table lists the ArcGIS system components you will useas you progress through this course.

Lesson ArcGIS forDesktop

ArcGISOnline

ArcGISExplorerOnline

The basics of GIS

Understanding GIS data

The importance ofcoordinate systems

Acquiring and selectingdata

Using ArcGIS Onlineresources

Interacting with a map inArcGIS for Desktop

Performing spatialanalysis

Sharing results

Table 1.2

You will be using ArcGIS

for Desktop, ArcGIS

Online, and ArcGIS

Explorer Online. Note that

ArcGIS for Server and

ArcGIS Mobile are not

used in the exercises for

this course.

LESSON 1

1-6

Lesson review

1. ArcGIS is a comprehensive system that enables everyone to work with and applygeographic information.

a. True

b. False

2. ArcGIS _______ is a website that can be used by anyone interested in finding, using, sharing,

and/or creating rich, interactive, intelligent maps.

3. Which ArcGIS system component is designed to allow GIS professionals to compile, use,and manage geographic information?

a. ArcGIS for Desktop

b. ArcGIS for Server

c. ArcGIS Online

d. ArcGIS for Mobile

4. Which ArcGIS system component is designed to allow GIS professionals and anyone toshare resources created using ArcGIS for Desktop via the web?


b. ArcGIS for Mobile

c. ArcGIS Online

d. None of the above

5. Which ArcGIS system component is designed to be used by anyone who wants to connectto and work with ArcGIS using devices such as the iPhone, Android, Windowssmartphones, tablets, etc?



c. ArcGIS for Server

d. ArcGIS Explorer Online

The ArcGIS system

1-7

The basics of GIS

Introduction

You may not realize it, but you benefit from the use of geographicinformation systems (GIS) every day. Whether it's the regular deliveryof your morning newspaper, the synchronization of traffic lights onyour way to work, or the convenient location of your favoriterestaurant, GIS likely contributed to making these things a reality. Allover the world, organizations are using GIS to manage theenvironment, work more efficiently, provide better customer service,and save money.

Topics covered

• What is GIS?• The geographic approach• What can you do with GIS?

Learning objectives


• Explain what a GIS is.• Describe what a GIS can do and how it can be used.• Create, save, and share a map with ArcGIS Online.

2

attribute

data

GIS

spatial

workflow

Key terms

The basics of GIS

2-1

What is GIS?

GIS stands for Geographic Information System.

What is "geographic information"?

A GIS integrates spatial and attribute information, storinginformation about where something is with information about whatsomething is. This integrated data is called geographic information.

Figure 2.1

A driver's license is an

example of a GIS

database because it stores

geographic information,

which is descriptive

information about an

object or phenomenon,

combined with

information about its

spatial location.

What are "systems"?

A working GIS integrates five key components involved in managingand processing geographic information.

Figure 2.2

The five components of a

geographic information

system are hardware,

software, data, people,

and workflows.

Hardware

A GIS operates on a wide range of hardware types—from centralizedcomputer servers to desktop computers (used in stand-alone ornetworked configurations) to handheld mobile devices likesmartphones.

LESSON 2

2-2

Software

GIS software provides the functions and tools needed to store,analyze, and display geographic information (including a databasemanagement system); tools for the input and manipulation ofgeographic data; and tools that support query, analysis, andvisualization of that data.

Data

A GIS is useless without data to map and analyze. A GIS will manageand integrate geographic information with other data resources andcan even incorporate a database management system (DBMS) tomanage spatial data.

People

GIS technology is of limited value without the people who managethe system and develop plans for applying it to real-world problems.GIS users range from technical specialists who use it to design andmaintain the system to those who use it to help them perform theireveryday work.

Workflows

A successful GIS operates according to a well-designed plan andbusiness rules, which are the models and operating practices (i.e.,workflows) unique to each organization.

The basics of GIS

2-3

The geographic approach

Just as workflows are an important component of a GIS, it isimportant to have a consistent workflow for using a GIS to answerquestions and solve problems. The geographic approach offers a newway of thinking and problem solving that integrates geographicinformation into how people understand and manage the worldaround them.

Step Description

1. Ask ageographicquestion

Develop geographic questions that need to beanswered. These questions attempt to identify how anobject or phenomenon's spatial location affects itsinvolvement with other features or phenomenon.

2. Acquiregeographicdata

Obtain the geographic data you need to answer yourquestions.

3. Examinegeographicdata

Create a map of your geographic area and symbolizedata to look for patterns or information that are notalways easy to see on a map.

4. Analyzegeographicinformation

Determine a problem-solving approach and performGIS analysis.

5. Act ongeographicknowledge

Develop your message and intended audience; createvisuals, such as maps, to communicate information.

Table 2.1

This table describes the

steps of the geographic

approach to solving

problems with GIS.

LESSON 2

2-4

What can you do with GIS?

Creating a map with a GIS allows you to visualize spatial information.This often reveals relationships, patterns, and trends that provide youwith the information you need to make more effective and usefuldecisions. The following are examples of the kinds of maps you cancreate with GIS.

Map locations

Mapping locations lets you find places that have the features you arelooking for. It also enables you to see patterns in how features relateto one another geographically.

Figure 2.3

This map shows the major

settlements, roads, rivers,

shorelines, and political

boundaries in the Gulf of

St. Lawrence region in

southeastern Canada.

Record ways you might use locational maps in your work.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

The basics of GIS

2-5

Map quantities

People often map quantities to find places that meet a particularcriterion.

Figure 2.4

This map identifies

counties in the

southwestern United

States where, in 2010,

there was a concentration

of people of retirement

age (i.e., over age 64).

Record ways you might use quantitative maps in your work.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

LESSON 2

2-6

Find what's inside

By mapping what is inside a specific area, you can monitor what ishappening, identify which features are most likely to be affected, andtake specific action, prioritizing your response.

Figure 2.5

This map shows which

parcels are inside of a

flood zone. Understanding

which parcels are at risk

can help people make

decisions about how to

mitigate that risk.

Record ways you might use maps showing which features are insidean area or coincident with other features in your work.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

The basics of GIS

2-7

Find what's nearby

GIS can help you find out what is occurring within a set distance of afeature by mapping what is nearby.

Figure 2.6

This map shows

shipwrecks near coral reefs

along the southeastern

coast of Florida.

Record ways you might use maps showing which features are within aspecified distance of other features in your work.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

LESSON 2

2-8

Map change

Mapping change in an area may allow you to anticipate futureconditions, identify contributing factors, decide on a course of action,or evaluate the results of an action or policy.

Figure 2.7

This map shows Mount St.

Helens before and after

the 1980 eruption.

Record ways you might use maps that show changes over time in yourwork.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

The basics of GIS

2-9

Think of ways to apply GIS

Every object or phenomenon in the physical world can be associatedwith a location, and anything that can be associated with a locationcan be managed or examined through GIS. You can use GIS to:

• Map where things are.• Determine where there are features that meet a certain criteria.• Find the closest feature or location where a particular

phenomenon exists.• Determine how an object or phenomenon has changed at a

particular location over time.

In groups of two or three, brainstorm specific ways that you could useGIS to solve problems as a member of a particular role. Your instructorwill provide you with a role and industry on which to focus.

In the space below, record your thoughts on how someone in the roleto which you have been assigned would apply GIS to their work.

LESSON 2

2-10

25 minutes Exercise 2: Create and share a map with ArcGISOnline

Each year, only a small percentage of people who are eligible todonate blood actually give. As a result, no matter where you live,there is rarely enough available blood to consistently meet demand.The state of Florida is no exception.

In this exercise, you will create a web map that will allow prospectivedonors throughout Florida to quickly locate blood banks in theirneighborhood.

Figure 2.8

Map of blood banks

throughout the state of

Florida.

In this exercise, you will:

• Sign in to ArcGIS Online with an Esri global account.• Create a map using ArcGIS Online.• Save and share your map.

The basics of GIS

2-11

Step 1: Sign in to ArcGIS Online

a Open Internet Explorer and navigate to www.arcgis.com.

ArcGIS Online is a dynamic website. The graphics provided in this exercise are forillustrative purposes and may differ from what you see on screen.

b In the upper-right corner of the web page, click Sign In.

• Enter your user name and password.• Click Sign In.

If your ArcGIS Online account is registered with an organization, you may want tocreate a separate account for this course.

• Click Register your Esri Global Account.• Enter your user name and password, then click Register.• If prompted, accept the Terms of Use agreement.

• Click Create an account.• Enter the necessary information, then click Review and Accept the Terms of Use.• In the pop-up window, review the Terms of Use, then click Accept.• Click Create My Account.

• If you already have an Esri Global Account that you have registered with ArcGISOnline:

• If you already have an Esri Global Account, but you have not yet registered it withArcGIS Online:

• To create an Esri Global Account:

LESSON 2

2-12

An Esri Global Account, which is free and does not expire, gives you access to the sharing andstoring capabilities of ArcGIS Online. Logging in to the website with a registered Esri GlobalAccount allows you to save, store, and share the content you create with ArcGIS Online.

When you see the Esri key symbol beside any Esri website login button, you may useyour Esri Global Account to log in.

c Once you sign in with a registered Esri Global Account, at the top of the web page, click MAP.

The ArcGIS Online map viewer opens a default map that includes a topographic basemap.

Step 2: Choose a basemap

A basemap serves as a starting point when creating a map with ArcGIS Online. Often, basemapsdepict background reference information, such as landforms, roads, landmarks, and politicalboundaries, onto which other geographic information is placed.

The basics of GIS

2-13

a Click Basemap.

A menu of basemaps opens.

b Select one of the basemaps that shows streets and roads.

c In the upper-right corner of the page, in the Find address or place search box, type FloridaUS.

d Click the Find Location button .

The map zooms to the state of Florida in the United States.

LESSON 2

2-14

e If necessary, close the Location pop-up box that opens.

Your map is now centered on the state of Florida. Next, you will add a file of blood bank locationsthroughout the state.

Step 3: Add a data file to your map

In this step, you will upload a file from your computer.

a In the upper-left corner, click the drop-down arrow next to Add, then choose Add Layer fromFile.

b In the Add Layer from File dialog box, click Browse.

The basics of GIS

2-15

c Navigate to C:\Student\ARC1\OnlineFiles and choose FL_BloodBanks.txt, then click Open.

Make sure you choose the FL_BloodBanks.txt file, NOT the FL_BloodBanks.xmlfile.

d In the Add Layer from File dialog box, click Import Layer.

e If a Location window displays, click the X in the upper right corner to close it.

Your map now displays the blood banks throughout the state of Florida.

LESSON 2

2-16

f Click one of the blood banks.

The attribute information associated with that particular blood bank opens in a separate window.

Step 4: Save and share your map

a Just above the map display, click Save, then choose Save from the drop-down list.

The basics of GIS

2-17

b In the Save Map dialog box:

Tags are words or short phrases that describe your map. Tags are separated withcommas. "Federal land" is considered one tag, while "Federal, land" isconsidered two tags. It is useful to enter tags related to how you would expectpeople to search for your map.

• For Title, type Florida Blood Banks.• For Tags, type Florida, blood bank.

• For Summary, enter a summary description that describes the map.• For Save in folder, choose the account or subfolder within the account in which you want

to save the map.

c Click Save Map.

Now you will share your map.

d Just above the map display, click Share.

LESSON 2

2-18

e In the Share dialog box, select the check box for Everyone (public).

If your personal Esri Global Account is associated with a group or organization on ArcGISOnline, you will see additional options listed here.

This dialog box also provides a link you can use to share this web map with anyone via e-mail,instant message (IM), Facebook, or Twitter. You could also use this link to embed the map in awebsite or create a web application. You will learn how to make a web application later in thiscourse.

If the link to this map is empty, close the Share dialog box, resave your map, and thenreopen the Share dialog box.

f Close the Share dialog box.

Step 5: (Optional) Locate a user group related to your work or area ofinterest

a In the upper-right corner of the ArcGIS map viewer window, click the My Content drop-downarrow and choose Groups.

If you are a member of any groups or organizations, they will be listed here.

b To search for groups related to your area of interest, click in the Search for groups box in theupper-right corner of the web page.

The basics of GIS

2-19

c Type a keyword or combination of keywords related to your industry or area of interest, thenclick the Find button .

d Browse through the list and click a group that interests you.

Often, only members of groups will be able to see the items listed by group members.

e To request membership, in the upper-right corner of the window, click Join This Group.

f Once you are finished browsing user groups, click Sign Out in the upper-right corner and closeInternet Explorer.

LESSON 2

2-20

Lesson review

1. Based on your current understanding, how would you define GIS?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. During this lesson, five basic reasons to use GIS were discussed. Which of those five bestmatches how you will be using GIS? Provide an example to support your selection.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

The basics of GIS

2-21


Introduction

Before you can work with data in a GIS, the data must be in a digitalformat. To represent real-world features digitally, you use a datamodel. The data model defines the process used to create abstractrepresentations of real-world features into a format that the computercan understand.

In the GIS world, there are two main data models used to representfeatures. In this lesson, you will explore these two data models andsome common geographic data formats that are based on eachmodel. You will also examine how non-spatial tables can be identifiedand used in a GIS.

Topics covered

• GIS data models• Spatial versus non-spatial tables• Using metadata

Learning objectives


• Describe different types of GIS data and their uses.• Integrate different types of GIS data.• Access metadata and item descriptions.

3

attribute table

data frame

data model

feature class

geodatabase

layer

map document

metadata

raster data model

shapefile

stand-alone table

vector data model

Key terms


3-1

Turning geographic information into GIS data

How does geographic information become GIS data?

Figure 3.1

Geographic information

becomes GIS data when it

is stored in a database.

Geographic information is defined as spatial information combinedwith attribute information. GIS data is the representation ofgeographic information as digital files in a GIS database. It is thisdigital data that can be mapped with a GIS.

Data is generally gathered by observing and recording informationthrough a variety of devices, methods, and behaviors. As you recordinformation available in the real world, you process, organize, andsynthesize it as a collection of digital files in a GIS database. Mappingthis data may provide you with new information and possibly newdata.

LESSON 3

3-2

GIS data models

In the GIS world, there are two main data models used to representreal-world features: the vector data model and the raster datamodel.

The vector data model represents discrete objects on the surface ofthe earth—such as streetlights, roads, and buildings—as point, line,and polygon features. Discrete objects are those that havewell-defined boundaries. A raster data model represents the surfaceof the earth as a grid of equally sized cells. An individual cellrepresents a portion of the earth, such as a square meter or a squaremile. The raster data model is often used to represent continuousphenomenon (i.e., without discrete boundaries).

Figure 3.2

The vector data model

represents real-world

features as points, lines,

and polygons while the

raster data model

represents them as cells of

the same value. Notice

that the shapes of the

raster building, road, and

streetlight do not seem as

similar to the real-world

shapes as the vector

renditions do.


3-3

ArcMap and data models

ArcMap is the ArcGIS for Desktop application designed for querying,analyzing, editing, and mapping your raster or vector data.

In ArcMap, you work in a map document, adding data (i.e., layers) todata frames. A map document has one or more data frames, andeach data frame represents a separate map. Data frames and the datathey contain are listed in the table of contents.

Figure 3.3

The Table Of Contents

window displays data in

your map organized by

data frame. In this

example, the data frame

contains three vector

layers and a single raster

dataset.

A vector dataset models real-world features as points, lines, andpolygons. The most common types of vector datasets are shapefilesand feature classes. These types of datasets store the location,shape, and attributes of geographic features with the same geometrytype (such as point, line, or polygon), and the same spatial reference.

In addition to the geometry, a vector dataset also has an associatedattribute table that stores information describing the real-worldfeatures being modeled. The information contained inside anattribute table is called attributes. Each point, line, or polygon featurehas attributes associated with it. Features from the same dataset sharethe same types of attributes. For example, a vector dataset mappingstreet centerlines might have attributes describing the street's nameand how many lanes a street has, as well as the speed limit.

Opening a vector dataset's attribute table allows you to view theattributes associated with the points, lines, or polygons in thatdataset. Each row in the table represents a single feature in the map.

LESSON 3

3-4

Vector attribute tables have ID and Shape fields by default. The IDfield can be a field named OBJECTID, FID, or OID. This field stores aunique, system-defined object identifier for each row in the table. TheShape field stores the geometry, or vector data type.

Figure 3.4

Other than the ID and

Shape fields, all of the

fields in a vector attribute

table are specific to the

dataset.

A raster dataset is represented by a grid of equally sized cells withnumeric values. Cell values may represent codes or qualitativemeasures for features in the real world (for example, land-use,vegetation, or soil type), or they may represent quantitative measuresof a continuous phenomenon (such as temperature, precipitation, soilpH, or elevation).

Raster datasets do not always have attribute tables. Those that dotypically have cell values that represent or define a class, group,category, or membership. These attribute tables simply list the cellvalues (i.e., codes) present in the dataset and how many cells shareeach value.

Figure 3.5

A raster value attribute

table often contains only

three fields: OBJECTID,

Value, and Count. The

Value field lists the values

present in the data, while

Count represents the total

number of cells with that

value.


3-5

Which data model fits better?

Both the vector and raster data models are useful for representinggeographic data, but one may be more appropriate than the otherwhen it comes to representing a particular type of geographic data. Ingeneral, the vector data model is useful for representing features thathave discrete boundaries, while the raster data model is most usefulfor representing continuous geographic data—phenomena such aselevation, precipitation, and temperature—that do not havewell-defined boundaries and that usually change gradually across agiven area.

Which data model, vector or raster, is more appropriate for each ofthe following? If vector, would it be a point, line, or polygon layer?Explain your answers.

1. Rainfall

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

2. Trees

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

3. Office space

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

4. Animal migration paths

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

LESSON 3

3-6

5. Police beats

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

6. Fire departments

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

7. Soil pH

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

8. Museums

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

9. Lightning strikes

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

10. Air quality

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________


3-7

Working with tables

Each vector dataset has an attribute table, and each of these attributetables contains a Shape field that defines it as a spatial table. TheShape field stores the geometric information for the points, lines, andpolygons. ArcMap uses the information contained in this field to drawthe features on your map.

Stand-alone tables, on the other hand, do not include a Shape field,so they are considered non-spatial tables. These tables are just asimportant and useful as spatial tables. For example, thesestand-alone, non-spatial tables, may contain locational attributes,such as latitude/longitude (XY) coordinates or address data.

Non-spatial tables that contain locational attributes in the form of XYcoordinates can be quickly processed so that the information isplotted and drawn on your map. This will create a temporary eventlayer from which you can create a shapefile or feature class.

Figure 3.6

Stand-alone tables may

contain spatial data. This

data can be processed to

allow ArcMap to plot the

points on a map.

Stand-alone tables may also contain additional attribute informationfor features stored in a separate feature class. Working with thesetypes of stand-alone tables is outside the scope of this class.

ArcGIS 10.1 Help Library:

Tabular data sources

LESSON 3

3-8

Documenting your data

Why is it necessary to document your data?

Information that describes data in ArcGIS is called metadata.Metadata helps you better understand a dataset by providing youwith information about what the file and its attribute fields represents,its origin and intended use, as well as how accurate and recent it is. Itcan help you identify the source of the data and make decisionsabout its suitability for a particular scenario.


3-9

30 minutes Exercise 3: Identify data types and examinemetadata

Geographic information can be stored in a wide variety of file types.These files may be organized in a folder or in a geodatabase. Ageodatabase is a data storage format introduced by Esri for ArcGISsoftware. It serves as a specialized container for storing geographicdata, which may include a collection of vector feature classes, rasterdatasets, and tables. Understanding how data is stored andorganized, as well as how to identify and get information about yourdata by accessing metadata, will help you learn to recognize GIS datawhen you see it.


• Connect to a database.• Browse through data.• Identify various file types.• View a dataset's item description/metadata.• Correct an error in an item's metadata.• Preview a dataset's geography and table.• Add data to a map.


3-11

Step 1: Open ArcMap and set up a connection to the data

a In the taskbar at the bottom of your computer screen, click the ArcMap icon .

(Alternatively, you can click the Windows Start button and navigate to the application, or, inthe Search programs and files field, type ArcMap, then press Enter on your keyboard.)

The ArcMap application opens.

You will use ArcMap to browse various datasets and become more familiar with how GIS data isstored and organized.

LESSON 3

3-12

b On the Standard toolbar, click the Catalog window button .

The Catalog window opens.

If you look at the top-right corner of the Catalog window, you will see a pushpin. You canclick the pushpin to change its position. When the pushpin points down , the Catalogwindow is set to remain visible. When the pushpin points to the left , the Catalogwindow collapses to a tab on the right side of the ArcMap application window.

c To keep the Catalog window open, click the Auto-hide pushpin until it points down.

When you work with ArcGIS, you work with a catalog of data. ArcMap's Catalog window is aresizable, dockable window that allows you to browse your data, drag data into your map,manage data, and create data. The Catalog window provides a tree view of file folders andgeodatabases.

Before you can browse data, you need to create a folder connection to it.

An initial task in using the Catalog window is to establish a series of connections tothe workspace folders whose content you plan to work with in ArcGIS.


3-13

d At the top of the Catalog window, click the Connect To Folder button . (Alternatively, youcould right-click Folder Connections and choose Connect To Folder.)

e In the Connect To Folder dialog box, click Computer, then click Local Disk (C:).

f Scroll down and click Student, then click ARC1.

g Click OK.

h If necessary, in the Catalog window, expand Folder Connections to view the C:\Student\ARC1folder.

i Expand C:\Student\ARC1.

LESSON 3

3-14

Step 2: View data in a GIS

Within the C:\Student\ARC1 folder, you see a Florida folder, an OnlineFiles folder, a Resultsfolder, and a WilsonNC folder. The Florida folder contains data for the state of Florida. TheWilsonNC folder contains data for the city of Wilson, North Carolina. (It is common to organizedata based on spatial location.) The OnlineFiles folder and the Results folders contain backup filesfor data you create and/or upload to ArcGIS Online.

It's a good idea to organize GIS contents into a set of commonly used workspacefolders. These are file folders on disk used to organize your GIS projects. They cancontain map documents, layers, geodatabases, raster datasets, tables, and so on.

a Expand the Florida and WilsonNC folders.

1. How many geodatabases are there? (Hint: Look for the geodatabase icon .)

______________________________________________________________________________

Step 3: Identify various file types

a Expand the FloridaData.gdb and Wilson.gdb.

b Examine the various files inside and outside of these geodatabases.


3-15

2. Based on the information in the following table, how many feature classes of each type are inthe two geodatabases combined?

Gray-blue icons Data type How many are there?

Point feature class __

Line feature class __

Polygon feature class __

Mosaic dataset* __

Geodatabase table __

*A mosaic dataset is a data model within the geodatabase used to manage a collection of raster datasets(images) stored as a catalog and viewed as a mosaicked image.

c Collapse the geodatabases and examine the rest of the data in the Florida and WilsonNCfolders.

3. Based on the information in the following table, how many of each file type are in the Floridaand WilsonNC folders combined (but outside the geodatabase)?

Yellow-green icons Data type How many are there?

Point shapefile __

Line shapefile __

Polygon shapefile __

Non-geodatabase raster __

Non-geodatabase table* __

Layer file __

*TXT files are also considered non-geodatabase tables.

LESSON 3

3-16

Step 4: View an item description

The item description is one view of an item's metadata.

a Expand FloridaData.gdb, right-click the FL_CEMMGT feature class, and choose ItemDescription.

The item description opens in a separate window with the Description tab selected. At the top ofthe Item Description window, you see the name of the data file and the type of file it is. You alsosee a thumbnail (i.e., small graphic) of the dataset that shows you what the item's geometry willlook like when added to a map. Below the thumbnail are various fields, such as Summary andDescription, that help identify what the features in the file represent.

b Read through the metadata available in the item description, and answer the followingquestions.


3-17

4. Which type of file is this?

______________________________________________________________________________

5. What does this dataset represent?

______________________________________________________________________________

6. Which organization originally created this data? (Hint: Look at the Credits field.)

______________________________________________________________________________

Metadata can be stored in a variety of formats. For example, many organizations use the FGDCCSDGM XML format. This particular file has FGDC-format metadata content associated with it.

c Click the FGDC Metadata (read-only) heading at the bottom of the page to see thisinformation.

d Under Entities and Attributes, you see a list of the attribute fields associated with this datasetalong with the description of what each represents.

7. What does the FIPS attribute field represent?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

In a later lesson, you will learn more about how to use metadata like this to determine whetherthe data you have is, in fact, the data you need.

LESSON 3

3-18

Step 5: Correct an error in an item's metadata

a Near the top of the Item Description window, with the Description tab selected, click Edit.

The Description tab changes to allow you to edit the content listed in the item description.

b If necessary, in the list on the left, under Overview, click Item Description.

c On the right side of the dialog box, scroll down until you find the Summary field.


3-19

d In the Summary field, change the last two words in the summary to read flood inundationrather than "food inundation."

e Click Save, but leave the Item Description window open.

LESSON 3

3-20

Step 6: Preview a dataset's geography and table

a At the top of the Item Description window, click the Preview tab.

The Preview tab defaults to Geography, which allows you to see what the features will look likewhen displayed on a map.


3-21

b For Preview, click the drop-down arrow next to Geography and choose Table.

Previewing the table for a dataset allows you to view the attribute table without having to add thedata to the map or open the attribute table.

8. Is this a spatial table or a non-spatial table?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

c Close the Item Description window when you are finished reviewing the metadata.

Step 7: Add data to the map

a In the Catalog window, if necessary, expand FloridaData.gdb.

LESSON 3

3-22

b Click the FL_CEMMGT feature class and drag it into the map display.

The data draws in the map, and the dataset name and symbol display as a layer in the table ofcontents.

c Notice that the features in the map display look just like the thumbnail graphic that was part ofthe item description.

d In the Table Of Contents window, right-click the FL_CEMMGT layer and choose OpenAttribute Table.

Notice that the fields you see in the attribute table are the same fields listed and described in themetadata. If you weren't certain what a particular attribute field or attribute value represented,you could look to the metadata to find out.

e Close the Table window when you are finished reviewing the attribute table.

f From the File menu, choose Exit.

g When prompted to save the map, choose No.


3-23

Lesson review

1. Vector data models real-world features as _______, ______, and _________.

2. The raster data model represents the surface of the earth as a grid of equally sized ______.

3. Both vector and raster data can be stored in a geodatabase.

a. True

b. False

4. You open a table and see that it has no Shape field. What does this indicate?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

5. Information that describes data in ArcGIS is called _________.

LESSON 3

3-24

Answers to Lesson 3 questions

Which data model fits better? (page 3-6)

1. Rainfall

Raster. Rainfall data is continuous data. Every location of the surface of the earth has avalue for rainfall. There are no discrete boundaries for rainfall, so a raster would be amore appropriate representation of this phenomenon.

2. Trees

Vector. Trees are discrete entities and would be better represented as either points(for individual trees) or polygons (for stands, groves, or orchards).

3. Office space

Vector. Office space has discrete boundaries, so it would likely be represented as apolygon.

4. Animal migration paths

Vector. Animal migration paths are discrete, so they would likely be represented aslines.

5. Police beats

Vector. Police beats represent areas to which certain police officers are assigned whenpatrolling. Because these are discrete areas, they would be polygons.

6. Fire departments

Vector. Depending on the scale of the map, fire departments would either berepresented as points (location only) or polygons (building footprints).

7. Soil pH

Raster. Soil pH is present everywhere there is soil. The range of values is broad, andthe boundaries are indistinct.

8. Museums

Vector. Depending on the scale of the map, museums would be represented by eitherpoints (locations only) or polygons (building footprints).


3-25

9. Lightning strikes

Vector. Lightning strikes are discrete events and would be represented by points.

10. Air quality

Raster. Air quality measurements are present everywhere. The range of values isbroad, and the boundaries are indistinct.

Exercise 3: Identify data types and examine metadata (page 3-11)

1. How many geodatabases are there? (Hint: Look for the geodatabase icon .)

There are two geodatabases: one in the Florida folder and one in the WilsonNCfolder.

2. Based on the information in the following table, how many feature classes of each type arein the two geodatabases combined?

Gray-blue icons Data type How many are there?

Point feature class 5

Line feature class 4

Polygon feature class 7

Mosaic dataset* 1

Geodatabase table 1

LESSON 3

3-26

3. Based on the information in the following table, how many of each file type are in theFlorida and WilsonNC folders combined (but outside the geodatabase)?

Yellow-green icons Data type How many are there?

Point shapefile 3

Line shapefile 3

Polygon shapefile 4

Non-geodatabase raster 3

Non-geodatabase table* 1

Layer file 3

4. Which type of file is this?

This dataset is a file geodatabase feature class.

5. What does this dataset represent?

It represents coastal flooding areas in a statewide extent.

6. Which organization originally created this data? (Hint: Look at the Credits field.)

This data was originally compiled by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

7. What does the FIPS attribute field represent?

This is the standard five-digit State and County Federal Information ProcessingStandard (FIPS) code from the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST).The first two digits represent the state, while the last three digits represent thecounty.


3-27

8. Is this a spatial table or a non-spatial table?

This is a spatial table. It is the attribute table for a vector feature class, and it containsa Shape field. This indicates that ArcMap knows how to draw the geometry associatedwith the features in this dataset.

LESSON 3

3-28

The importance of coordinatesystems

Introduction

While a GIS represents reality, it is not reality. To be useful, a GIS mapmust accurately represent feature locations. To determine the locationof features in the real world or on a map, you need a referencesystem—a standard framework for defining location.

In a GIS, the reference systems used to determine feature locationsare called coordinate systems. In this module, you will learn aboutdifferent coordinate systems, how they work, and how to change thecoordinate system for a dataset. By better understanding coordinatesystems, you will be able to manage your data in a way that increasesthe accuracy of your GIS maps and the work you do with them.

Topics covered

• Establishing location• Geographic coordinate systems• Projected coordinate systems• Spatial distortion

Learning objectives


• Describe the differences between geographic and projectedcoordinate systems.

• Evaluate the appropriateness of a particular coordinate systemfor a project and area of interest.

• Change the coordinate system for a dataset.

4

absolute location

coordinate system

geographic coordinatesystem (GCS)

geographictransformation

latitude

longitude

project on the fly

projected coordinatesystem (PCS)

relative location

spatial distortion

Key terms

The importance of coordinate systems

4-1

What is location?

When someone asks you where you are, how do you answerthe question?

Relative location

When most people think of location, they think in terms of relatingthat location to other known locations or landmarks (e.g., one blocksouth of the post office). Relative locations are understandablebecause they are relative to known locations. They use knownlandmarks, streets, or cities to give people context, but they aregenerally informal and non-standard.

Absolute location

Absolute location represents the definitive location of a place. Whendefined by absolute location, places are often described with latitudeand longitude values, which are useful for navigation systems andmap making.

LESSON 4

4-2

Figure 4.1

Examples of relative and

absolute locations for

Redlands, California.

1. Which of the locations listed in the previous graphic are consideredrelative locations?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

2. Which of the locations listed in the previous graphic are consideredabsolute locations?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________


4-3

How spatial data stores location

While people often use relative locations when describing a location,ArcMap uses absolute locations to identify a feature's location on thesurface of the earth. In a GIS, the absolute location for any vectorfeature is stored as pairs of coordinate values.

Figure 4.2

This simplified example of

a coordinate system

demonstrates how every

point has a single pair of

coordinate values, while

lines and polygons have a

pair for each vertex that

defines their shapes.

The coordinate values are stored as numeric values that relate to anoverall reference system on which they are based. Each pair of valuesis valid for that location only in that reference system.

Figure 4.3

The coordinate values for

a feature depend on

where the points that

make it up are in relation

to the origin and on the

units that apply to its

coordinate system.

LESSON 4

4-4

Geographic coordinate systems

The pairs of coordinate values that identify a feature on a map arerelative to its geographic coordinate system (GCS)—a coordinatesystem that uses a three-dimensional spherical model to identifypoints or areas on the surface of the earth.

A GCS plots data in latitude and longitude with units in decimaldegrees or in degrees, minutes, seconds.

Figure 4.4

In a geographic

coordinate system,

measurements are usually

expressed in degrees,

minutes, and seconds. A

degree is 1/360th of a

circle. Each degree can be

divided into 60 minutes,

and each minute can be

divided into 60 seconds.

The components of a geographic coordinate system

• An angular unit of measure: usually decimal degrees, but mayalso be degrees, minutes, seconds.

• A prime meridian: the zero value for longitude. (It isn't necessaryto define a zero value for latitude, since this is always theequator.)

• A spheroid: the mathematical model that estimates the size andshape of the Earth.

• A datum: the collection of known control points that is used todefine the latitude/longitude framework applied to thespheroid.


4-5

The details of a GCS vary, in part, according to control points defined,so data in different GCSs won't necessarily coincide spatially at everylatitude-longitude value.

Figure 4.5

Datasets that are based on

different geographic

coordinate systems may

not line up properly. In

this example, the streets

and lots don't align

because they are based

on different geographic

coordinate systems, or

more specifically, different

datums.

Any spatial data you add to ArcGIS is associated with a particularGCS, distinguished by its unique set of components—especially by itsdatum.

The most commonly used datums in North America are:

• North American Datum 1927 (NAD 1927)• North American Datum 1983 (NAD 1983)• World Geodetic Survey 1984 (WGS 1984)

LESSON 4

4-6

Working with data in different geographiccoordinate systems

When you work with spatial data in ArcMap, you add datasets aslayers to a data frame. Every geographic dataset you add has a GCSassociated with it, describing the data's latitude-longitudecoordinates.

As you add data to a data frame, ArcMap will attempt to align thedata for you. If the data is in a different GCS than data already presentin the map, you will be prompted to select the appropriategeographic transformation, which is the systematic conversionmethod ArcMap should use to properly convert the coordinates fromone GCS to the other.

When prompted with a Geographic Coordinate SystemsWarning, it is important to properly address it. Failing to do sowill cause alignment issues with your data.

Figure 4.6

Without the appropriate

geographic transformation

applied, the fire hydrants

do not align with the lots.


4-7

Choosing an appropriate geographic transformation

1. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.1\Documentation and open the geographic_transformations.pdf.

2. Scroll through the list of available transformations until you findthe one that includes the GCSs that you need to transformbetween.

3. Determine which of the available transformations is mostsuitable based on its specified area of use.

4. Return to the dialog box and choose the appropriatetransformation.

ArcMap will only choose a

transformation for you

when the transformation is

between NAD 1927 and

NAD 1983. In that case,

ArcMap will default to

NADCON, which is still

incorrect if the data is in

Canada, Alaska, Puerto

Rico, or the Virgin Islands.

LESSON 4

4-8

Projected coordinate systems

While you can represent the earth and its surface features fairly easilyusing a globe, a globe is not a practical solution for most applications.For example, unless your globe is very large, it will lack detail andaccuracy. In addition, you can only see half of the earth's surface atone time using a globe, you cannot fold a globe or roll it up and takeit with you, and you cannot use a globe to represent geographicfeatures on your flat computer screen.

Figure 4.7

To convert feature

locations from the

spherical earth to a flat

map, the latitude and

longitude coordinates

from a geographic

coordinate system must

be converted, or

projected, to planar

coordinates.

A projected coordinate system (PCS) is a coordinate system foridentifying locations and measuring features on a flat (map) surfaceand in linear units. It consists of lines that intersect at right angles,forming a grid. PCSs have an origin, an x and a y axis, and a unit formeasuring distance.

The components of a projected coordinate system

• A GCS: serves as the starting point for transforming thecoordinates to a 2-D surface.

• A linear unit of measure: represents units on a planar surfaceand is usually meters or feet.

• A projection: the mathematical transformation used to convertfrom geographic coordinates to planar (projected) coordinates.

Any projected data that

you add to ArcMap, or

that you project within

ArcMap, is associated with

a PCS in addition to its

underlying GCS.


4-9

Spatial properties and distortion

The world is more or less round. You can't make a flat picture of itwithout changing some of its proportions. You have to make somethings broader or narrower than they really are, or bigger or smaller,or nearer to some other things or farther away, or lying in a somewhatdifferent direction. This is the single most profound fact aboutprojected coordinate systems—they distort the world.

The general term for these changes is spatial distortion. Every maphas some. In a map of a small area, distortion may be negligible; in amap of a large area, it will be significant.

The four spatial properties subject to distortion in a projectedcoordinate system are:

• Shape• Area• Distance• Direction

If a map preserves two

spatial properties, one of

them is always true

direction. Some maps preserve one property, and some preserve two, but nonepreserves more than two. Some maps don't preserve any propertiesperfectly, but compromise a little bit on all of them. No map canpreserve all four—only a globe can do that.

Figure 4.8

North America shown with

three different projections:

Plate Carree (top left),

Mercator (bottom left),

and North America

Lambert Azimuthal Equal

Area (right).

LESSON 4

4-10

Choosing a map projection means choosing your distortion.Sometimes you stay faithful to one spatial property and betrayanother; sometimes you betray all properties a little, but none ofthem excessively.

See Appendix B for a list

of suitable projections for

world maps, single

hemispheres, and

countries, cities, or smaller

areas.

Projections are often organized by type, based on the property theypreserve. The following table lists common types of projections.

Type ofprojection

Property it preserves

Conformal Shape, but not area

Equal Area Area, but not shape

Equidistant Distance from one or two points to every other point

Azimuthal Direction from one or two points to every otherpoint

Gnomonic Shortest route (distance and direction), but cannotpreserve area

Compromise None, but minimally distorts all four

Table 4.1

Common types of

projections and the

properties they preserve.


4-11

Understanding distortion

A new data frame adopts the spatial reference of the first layer youadd to it, but you can also change it manually. When you do this withdata that is in a projected coordinate system, all the data in the dataframe (and any new data you add to it) is projected on the fly tomatch the new projection. No matter which projection your data is in,at least two of the spatial properties in your map will be distorted. Asthe projection changes, the distortion in your map will change.

As your instructor demonstrates how various map projections distortthe spatial property of distance, record the different lengths of thetransatlantic telegraph cable in the following table. The actualdistance has been provided for you.

Actual transatlantic cable distance 1686 nauticalmiles

Distance with Mercator projection applied

Distance with Robinson projection applied

Distance with Equidistant Conic projection applied

Distance with Lambert Azimuthal Equal Areaprojection applied

Table 4.2

Record the distance as

measured with each of the

projections applied.

The most important part of choosing a map projection for a particularproject or area of interest is simply awareness. You know that everydataset has a GCS and that some datasets also have a PCS. You alsoknow that every projection distorts at least two of the four spatialproperties represented in a map. To choose an appropriate projectionor to evaluate the current projection for your project requires anunderstanding of the properties that are important to your project.

LESSON 4

4-12

45 minutes Exercise 4: Work with coordinate systems

Part of organizing and evaluating data involves making sure all thedatasets have defined coordinate systems and occasionallytransforming data by reprojecting it to match other datasets. Manyorganizations require their data to be in a specific projection.


• Identify the spatial reference information for various datasets.• Add data with different coordinate systems to a map document.• Observe how ArcMap projects data on the fly.• Define the projection for a dataset with a missing spatial

reference.• Change the coordinate system for a dataset.


4-13

Step 1: Identify the coordinate system for a dataset

a Start ArcMap.

b If the Catalog window is not displayed, click the Catalog button to open it.

c If necessary, click the Auto-Hide pushpin button to keep the Catalog window open. (Hint:The Catalog window pushpin will point down when it is set to remain open.)

d In the Catalog window, under Folder Connections, expand C:\Student\ARC1.

e Expand WilsonNC, then expand Wilson.gdb.

f Right-click the Schools feature class and choose Properties.

g In the Feature Class Properties dialog box, click the XY Coordinate System tab.

1. What is the coordinate system for this data?

______________________________________________________________________________

LESSON 4

4-14

2. Is this a geographic coordinate system or a projected coordinate system? How do youknow?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

3. If you answered that the coordinate system is a projected coordinate system, whichprojection is associated with this PCS?

______________________________________________________________________________

4. Which property is preserved by this projection? (Hint: Look at the table on page 4-11.)

______________________________________________________________________________

h Click Cancel to close the Properties dialog box.

i In the Table Of Contents window, right-click the Layers data frame and choose Properties.

j In the Data Frame Properties dialog box, click the Coordinate System tab.

5. What is the current coordinate system listed for the Layers data frame?

______________________________________________________________________________

For each new map document, the data frame will not have an associated coordinate system.

k Click Cancel to close the Data Frame Properties dialog box.

l On the Standard toolbar, click the Add Data button .


4-15

m At the top of the dialog box, for Look in, click the drop-down arrow and navigate to C:\Student\ARC1\WilsonNC\Wilson.gdb.

n Click Schools, then click Add to add it to the map.

The Schools features draw on the map, and the Schools layer is added to the Table Of Contentswindow.

o In the Table Of Contents window, right-click the Layers data frame and choose Properties.

p Click the Coordinate System tab.

6. What is the data frame's coordinate system?

______________________________________________________________________________

The data frame adopts the coordinate system from the first layer you add to it. Any additionaldata you add to the data frame will then be projected on the fly to match the data frame'sprojection.

q Click Cancel to close the Data Frame Properties without making changes.

LESSON 4

4-16

Step 2: Identify the coordinate system for another dataset

a In the Catalog window, within the C:\Student\ARC1\WilsonNC folder, right-clickWilson_Recareas.shp and choose Properties.

b If necessary, click the XY Coordinate System tab.

7. What is the coordinate system for this dataset?

______________________________________________________________________________

8. Is this dataset in a geographic or projected coordinate system?

______________________________________________________________________________

9. How does this dataset's geographic coordinate system compare with the geographiccoordinate system assigned to the Schools feature class?

______________________________________________________________________________


4-17

10. If you added the Wilson_Recareas shapefile to your map, would you expect it to aligncorrectly with the Schools layer?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

c Click Cancel to close the Properties dialog box.

d On the Standard toolbar, click the Add Data button .

e At the top of the dialog box, for Look in, click the drop-down arrow and navigate to C:\Student\ARC1\WilsonNC.

f Click Wilson_Recareas.shp, then click Add to add it to the map.

Why do you think these two layers lined up even though they had different coordinate systemsassigned?

As long as the coordinate systems are defined, ArcMap can automatically project them to match.This is called projecting on the fly.

LESSON 4

4-18

Projecting on the fly does not change the dataset's spatial reference on disk; it onlychanges how the layer displays in the map.

Step 3: Identify a dataset with a different coordinate system

a In the Catalog window, right-click WilsonCrimes.shp and choose Properties.

b In the Shapefile Properties dialog box, click the XY Coordinate System tab.


______________________________________________________________________________


______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________


4-19

13. Is the geographic coordinate system the same for this file as it was for the other twodatasets you looked at?

______________________________________________________________________________

14. Is the projected coordinate system the same?

______________________________________________________________________________

15. How does this dataset's coordinate system compare with the coordinate system assignedto the Schools feature class and the Wilson_Recareas.shp?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

16. If you added this shapefile to your map, would you expect it to align correctly with theother two layers?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

c Click Cancel to close the Shapefile Properties dialog box.

d On the Standard toolbar, click the Add Data button .

e At the top of the dialog box, for Look in, click the drop-down arrow and navigate to C:\Student\ARC1\WilsonNC.

f Click WilsonCrimes.shp, then click Add to add it to the map.

LESSON 4

4-20

You are prompted with a Geographic Coordinate Systems Warning. Remember, it is important notto ignore messages like these.

In this case, there are a number of geographic transformations available for converting betweenthese two GCSs (i.e., NAD 83 to WGS 84). It is up to you to select the best one.


4-21

g Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.1\Documentation.

h Double-click geographic_transformations.pdf to open it in Adobe Reader.

i Notice that the transformations are listed in alphabetical order.

Scroll through the document until you find a list of conversions for going from NAD 83 to WGS 84or vice versa. (Datum transformations work in either direction, so NAD_1983_To_WGS_1984transforms from NAD 83 to WGS 84, as well as from WGS 84 to NAD 83.)

LESSON 4

4-22

17. Which transformation is likely the most appropriate?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

j Close the Adobe Reader window and Windows Explorer.

k In ArcMap, on the Geographic Coordinate Systems Warning message, click Transformations.

Normally, referring to the geographic_transformations.pdf would be sufficient; however, NAD1983 and WGS 1984 are one of those special cases that require more explanation.

l In the Geographic Coordinate System Transformations dialog box, click About geographictransformations and read through the help document, specifically the section entitledConverting between NAD 1983 and WGS 1984.

The information here explains whether you should choose NAD_1983_To_WGS_1984_4 orNAD_1983_To_WGS_1984_5.

m Close the help when you are done.

n In the Geographic Coordinate System Transformations dialog box, for Convert from, chooseGCS_WGS_1984, which is the dataset's existing coordinate system.

o Into should be automatically set to GCS_North_American_1983.


4-23

This is the GCS of the data frame and the one you are trying to match.

You should never have to change the GCS listed in the Into box on this dialogbox.

p For Using, choose NAD_1983_To_WGS_1984_5 from the drop-down.

q Click OK on this dialog box, then click Close on the other dialog box.

LESSON 4

4-24

The data is added to the map, and it aligns with the other two datasets.

As long as a dataset contains a valid GCS, ArcMap can use a geographic transformation toconvert it to match another GCS.

Step 4: Identify a dataset with an unknown coordinate system

When a dataset has an unknown coordinate system, ArcMap doesn't have a valid referencesystem from which to begin. You will look at an example of this next.

a Right-click WilsonLots.shp and choose Properties.

18. In the Shapefile Properties dialog box, what is listed as the current coordinate system?

______________________________________________________________________________

Seeing the current coordinate system listed as Unknown means that the dataset does not haveany associated information defining where its features should be plotted on the surface of theEarth. The file is unusable without this information. Determining the coordinate system may takesome research; once you know what it should be, you can define it and make the file usable again.

b Click Cancel to close the Shapefile Properties dialog box.

Next, you will see what happens if you don't define the coordinate system.


4-25

c Add WilsonLots.shp to the map.

You get an Unknown Spatial Reference warning that explains that the data can be drawn inArcMap, but it cannot be projected on the fly to match the other datasets. This message isreturned for all data types that can be added to ArcMap, including geodatabase feature classes,shapefiles, coverages and CAD data, and supported raster or image formats (which do not have aspatial reference).

The terms coordinate system and spatial reference system can be used interchangeably.Generally, in ArcGIS, when you use a spatial reference system, this encompasses both thegeographic and projected coordinate systems.

Do not check the "Don't warn me again" boxes at the bottom of the dialog box.These warnings help alert you to problems in your data that, if left uncorrected, canseriously compromise the success of your project.

LESSON 4

4-26

d Click OK.

The WilsonLots layer now displays in the table of contents but doesn't draw in your map.

e In the table of contents, right-click the WilsonLots layer and choose Zoom To Layer.

Now you can see the layer in the map, but where did the other layers go?


4-27

f On the Tools toolbar, click the Full Extent button .

The WilsonLots layer draws very far away from the rest of the layers.

g Right-click the WilsonLots layer and choose Remove.

h Right-click the WilsonCrimes layer and choose Zoom To Layer.

LESSON 4

4-28

Before you can use WilsonLots, you need to define its spatial reference. You will do that in thenext step.

Step 5: Assign a coordinate system to a dataset without a spatial reference

a At the bottom of the Catalog window, click the Search tab to access the Search window. (Ifyou don't see the tab, on the Standard toolbar, click the Search button .)

b In the input field, type unknown coordinate system and press Enter on your keyboard.

When searching for a tool, you can search by name or function. You can also click Maps,Data, or Tools to narrow your search to include only results of that type.

Results returned in the Search window include three links: one blue, one black, and one green.The line of blue text is the name, which in this case is the name of a tool. Clicking the blue textwill open the tool. Clicking the black text will open the item's description. Clicking the green textwill open the location where the tool is stored in ArcToolbox, the user interface for accessing andorganizing ArcGIS tools.

c In the list of results, click Define Projection (Data Management) to open this tool.

d Click Show Help in the lower-right corner of the tool dialog box.


4-29

e Complete the following based on the information provided in the help panel.

19. This tool ___________ the coordinate system information (map projection and datum) stored

with a dataset.

20. The only use for this tool is for datasets that have an ________ or __________ coordinate

system defined.

The Define Projection tool permanently changes the coordinate system metadata for an existingdataset.

f In the Define Projection tool dialog box, for Input Dataset or Feature Class, click the Browsebutton .

g Navigate to C:\Student\ARC1\WilsonNC, click WilsonLots.shp, then click Add.

After doing some research, you were able to determine that this file is supposed to be in WGS1984 UTM Zone 18N.

h In the Define Projection dialog box, for Coordinate System, click the Spatial ReferenceProperties button .

i In the Spatial Reference Properties dialog box, click the XY Coordinate System tab.

j Expand Projected Coordinate System.

k Now expand UTM, and then expand WGS 1984.

LESSON 4

4-30

l Expand Northern Hemisphere, then scroll down until you see WGS 1984 UTM Zone 18N.

m Click WGS 1984 UTM Zone 18N, then click OK.

n In the Define Projection dialog box, click OK to run the tool.

A progress window displays, notifying you that the tool has completed.

For the purposes of this course, you will not need to review the contents of the progress window.

o Check the box for Close this dialog when completed successfully.


4-31

Once the Define Projection tool has finished processing, the WilsonLots layer is added to thetable of contents, and it displays in the map alongside the other layers.

p If necessary, in the table of contents, click and drag Wilson_Recareas to the bottom of the list.

The Define Projection tool changes the spatial reference information stored inthe metadata. It permanently alters the existing file, but it does not change oralter the XY coordinate values. Instead it only changes the information thatdefines the correct location of those XY coordinate pairs. You should only usethe Define Projection tool to define the coordinate system for a dataset that ismissing its spatial reference, and only when you have been able to accuratelydetermine the correct coordinate system.

Now that this layer has a defined coordinate system, ArcMap is able to project it on the fly anddisplay it with your other data.

Remember, however, that projecting your data on the fly doesn't actually change the coordinatesystem definition for the source data. It simply temporarily calculates the values to match the dataframe's coordinate system. To permanently change a dataset's coordinate system, you will needto reproject it using the Project tool. You will do that in the next step.

LESSON 4

4-32

Step 6: Change the coordinate system for a dataset

a If necessary, open the Search window.

Hint: Click the tab at the bottom of the Catalog window, or, on the Standard toolbar, clickthe Search button .

b In the input field, type project, then press Enter on your keyboard.

Your results may vary slightly from what is shown in the following graphic.

c In the list of results, click Project (Data Management) to open the Project tool.

d Click the Catalog tab at the bottom of the Search window to display the Catalog window.

Hint: If you don't see the Catalog tab, click the Catalog window button on the Standardtoolbar.

e From the WilsonNC folder, click and drag WilsonLots.shp into the Input Dataset or FeatureClass field of the Project tool.

The Input Coordinate System field lists WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_18N because this is thecoordinate system that you defined for this dataset in the previous step.


4-33

f For Output Dataset or Feature Class, click the Browse button .

g In the Output Dataset or Feature Class dialog box, navigate to C:\Student\ARC1\WilsonNC.

h For Name, type WilsonLots2.shp.

Output names cannot have spaces or special characters.

i Click Save.

The Project tool creates a new dataset with the specified coordinate system. The original datasetremains in its current coordinate system.

j For Output Coordinate System, click the Spatial Reference Properties button .

k In the Spatial Reference Properties dialog box, expand Projected Coordinate Systems > StatePlane > NAD 1983 (US Feet).

LESSON 4

4-34

l Scroll down and click NAD 1983 StatePlane North Carolina FIPS 3200 (US Feet).

m Click OK.

n In the Project dialog box, click OK to run the tool.

When the tool is finished processing, it adds the data to the map.


4-35

For display purposes, the WilsonLots and WilsonLots2 layers are the same. The data theyreference, however, has different coordinate system definitions.

If you are going to do anything more with your data than simply display it together(for example, if you are going to be performing analysis of some kind), you shouldproject all the data into the same coordinate system.

As you might recall, the WilsonCrimes dataset was also in a different PCS. You could project itusing this same process.

o If you would like, continue exploring the properties of the other datasets within the WilsonNCfolder on your own. When you are finished, from the File menu, choose Exit.

p When prompted to save the map, choose No.

LESSON 4

4-36

Three key concepts

On-the-fly projection

• Defined by the first layer added.• Can be changed by the user.

• Native coordinate system of the data is not changed.

• Every feature class has a native coordinate system.• Every data frame also has a coordinate system.

• Every subsequent layer added is projected (on the fly) to matchthe coordinate system of the data frame.

Geographic transformation

• Refer to the C:\Program Files(x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.1\Documentation\geographic_transformations.pdf documentfor guidance.

• Creates a new feature class with a new native coordinatesystem; the original feature class and coordinate system arepreserved.

• On-the-fly projection works when all the layers added to a dataframe have the same underlying geographic coordinate system.

• When a layer with a different geographic coordinate system isadded, ArcMap may generate a warning message.

• If the message is ignored, ArcMap will try to project the data,but the alignment may be imperfect.

• Choose an appropriate geographic transformation to preventalignment problems.

• Use the Project tool to convert one geographic coordinatesystem into another.

Unknown coordinate system

• Adds information identifying the coordinate system tothe existing feature class; doesn't create a new featureclass.

• Used to update missing or incorrect coordinate systeminformation.

1. Determine the correct coordinate system.2. Identify the coordinate system with the Define Projection

tool.

• On-the-fly projection works when a layer's coordinate system isknown.

• When you add a layer with an unknown coordinate system,ArcMap cannot project it; the result may be gross misalignment.

• Fix this problem by defining the coordinate system.


4-37

Lesson review

1. Some coordinate systems preserve all four properties, while others distort one or more.

a. True

b. False

2. Coordinate systems that are based on a 3-D spherical model of the earth are called

___________ coordinate systems. The values in this type of coordinate system are usually

_________ and __________.

3. You open a map document to find that the layers do not line up properly. What might thisindicate?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

4. __________ coordinate systems are based on a flat, 2-D surface. The units for these

coordinate systems are generally _____ or _______.

5. You are creating a map that will be used to subdivide various lots throughout the city.Which spatial property should your map projection preserve?

a. Shape

b. Area

c. Distance

d. Direction

6. If you were mapping a flight from Toronto, Canada to Barrow, Alaska, which type ofprojection could you use to determine how far the plane would need to fly?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

LESSON 4

4-38


What is location? (page 4-2)

1. Which of the locations listed in the previous graphic are considered relative locations?

Any location that describes the location of a place based on its relative position to anyother place. Based on this example, East of Los Angeles, Near Riverside, Off InterstateHwy 10, In the desert, and Southern California would all be relative locations.

2. Which of the locations listed in the previous graphic are considered absolute locations?

The absolute locations include those that refer to an accepted reference system fordescribing locations on the surface of the earth. In this example, the absolutelocations include those in latitude and longitude coordinates:

Decimal Degrees: -117.195646, 34.056397

Degrees Minutes Seconds: 117 11' 44.32" W, 34 3' 23.02" N

UTM Zone 11, FIPS 06, and the street address and ZIP Code would also be consideredabsolute locations.

Exercise 4: Work with coordinate systems (page 4-13)

1. What is the coordinate system for this data?

NAD_1983_StatePlane_North_Carolina_FIPS_3200_Feet.


This is a projected coordinate system.

There are a number of ways to tell from within this dialog box. For example, in theCurrent coordinate system box at the bottom, a projection is listed. Projections arecomponents of a projected coordinate system and do not exist as part of ageographic coordinate system. The name of this coordinate system includes StatePlane, which indicates that this coordinate system is based on a planar surface,indicating that it is a projected coordinate system. Also, in the upper portion of thedialog box, if you scroll up, you will see that this coordinate system is included withinthe Projected Coordinate Systems folder.


4-39

3. If you answered that the coordinate system is a projected coordinate system, whichprojection is associated with this PCS?

The projection is listed as Lambert Conformal Conic.

4. Which property is preserved by this projection? (Hint: Look at the table on page 4-11.)

This projection is conformal, so it preserves shape.

5. What is the current coordinate system listed for the Layers data frame?

No coordinate system is listed.

6. What is the data frame's coordinate system?

The data frame's coordinate system isNAD_1983_StatePlane_North_Carolina_FIPS_3200_Feet, Lambert Conformal Conic.


GCS_North_American_1983.

8. Is this dataset in a geographic or projected coordinate system?

This dataset is in a geographic coordinate system; no projected coordinate system islisted for this dataset.

9. How does this dataset's geographic coordinate system compare with the geographiccoordinate system assigned to the Schools feature class?

They both have NAD 83 as the geographic coordinate system, but Schools also has aprojected coordinate system.

10. If you added the Wilson_Recareas shapefile to your map, would you expect it to aligncorrectly with the Schools layer?

Since Wilson_Recareas.shp isn't projected, you may not expect it to align. However, aslong as data has a defined GCS and that GCS matches the data frame's, ArcMap canperform the mathematical calculations necessary to align it to match the data frame'sspatial reference even if one layer is projected and the other is not.


WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_18N.

LESSON 4

4-40


This is a projected coordinate system. There are a number of ways to tell from withinthis dialog box. For example, in the Current coordinate system box at the bottom, aprojection (i.e., Transverse Mercator) is listed. Projections are components of aprojected coordinate system and do not exist as part of a geographic coordinatesystem. Also, in the upper portion of the dialog box, if you scroll up, you will see thatthis coordinate system is listed under Projected.

13. Is the geographic coordinate system the same for this file as it was for the other twodatasets you looked at?

No, the geographic coordinate system for this file is set to WGS 1984. The other twofiles used NAD 83.

14. Is the projected coordinate system the same?

No. The projected coordinate system is UTM Zone 18N.

15. How does this dataset's coordinate system compare with the coordinate system assignedto the Schools feature class and the Wilson_Recareas.shp?

The projected coordinate system is based on a different geographic coordinatesystem. Both of the previous files were based on NAD 83, but this one is based onWGS 84.

16. If you added this shapefile to your map, would you expect it to align correctly with theother two layers?

Since this dataset is based on a different geographic coordinate system, it has adifferent datum and spheroid definition, so you may not expect it to align.

17. Which transformation is likely the most appropriate?

Because the datasets you are working with are in Wilson, North Carolina, in the UnitedStates, you can rule out the NAD_1983_To_WGS_1984 transformations that are listedfor Canada, Alaska, and Hawai'i. That leaves you with two to choose from:NAD_1983_To_WGS_1984_4 and NAD_1983_To_WGS_1984_5.

18. In the Shapefile Properties dialog box, what is listed as the current coordinate system?

The current coordinate system is listed as Unknown.


4-41

19. This tool overwrites the coordinate system information (map projection and datum) storedwith a dataset.

20. The only use for this tool is for datasets that have an unknown or incorrect coordinatesystem defined.

LESSON 4

4-42

Acquiring and selecting GISdata

Introduction

Data is a critical component of a GIS. Without data, a GIS is useless,but with the wrong data, it can be just as ineffective. Once you havedetermined the question you are trying to answer or the problem youhope to solve with your GIS, you need to locate and evaluate the datayou need to support your endeavor.

Topics covered

• Methods of obtaining GIS data• Considerations for choosing data

Learning objectives


• Describe potential resources for GIS data.• Locate and select appropriate GIS data.• Organize data in a geodatabase.

5

global positioningsystem (GPS)

large-scale

layer package

scale

small-scale

Key terms

Acquiring and selecting GIS data

5-1

Methods for obtaining GIS data

Where does your organization's data come from?

There are three ways to obtain geographic data:

• Create it• Purchase it• Download it for free

There are many ways to create data. You can scan in an existing mapor download an aerial photograph and digitize (i.e., trace) the featuresin the map or image. You can collect data using a mobile or globalpositioning system (GPS) device or field surveying equipment. Youcould conduct surveys or interviews and then manually enter that datainto a database (a typical workflow for collecting census anddemographic data). You can even turn stand-alone tables intogeographic data if they have locational attributes, such as XYcoordinates or addresses, a technique you saw earlier in this course.

Figure 5.1

There are many sources

for creating or obtaining

GIS data. People use a

variety of methods to

gather data in the field

and then post or share

that data with others.

Before creating data manually, visit the public and private datavendors that have data that is readily available online. Data can beexpensive to produce on your own, and, in some cases, expensive topurchase, but there are many organizations that will readily share theirdata at little or no cost to you.

LESSON 5

5-2

Accessing GIS data

Getting data from Esri

ArcGIS Online contains a variety of data files for public use, and manyEsri software products also come with free data you can use in yourwork. To learn more about the data available through Esri, visit theEsri Data page at www.esri.com/data/find-data.html.

Getting data from other organizations

There are a number of other private, commercial data sources thatcollect, process, repackage, and distribute GIS data. Local, state, andfederal government agencies are also major suppliers of GIS data. Forexample, publicly available data can be collected from organizationslike the Bureau of the Census, the United States Geological Society(USGS), NASA, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA), as well as state and local organizations.

To learn more about publicly available U.S. data, visit theGeoData.gov website at http://geo.data.gov/geoportal. Thiswebsite is managed by the United Stated Government for the expresspurpose of improving access to Federal data.

To learn more about publicly available international data, visit theGeoCommunity website at www.geocomm.com, another GIS portalsite that helps to foster the free and open exchange of geospatialinformation, including information for many different countries acrossthe globe.

When purchasing, downloading, or otherwise collecting datafrom any organization (public or private), it is important tocheck on restrictions that might apply to the use of that data.In some cases, copyright and licensing restrictions may limitthe use and redistribution of the information.


5-3

Considerations for choosing GIS data

Even when you find the data you need, it may not be right for yourproject. Before you use a dataset you've found, you shouldinvestigate it to be certain it actually meets your needs.

Figure 5.2

This simplified flowchart

lists the kinds of questions

you might ask when

evaluating data for your

project.

The following should be considered when evaluating data.

Format

If the data you find isn't in a format ArcGIS can read, you will have todetermine whether or not you can convert it. Even if conversion ispossible, you may not have the tools to do the job, or it may not beworth the time and effort you would spend to do it.

ArcGIS 10.1 Help Library:

About geographic data

formats

Spatial reference

GIS data must have defined coordinate system to be used in ameaningful way. Remember, ArcGIS will allow you to add data with anundefined coordinate system to your map, but it will not necessarilydraw in the right coordinate space. Furthermore, any measurementsor analysis you perform with that data will be flawed at best. If youfind data that isn't in the coordinate system or the projection yourequire, you can transform or project it as long as it's properly definedin the first place.

LESSON 5

5-4

Source

Not all data is created equal. Some data may be from well-known,reputable organizations, while other data may be from lesser-knownagencies. When you are unfamiliar with the organization that createdthe data or when the origin cannot be readily determined, you shouldconsider using alternative data from a reliable source.

Metadata

Metadata provides information about the content, quality, condition,and other characteristics of data. In part, it describes how thegeospatial and attribute data was collected and processed into itsfinal form, which may help you decide whether it can be used in youranalysis.

Attributes

Depending on the purpose of your project, you may need to ensurethat certain attributes are present in the data you use. For example, ifyou are mapping the number of vacant lots in a city, you will needpolygon data that includes an attribute that identifies whether a lot isvacant or not. In some cases, you can add attributes with informationderived from alternate sources.

Currency

Some of the features and phenomenon mapped with GIS, such aspolitical boundaries, may change slowly or relatively little over time,while others, such as weather, change much more frequently. Usingdata that is outdated will invalidate your map or analysis results, so itis critical to use data that is accurate and relevant for the time periodyou want to map.

Scale

Features on a map are smaller than the part of the world theyrepresent; how much smaller depends on the scale of the data. Scaleis the ratio or relationship between a distance or area on a map andthe corresponding distance or area on the ground. It is commonlyexpressed as a ratio or fraction, such as 1:24,000 or 1/24,000 whichmeans one unit of measure on the map equals 24,000 of the sameunit on earth. When discussing scale, you may hear the termssmall-scale and large-scale.


5-5

Small-scale data is designed to draw features as smaller and lessdetailed; large-scale data draws features as larger and more detailed.

Figure 5.3

In the example on the left,

the airport is drawn as a

point in the small-scale

map. On the right, it is

drawn as a polygon in the

large-scale map.

If you are creating a small-scale map, data that is designed for a largerscale may not be appropriate or useable, and vice versa. Mixing dataof differing scales in the same map can lead to erroneous orinaccurate results. Using data that was created at drastically differentscales in the same map may also result in data alignment issuessimilar to those you would encounter with data in differentgeographic coordinate systems.

When necessary, you can use data with different scalestogether, but the scale you use for your map should be nosmaller than the smallest scale used in your data.

Use constraints

Access and use constraints, credits, and copyright information areusually defined by the organization responsible for creating anddistributing the data as a way to control how that data is repurposedby other organizations. It is important to note whether or not thisinformation restricts the use of the data for particular purposes,whether it requires that the source be given credit, and so forth. It isoften preferable to use data that explicitly states that there are little tono use limitations.

LESSON 5

5-6

Evaluating GIS data

Before you begin a GIS project, you need to be sure you have thedata you need. The first step in determining the data you need isdetermining the question you need to answer or the problem youwant to solve.

Once you know the question you need to answer:

• Think about the datasets you need to map the features orphenomenon involved.

• Consider the data model each would likely use and the featuresyou want to display in your map.

• Examine the metadata to determine whether the data has anyuse constraints, a defined spatial reference, an appropriatescale, and the necessary attributes.


5-7

35 minutes Exercise 5: Gather and evaluate GIS data

The National Hurricane Center in Florida is working with Lee County,Florida, to perform a hurricane storm surge simulation study.Specifically, they are planning to analyze the effects of a Category 3hurricane storm surge inundation on certain vulnerable facilities(schools, hospitals, day care centers, and nursing homes) in thecounty. The results of their analysis will help focus emergencyresponse initiatives for those facilities. The primary question they wantto answer is, "Which vulnerable facilities are at greatest risk from aCategory 3 storm surge inundation in Lee County?"

In this exercise, you will help gather and evaluate the data requiredfor this project. You will begin by surveying the data you have todetermine whether it includes the data you need and whether it issuitable for the project. You will then organize the data in a newgeodatabase that you will create, preparing it for use in a later lesson.


• Determine the data required for the project.• Evaluate existing data from your organization.• Add data from other sources.• Combine data in a single geodatabase.


5-9

Step 1: Consider the data you need

Think about the data might you need to answer the question, "Where are the facilities at greatestrisk from a Category 3 storm surge inundation in Lee County?".

First, you would need data that shows where the storm surge inundation would be for a Category3 hurricane. You would then need data that represents the boundary of Lee County. You wouldalso need data mapping the locations of hospitals, schools, day care centers, and nursing homes.

Most maps also require some kind of reference layers that help provide a visual context orbackground. For example, you may want to include data that shows the infrastructure in the area,including major highways and roads, as these will likely be used as evacuation routes. You couldadd reference layers like this as separate layers, or you could use a basemap.

Can you think of other data you might need?

Step 2: Examine the data you have

a Start ArcMap and, if necessary, open the Catalog window.

b Expand Folder Connections, then expand the C:\Student\ARC1 connection.

c Expand the Florida folder and the FloridaData geodatabase.

d Browse through the contents of the Florida folder and the FloridaData geodatabase to quicklysurvey the data you already have.

LESSON 5

5-10

1. Of the data you need, what do you already have?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. Of the data you need, what do you not have?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Hopefully you identified that you already have data for hospitals, schools, day care centers, andnursing homes; however, you don't have any data that identifies Florida counties, and you don'thave any data identifying storm surge inundation zones. For the Florida county data, imagine thatyou sent an e-mail to a colleague who you believe will be able to help. For the storm surge areas,imagine that you contacted the National Hurricane Center and are waiting on a return phone callto let you know whether or not the data can be made available.

While you are waiting, you will continue to go through the data you have.

e Open the item description for the datasets you have (i.e., the data for nursing homes, day carecenters, schools, and hospitals) and evaluate each dataset based on the considerationsintroduced earlier (e.g., examine the spatial reference information, the scale, the attributes).

3. Complete the following table. Considerations for the first dataset have been filled out foryou.


5-11

Considerations FL_Hospitals FloridaSchools FL_DayCareCenters.shp

FL_NursingHomes.shp

Format Feature class

Coordinatesystem

Albers Conical EqualArea

Source Florida Division ofEmergency Management

Metadata Yes

Attributes Yes

Current Yes

Scale 1:50000 - 1:5000000

Useconstraints

OK to use

4. Will each of these datasets likely work for your analysis?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Step 3: Add data from ArcGIS Online

An e-mail response just came in from your colleague. He has county data for the entire state ofFlorida. To easily provide you with a copy of his data, your colleague is going to take advantageof ArcGIS Online. He is going to package the county data as a layer package and then upload itto ArcGIS Online. You will then be able to log in to ArcGIS Online and download this layerpackage.

A layer package (<FileName>.lpk) is a special file that includes both the layer properties and acopy of the data. Creating a layer package lets you save and share everything about the layer—its

LESSON 5

5-12

symbolization, labeling, field properties, and the data. You can add layer packages directly intoyour maps without needing to know how to access the database or symbolize the data.

Up until now, you have seen and worked with ArcGIS Online's ability to create web maps;however, that is not the only thing you can do with ArcGIS Online. You can share your maps, data,and applications; you can also locate relevant and useful basemaps and data that others havecreated and shared. In this step, you will see how to locate content stored in ArcGIS Online frominside of ArcMap.

a In ArcMap, on the Standard toolbar, click the drop-down arrow next to the Add Data button, then choose Add Data From ArcGIS Online.

b In the ArcGIS Online Search dialog box, type FL_Counties and press Enter on your keyboard.

c In the FL_Counties box, click Add.


5-13

If you are unable to access this file using ArcGIS Online, you can add FL_Counties.lpk toyour map document from the C:\Student\ARC1\OnlineFiles folder.

Now you have the county boundary you needed, but you still need the storm surge data.

Step 4: Add data from another organization

Just in time, an e-mail from the National Hurricane Center has arrived. Attached is a zipped datafile of storm surge polygons (StormSurge.zip).

You have already saved the file to your C:\Student\ARC1\Florida folder.

a In ArcMap's Catalog window, right-click the Florida folder and click Refresh.

Why don't you see the StormSurge.zip file?

The new file is a zipped data file. ArcMap's Catalog window is designed to allow you to manageGIS files, but it doesn't automatically recognize various non-GIS files, such as those with a .zipextension. You will have to unzip this file before you can see the data in ArcGIS.

LESSON 5

5-14

b Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Student\ARC1\Florida.

With the exception of a few files (LYR files), the files in your Florida folder may not look familiar toyou. The icons are different, and each shapefile is now listed as a number of separate files.

c Open the FloridaData.gdb folder.


5-15

As you can see, many GIS files are actually a collection of various files. When viewed in ArcGIS,each displays as a single file to make it easier to identify and manage them.

Use ArcGIS to manage your GIS data files. Moving, deleting, or otherwise managingyour GIS datasets in any other file management system, such as Windows Explorer,may result in lost or corrupt data.

d At the top of the Windows Explorer window, click the Back button to return to the Floridafolder.

e Scroll down until you locate the StormSurge.zip file.

LESSON 5

5-16

f Right-click the file and choose Open.

The 7-Zip File Manager opens and lists the contents of the zipped file.

g At the top of the window, click Extract.

h In the Copy dialog box, make sure the Copy to path is set to C:\Student\ARC1\Florida\.


5-17

i Click OK.

j Close the 7-Zip and Windows Explorer windows and return to ArcMap.

k In the ArcMap Catalog window, right-click Florida and click Refresh.

The Storm Surge shapefiles are now visible in ArcMap.

Step 5: Transfer files from one geodatabase to another

In this step, you will create the geodatabase in which you will store the data for this project.

LESSON 5

5-18

a In the Catalog window, right-click the Florida folder and click New > File Geodatabase.

A new, empty geodatabase is created with the name of New File Geodatabase.

b Notice that New File Geodatabase.gdb is highlighted and ready for you to rename.

Hint: If it is not ready to rename, right-click the new file geodatabase and choose Rename.

c Rename New File Geodatabase to StormSurge.gdb.

The StormSurge geodatabase is ready to be populated with data.

You will start by copying the FL_Hospitals from the FloridaData.gdb to the StormSurgegeodatabase.

d Expand the FloridaData geodatabase.

e Right-click FL_Hospitals feature class and choose Copy.


5-19

f Right-click the StormSurge geodatabase and choose Paste.

g In the Data Transfer dialog box, click OK.

h Once the data transfer process is complete, expand the StormSurge geodatabase.

It now contains a copy of the FL_Hospitals feature class.

You could use this same process to copy FloridaSchools into the new geodatabase, but you willuse a different method.

i In the FloridaData geodatabase, right-click the FloridaSchools feature class and chooseExport.

Notice that you have several options. You could export a single file to a geodatabase, multiplefiles to a geodatabase, or feature classes to shapefiles.

j Choose To Geodatabase (single).

k In the Feature Class to Feature Class dialog box, for Output Location, click the Browse button.

l Navigate to the C:\Student\ARC1\Florida folder.

m Click StormSurge.gdb to select it, then click Add.

LESSON 5

5-20

n In the Output Feature Class box, type FL_Schools.

o Click OK to run this tool.

Now both of the feature classes are in the new geodatabase. ArcMap also automatically adds thenew layer to the map.

Like the method you used to copy and paste the FL_Hospitals feature class, this process simplycopied the files from one location to the other. Neither process deleted the files from theiroriginal location.

Next you will use a different method to get shapefiles into your new geodatabase.

Step 6: Import shapefiles into the geodatabase

a Right-click the StormSurge geodatabase and choose Import > Feature Class (multiple).

The Feature Class to Geodatabase (multiple) dialog box opens.

You are importing shapefiles, but shapefiles are simply non-geodatabase feature classes, so thistool is valid.


5-21

b Click and drag the Cat3.shp file from the Catalog window into the middle of the Feature Classto Geodatabase (multiple) dialog box.

c Repeat this process until you have added the other two shapefiles from the Catalog tree:

• FL_NursingHome.shp• FL_DayCareCenters.shp

Notice that the output geodatabase has been set for you because you initiated the importprocess from the StormSurge geodatabase.

d Click OK to run the tool.

e If necessary, expand the StormSurge geodatabase.

These three shapefiles are now feature classes in your StormSurge geodatabase.

LESSON 5

5-22

Step 7: Export select features from a file to a geodatabase

Earlier, you added the county data from ArcGIS Online to your map document, but adding datato your map this way doesn't save the file to your geodatabase. To get the data into yourgeodatabase, you will export it from the table of contents.

For this particular project, you don't need all the counties in Florida, so you will select and exportonly Lee County and the counties adjacent to it.

Next you will use a tool to select features in your data based on their attributes.

a If necessary, uncheck the box for the FL_Schools layer to turn it off in the map display.

b From the Selection menu, choose Select By Attributes.

c In the Select By Attributes dialog box, for Layer, choose FL_Counties from the drop-down list.

This is the layer from which you will be selecting features.

d Make sure Method is set to Create a new selection.

The box below Method lists the field names in this layer's attribute table.

You will be selecting a feature (the one that represents Lee County) in the FL_Counties layerbased on its attribute value in the Name field.

e Double-click "Name" to add it to the expression in the box below.

f Click the equals sign .

g Click Get Unique Values.

Clicking Unique Values allows you to see a list of all the values in the field you have selected,which, in this case, is the Name field.

h In the list of county names, scroll down and double-click 'Lee'.


5-23

The query expression should now read "Name" = 'Lee'.

i Click Verify.

Clicking Verify validates your query expression, prompting ArcMap to alert you if there is aproblem with the syntax of your query or if your query will return no results.

LESSON 5

5-24

j On the Verifying expression dialog box, click OK, then click OK on the Select By Attributesdialog box to create the selection.

Now that you have Lee County selected, you will use another method to select the counties thatsurround it.

5. Will this selection be based on spatial or attribute information?

______________________________________________________________________________

So far in this step, you have selected a feature based on a particular attribute value. Next you willuse a tool available in ArcMap to select features in your data based on their location.

k From the Selection menu, choose Select By Location.

l In the Select By Location dialog box, set the Selection method to add to the currently selectedfeatures in.

This option will add the features you are selecting (i.e., counties next to Lee) to the single featureyou currently have selected (i.e., Lee County).

m For Target layer, check the box for FL_Counties.

This is the layer from which you want to select features.


5-25

n Make sure Source layer is also set to FL_Counties.

This is the layer you want to use to search for the features. In this case, it happens to be the sameas your target layer.

o For Spatial selection method for target layer features, choose intersect the source layerfeature.

This describes the spatial relationship between the features in your target layer and the features inyour source layer.

p Make sure to uncheck the option to apply a search distance.

LESSON 5

5-26

q Click OK.

r Now that you have the counties you are interested in selected, right-click the FL_Countieslayer in the table of contents and choose Data > Export Data.

s In the Export Data dialog box:

• For Export, choose Selected features.• Choose to use the same coordinate system as this layer's source data.• For Output feature class, click the Browse button .


5-27

t In the Saving Data dialog box:

• Navigate to Folder Connections > C:\Student\ARC1\Florida\StormSurge.gdb.• For Name, type LeeCounties.

u Click Save.

v Click OK to run the Export Data tool.

w When prompted to add the exported data to the map as a layer, click Yes.

LESSON 5

5-28

x In the table of contents, uncheck the box for the FL_Counties layer to turn it off in the mapdisplay.

Now the only counties that draw are Lee and its surrounding counties.

Your geodatabase is now populated with the data you need for your Category 3 hurricane stormsurge analysis.

y From the File menu, choose Exit.

z When prompted to save the map, choose No.


5-29

Lesson review

1. This lesson introduced eight important considerations when evaluating data. List all eight.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. When evaluating data for a project, which of the following considerations allows you todetermine whether the data can be redistributed?

a. The source of the data

b. The use constraints

c. The format in which the data is stored

d. The spatial reference information

3. Which of the following methods can you use to get data into a geodatabase?

a. Copy/paste it from one geodatabase to another

b. Import it into the geodatabase

c. Export it from another location

d. All of the above

LESSON 5

5-30


Exercise 5: Gather and evaluate GIS data (page 5-9)

1. Of the data you need, what do you already have?

In the Florida folder, you see a point shapefile for nursing homes(FL_NursingHomes.shp) and one for day care centers (FL_DayCareCenters.shp). In theFloridaData geodatabase, you see a point feature class for schools and one forhospitals.

2. Of the data you need, what do you not have?

You see various Florida datasets, but you don't see any data that represents thecounties of Florida, so you will need to find another source for that. There is ashapefile called hcane.shp and a feature class called FL_HistHurr, but those filescontain the paths of hurricanes, not the storm surge inundation that often followsthese massive storms. You also have a data file called FL_CEMMGT, which representscoastal flooding, but it isn't the specific Category 3 hurricane storm surge data thatthe agency asked for. You still need storm surge inundation data for Florida,specifically for Lee County.


5-31

3. Complete the following table. Considerations for the first dataset have been filled out foryou.

Considerations FL_Hospitals FloridaSchools FL_DayCareCenters.shp

FL_NursingHomes.shp

Format Feature class Feature class Shapefile Shapefile

Coordinatesystem

Albers Conical EqualArea

Albers ConicalEqual Area

AlbersConicalEqual Area

AlbersConicalEqual Area

Source Florida Division ofEmergencyManagement

FloridaGeographicData Library

FloridaDepartmentof ChildrenandFamilies

Esri

Metadata Yes Yes Yes Yes

Attributes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Current Yes Yes Yes Yes

Scale 1:50000 - 1:5000000 1:50000 -1:5000000

1:50000 -1:5000000

1:50000 -1:5000000

Useconstraints

OK to use OK to use OK to use OK to use

4. Will each of these datasets likely work for your analysis?

Each of these datasets will likely work for the analysis because they each have adefined spatial reference, and they are in a format ArcMap can read. They also appearto be in an appropriate scale and have the attributes you would need.

5. Will this selection be based on spatial or attribute information?

This selection will be based on spatial information associated with the FL_Countieslayer.

LESSON 5

5-32

Using ArcGIS Online resources

Introduction

ArcGIS Online contains hundreds of thousands of items—maps,applications, tools, and data—published by the GIS community,including Esri and local governments and agencies around the world.You can use this content to create maps and embed them in your ownsites, to download tools and data, and to develop your ownapplications. You can access ArcGIS Online resources from allcomponents of the ArcGIS system, including Desktop, mobile, andweb applications.

Topics covered

• Accessing content through ArcGIS Online• GIS services and web maps• Web mapping applications• Mobile applications

Learning objectives


• Describe the difference between a web map, a GIS service, aweb application, and a mobile application.

• Access and use a web application on ArcGIS Online.• Access and use a template on ArcGIS Online.

6

GIS service

mobile application

web map

web mappingapplication

Key terms


6-1

What are GIS services and web maps?

A GIS service represents a GIS resource—such as a map, a raster datafile, or a geodatabase connection—that is located on a server and ismade available to clients like ArcGIS for Desktop, ArcGIS ExplorerOnline, iPhone, and web browsers through a variety of devices. WithGIS services, the server stores the resource, hosts the service, anddoes the GIS work, sending back a result in a common format—suchas images or text—to the user.

Type ofGISservice

What it does

Mapservice

Allows access to the contents of a map on the server asthough the map were stored locally

Featureservice

Allows clients to execute queries to get features andperform edits that can be applied to the server

Geodataservice

Allows clients to access a geodatabase through a localarea network (LAN) or the Internet

Imageservice

Allows access to raster data on the server as though itwas stored locally

Table 6.1

Some of the most

common types of GIS

services.

A web map is a GIS map that is designed, implemented, generated,and delivered on the web. ArcGIS web maps are authored bychoosing a particular basemap and then adding data layers. Thesedata layers can be GIS services and data files.

LESSON 6

6-2

The following earthquake web map combines a number of GISservices:

• A World Streets basemap service from ArcGIS Online.• A population density map service for the world.• A real-time feed of recent seismic events and magnitudes

served by the U.S. Geological Survey.• A service that is used to generate a 100-mile polygon around a

selected seismic event and compute the affected populationcount in that polygon.

Figure 6.1

An example of a web map

that combines a number

of GIS services.

Web maps are hosted online by Esri. The people you share your webmaps with do not need any ArcGIS software; all they need is anInternet connection and a web browser.

Web maps are also very easy to create, and once they are created,they can just as easily be shared through existing websites, Facebookand Twitter accounts, in e-mails, through text messages, and instantmessages. You can even publish your own web mapping application.


6-3

What is a web mapping application?

A web application is an external website with its own URL and isgenerally developed for a targeted audience and purpose. Webmapping applications are typically used to provide website searchcapabilities, as well as to retrieve and display user information from aGIS database. They might be as simple as a map embedded in ablog, or they may be as complex as a GPS navigation application.

You can share your web map for others to see on ArcGIS Online, butyou might also want to create a web mapping application with yourown look and GIS functionality that you can deploy on yourorganization's web server. Applications are generally constructedfrom information in web maps, and they are supplemented withadditional application-specific capabilities. Esri provides templateapplications on ArcGIS Online that you can use to begin creating aweb application.

Figure 6.2

The Horn of Africa

(consisting of Eritrea,

Djibouti, Ethiopia, and

Somalia) has been

experiencing widespread

drought and famine. This

map shows at-risk areas

and pulls in social media

pertaining to this crisis.

You can change the search

terms for YouTube, Flickr,

and Twitter by clicking the

Social tab on the right.

LESSON 6

6-4

What is a mobile application?

A mobile application is a web mapping application that lets youview, collect, and update your geographic information on a mobiledevice (such as Tablet PCs, in-vehicle mounted systems, Windowssmartphones, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices). ArcGIS Onlineallows you to create and share your own mobile applications or todownload and use mobile applications that others have shared.

Figure 6.3

ArcGIS includes a series of

ready-to-use, configurable

mobile apps. These can

be configured through the

use of web maps. GIS

users author and share

web maps that can be

opened and used in any

ArcGIS client.

Mobile applications share a few common traits, including:

• Lightweight—designed to require and consume fewerresources, such as RAM and disk space.

• Connected or disconnected—allowing downloading maps andrelated geographic information onto devices for use in the field,then synchronizing updates collected in the field once aconnection is reestablished.

• Configurable using web maps—can encapsulate much of theinformation, tools, and user experience, requiring significantlyless custom development for deployment.

• Focused—generally targeted to the work of specific users anddesigned for simplicity and efficiency.

• Embedded—may be designed to embed GIS into a particulardevice (e.g., embedded into an in-vehicle system).


6-5

Tools and data from ArcGIS Online

Both data and tools can be used in web maps and web mappingapplications. They can also be stored, managed, and shared throughArcGIS Online. However, the supported types are limited incomparison to what you can use inside of ArcGIS for Desktop.

Data, such as boundary lines, schools, street centerlines, or customerlists, are stored and accessible through ArcGIS Online as either GISservices or files, such as a zipped shapefile or layer package (LPK).

Tools, on the other hand, are stored and accessible through ArcGISOnline as geoprocessing packages (GPK), locator packages (GCPK),or GIS services (either as a zipped geoprocessing sample or templateor as an add-in). Tools provide GIS functionality to a map orapplication, such as finding a place or accessing a geodatabase.

Figure 6.4

These search results

include a layer package, a

desktop application

template, and a map

service.

LESSON 6

6-6

Accessing content through ArcGIS Online

Once you are a part of the ArcGIS Online community, you haveaccess to thousands of free online maps, applications, data, and tools.The best way to find items depends on what you want to do. If youwant to quickly see what's available, use the gallery to browsefeatured items. If you have some idea of what you need, use thesearch function to enter keywords.

By default, ArcGIS Online is set to display only web content, or onlyitems you can open in your web browser or on a mobile device. If youare looking for layers you can use in ArcGIS for Desktop—such aslayer packages—you should set the site to All Content.

Figure 6.5

This shows the result of

typing "streets" into the

search. You see all of the

shared street maps and

applications. From here,

you could refine the

results by using the filters

on the page. For example,

to just see street web

maps, you could click

Maps on the left.

ArcGIS.com 10.1 Help

Library:

Finding and opening

content

You can also sort the results. For example, you could sort by highestrated. You could also use keywords, including advanced keywordsearches, to find what you're looking for. The more you know aboutwhat you are looking for, the more exact you can be in your search.

You can browse through the search results to identify potentiallyuseful items and get more detailed information. For many items, youcan also choose from a list of applications you can use to open theitem. The contents of this list depend on the item's format and howthe owner of the content created the item.


6-7

30 minutes Exercise 6: Explore maps, services, and data onArcGIS Online

Sharing maps and map content saves time and money fororganizations, and it's easily accomplished with ArcGIS. Part of thepower of sharing maps and data is the power of using or consumingthem. In this exercise, you will explore ArcGIS Online more closely,using various sorting/searching techniques to locate data, and using aweb application template to view a web map and compare data, aswell as examining a web mapping application.


• Search for web content.• Search for desktop content.• Use a template to compare the data in a web map.• Examine a web application.

Figure 6.6

Several Web Apps

available to users in

ArcGIS Online.


6-9

Step 1: Search ArcGIS Online for web content

a Open Internet Explorer and go to www.arcgis.com.

b In the upper-right corner, click Sign In.

c Sign in with your Esri global account.

d Click GALLERY to browse featured web maps and applications available from the Esri usercommunity.

By default, the list displays web maps.


LESSON 6

6-10

e Click Web Apps to display only web applications.

You will take a closer look at one of these web applications later in this exercise.


6-11

f Click Mobile Apps to see the featured mobile applications.

Notice that the links on the right allow you to sort the items listed by highest rated, most recent,and most viewed.

g Below Featured Maps and Apps, click Maps to return to the featured web maps.

LESSON 6

6-12

h Pause your mouse pointer over one of the web maps.

A box displays, with more information about that particular web map, including the number ofratings and how highly rated it is. Below the thumbnail, you also see an Open link and a Detailslink.


6-13

i Just below the thumbnail for that map, click Details.

Every item has a details page that can include a title, summary, thumbnail, description, owner,ratings and comments, last modified date, access and use constraints, size, credits, tags, andextent. The details page functions much like item descriptions in ArcGIS for Desktop. Some of thefields on the page are automatically collected by the website when an item is added (e.g., lastmodified date and size). Other fields are entered by the owner (e.g., tags and title). Some types ofcontent have additional details. For example, web maps have a Map Contents section that liststhe layers in the map. Notice that the page also includes a section for adding ratings andcomments and links to social media.

From within the ArcGIS Online website, you can open maps, data, and applications by clicking theOpen link underneath an item's thumbnail or by clicking the thumbnail itself. By default, the itemopens in the most appropriate application—web applications open in a web browser, web maps

LESSON 6

6-14

generally open in the ArcGIS Online map viewer, and layer packages open in ArcGIS for Desktop.If you want, you can override the default.

j Just below the thumbnail, click the drop-down arrow next to Open.

This list allows you to choose how you want to open the item. The first option listed is the defaultand is also the application that the owner used to create the item.

k Click GALLERY again.

While the gallery allows you to browse the featured items, you can also use the search function toquickly find maps or applications for a particular topic, area of interest, or industry, andimmediately use them in your work.


6-15

l Click the search input box in the upper right part of the window (where it says Find maps,applications and more) and type demographics. From the drop-down list that displays, chooseSearch for Maps.

The results returned include all web content with the word "demographics" as a keyword. This listof results is also filtered to just show map services and web maps since you clicked Search forMaps.

If you don't see what you are looking for or if the results are too numerous, you can continue torefine your keywords and search again.

LESSON 6

6-16

m In the search text box, just after demographics, type AND schools, then press Enter on yourkeyboard.

You now see a list of all demographic web maps and GIS services related to schools.

There are still plenty of results returned, but you can filter them to narrow your search further. Forexample, you can sort by date, rating, or owner.


6-17

n At the top of the results list, click Rating.

What is the highest rated demographic and schools map right now?

Just below the description, it says "by" followed by the owner's name.

o Click the owner's name to view to view a subset of their profile in a pop-up window.

Hint: If the user hasn't uploaded any information, close the user profile pop-up window andclick another map owner's name.

In the profile pop-up window, you have the ability to open the complete profile in anotherwindow (by clicking Profile), to see all the items they have contributed (by clicking Items), or to seewhich groups they are a member of (by clicking Groups).

LESSON 6

6-18

p In the user profile pop-up window, click Items.

How many items has this user contributed?

q Click the owner name again, then, in the user profile pop-up window, click Groups.

Is this user a member of any groups?

When a user contributes content, they can choose to Share that content with everyone or onlywith members of a group of which they are a member. When you choose to share an item onlywith members of a certain group, that item will only show up in the results for members of thatgroup.


6-19

r Click one of the groups listed.

Hint: If this user isn't a member of any groups, return to the gallery and try clicking anotheruser.

The results now list all web content contributed by members of that group and that are sharedwith everyone.

Step 2: Search ArcGIS Online for desktop content

By default, ArcGIS Online shows web content only, which includes web and mobile applications,as well as GIS services, web maps, and tools. If you are looking for content to add to an ArcGISapplication, such as ArcGIS for Desktop or ArcGIS Explorer Desktop, you will need to change thesetting to show all content.

a Click GALLERY.

LESSON 6

6-20

b In the upper-right corner of the browser, click the drop-down arrow next to Show: WebContent Only and click All Content.

ArcGIS Online retains this setting even if you are not signed in or if you close your browser.You can change the setting at any time. The setting only affects what is shown in searchresults, groups, and the gallery. It does not affect what you can add to the website.

All content includes all web content, along with ArcGIS for Desktop content such as layerpackages.

Now you will search for maps of tortoise habitats.


6-21

c Click in the search text box and type tortoise, then press Enter on your keyboard.

d If necessary, on the left, under Show, click All Results.

LESSON 6

6-22

Notice that the results now include more than just web maps. You may also see layer packages,mobile applications, and web mapping applications.

e Under the thumbnail for one of the layer packages, click the drop-down arrow next to Open.

1. What are the options available for opening layer packages?

______________________________________________________________________________

f Examine some of the other file types listed and the options available on the Open drop-downlist.

2. What are some of the other file types listed?

______________________________________________________________________________

Step 3: Use a web mapping application template

a Search for a web map named USA Demographics for Schools.

Hint: In the search input box, type the following:

type:web map USA Demographics for Schools

b Locate the USA Demographics for Schools web map by cfitzpatrick.

c Click the thumbnail to open this web map.


6-23

d When the map opens, click the Show Contents of Map button .

3. How many layers are in this map (not counting the basemap)?

______________________________________________________________________________

Such rich data deserves exploration of more than one layer at a time. You will examine the datausing a web mapping application template designed for comparing data.

e Above the map, click Share.

f In the Share dialog box, click Make a Web Application.

LESSON 6

6-24

g Find the Compare Maps template.

h Below the thumbnail for the Compare Maps template, click Publish > Preview.


6-25

A separate window opens, displaying three identical maps, side by side.

i Below the three panels, check the boxes next to Scale and Location to synchronize the maps.

j Zoom or pan one of the maps.

LESSON 6

6-26

Notice that the others also shift.

k Below the three panels, click Content to open the layer list and leave the left map unchanged.

l In the center map, click USA Population Density to turn off that layer, then click USAPopulation Change 2000-2010 to turn on that layer.


6-27

m In the map on the right, turn off the USA Population Density layer; scroll down until you seePercentage of US Population Aged Younger than 18 Years layer, then click it to turn it on.

The first layer that is turned on is the one you'll see in the map.

n Below the three panels, click the box for Legend to see the legend for the displayed layers ineach map.

o Do you notice any patterns shared by the three maps?

This web mapping application template allows you to compare data in a very powerful way,making it easier to recognize and distinguish coincident patterns across layers. Being able toidentify patterns in your data is an important part of applying GIS to solve problems in a broadrange of industries and applications.

p Close the window (tab) to return to ArcGIS Online.

q If necessary, close the Make a Web Application window.

Next, you will examine one of the many web mapping applications hosted by Esri.

LESSON 6

6-28

Step 4: Examine a web mapping application

a From the My Content drop-down in the upper-right corner, click Gallery.

b Click Web Apps.

This page displays featured web mapping applications that were created by various GIS users andthat are hosted by Esri.

c Open any of the web mapping applications listed.

Hint: Click the thumbnail graphic, then click Open.

d Take a moment to examine the kinds of capabilities that are available in this web mappingapplication.


6-29

You can bring multiple services together to create compelling web mapping applications. Esrioffers several viewer applications for assembling and sharing web maps, with no coding required.

To explore live user sites that use ArcGIS for Server to share public-facing web mappingapplications, visit www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisserver/live-user-sites.html.

e If time permits, feel free to explore another web mapping application. Otherwise, close allopen windows.

LESSON 6

6-30

Lesson review

1. A web map may contain more than one GIS service.

a. True

b. False

2. By default, ArcGIS Online shows _____content only, which includes web and mobile

_____________, and web maps and tools. If you are looking for content to add to ArcGIS for

Desktop, you will need to change the setting to show ____ Content.

3. How do you determine the use constraints for an item on ArcGIS Online?

a. Download the item to your computer.

b. Open the item's Details page.

c. Contact the item's owner through their user profile.

d. None of the above.

4. Your organization needs to download a dataset of Australia's historic earthquakes that theycan use in ArcGIS for Desktop. When searching ArcGIS Online for "AustralianEarthquakes," which of the following file types should you search for?

a. Mobile applications

b. Web maps

c. Web mapping applications

d. Layer packages


6-31


Exercise 6: Explore maps, services, and data on ArcGIS Online (page 6-9)

1. What are the options available for opening layer packages?

The options available for this type of file are "Open in ArcGIS for Desktop" and"Download."

2. What are some of the other file types listed?

In addition to layer packages, there may be mobile applications, web maps, webmapping applications, or map services.

3. How many layers are in this map (not counting the basemap)?

There are 10 layers in this map.

LESSON 6

6-32

Interacting with a map inArcGIS for Desktop

Introduction

Whether you unfold it in the car, spread it out on a table, display it ona computer screen, or open it on your mobile device, a map providesa convenient way to access and process geographic information.Maps are graphical representations that allow you to quickly visualizereal-world features and how they relate to one another. Visual analysisof a map can reveal patterns in the geographic data that aren't readilyavailable when viewing the data in any other format.

With a GIS map, however, you can interact with a map in ways thatchange how the data is displayed, the scale at which it is presented,which features it displays, the way those features are represented, andso on. Because attribute information about each feature is stored in adatabase, you can also access that information by interacting with thefeatures in the map. You can search for known features, identifyunknown features, or query the map to find features that meet acertain criteria.

Topics covered

• Visually analyzing a map• Navigating a map• Identifying and querying features

Learning objectives


• Identify and find features.• Modify symbology.• Query features by attribute and by location.• Display temporal data.

7

map element

query

symbology

temporal

Key terms

Interacting with a map in ArcGIS for Desktop

7-1

Symbology and visualization

The effectiveness of a map's message depends on a variety of factors.For example, using intuitive symbols or colors makes it easier toidentify the features on the map and to determine how they relate toone another. Effective symbols take advantage of commonassociations that people make, such as blue for water and green forvegetation. People also make associations based on symbol size—astreet drawn with a thick line is understood to be busier or moreimportant than one drawn with a thinner line. The more appropriatethat the symbols are, the easier it is to properly understand what theyrepresent and find patterns in your data.

Figure 7.1

Both maps represent the

same data. The map on

the left shows default

symbols, while the map on

the right is drawn with

custom symbols over a

basemap. The basemap

provides contextual data;

the custom symbols make

it easier to interpret the

purpose and message of

the map.

LESSON 7

7-2

Proper symbology can convey a lot of information about geographicfeatures, but displaying only features on a map—even with symbolsthat effectively convey their meaning—isn't always enough. In fact,most maps will not be useful without at least some additionalinformation. For example, text may be used to provide a feature'sname or other attribute, or to draw attention to a feature or an area ofinterest. In addition, maps may contain map elements, such as a title,a legend, a north arrow, or a scale bar, that help you interpret themap and decode its message.

Figure 7.2

This map contains several

map elements (e.g., a title

and legend) that help the

user understand the

purpose and message of

the map.


7-3

Finding, identifying, and selecting features

Finding and identifying features

ArcMap allows you to search for features that match particularattribute values. For example, if you are trying to find the OrangeGrove Elementary School on a map of Florida, you can search allattributes fields or a specific attribute field for "Orange GroveElementary" or just "Orange," and you will get a list of the featuresfrom layers in your map that contain that search string in any of theirattributes.

When clicking the map to identify features, ArcMap lists the feature orfeatures at the location you clicked. Clicking a feature in that result listallows you to see its attributes, which in turn allows you to quicklylearn more about the feature.

Selecting features

Selecting features allows you to identify or work with a subset offeatures on your map. You'll most likely work with selected featureswhen you are querying, exploring, analyzing, or editing data.Applying a selection lets you specify the features you want to workwith.

There are several ways you can select features. When you use one ofthe Selection tools on the Tools toolbar, you can select features withyour mouse pointer by clicking them one at a time or by dragging abox around them on the map. When you use one of the tools on theSelection menu, you can also select features based on their locationin relation to other features or based on their attributes. Often, it'smore efficient to select features by attribute before selecting bylocation.

LESSON 7

7-4

Because most analysis involves selecting features that meet particularcriteria, both attribute and location queries are very commonoperations in GIS analysis.

Figure 7.3

In this map, a particular

interstate was selected

using an attribute query.

Next, a location query was

used to find the cities

within 50 miles of the

selected interstate.

Below are some examples of what you can do with a selected set offeatures. You've already done some of these things in previousexercises in this course.

• Visually analyze the geographic distribution of the selectedfeatures in the map.

• Summarize or calculate attribute values only for the selectedfeatures.

• Identify an area within a particular distance around the selectedfeatures.

• Edit the selected features.• Generate a report containing attributes of the selected features.• Save the selected features as a new map layer that you can

display and symbolize independently.• Export the selected features to a new feature class to use in

other map documents, share with others, or use as input forother GIS operations.

Attribute and location queries are often used in combination. In somecases, particularly when you want to find features that meet a numberof criteria, you use a series of queries. You can use either an additiveapproach, where features are added to the selected set with eachquery, or a subtractive approach, where features are removed fromthe selected set with each query. The approach you use depends onyour criteria.


7-5

Asking questions and getting answers

While a GIS analysis may involve just visualizing data to identifypatterns and relationships, sometimes looking at a map isn'tenough—you need to find features that match given criteria. You cando this by querying (or asking questions of) the GIS database. Theanswer to your question is a selected set of features.

To find features that meet specific attribute criteria, you create aquery expression. A query expression is a logical statement consistingof three parts: a field name (attribute), an operator, and an attributevalue. The following graphic shows the results of the following queryexpression.

POP > 200000Figure 7.4

Cities with a population

greater than 200,000 are

selected on the map, and

their records are selected

in the layer attribute table.

These features are the

selected set resulting from

the query expression POP

> 200000.

There are two types of GIS queries: attribute and location.

In an attribute query, you select features that have one or moreattribute values that meet a particular criterion. For example, in a citylayer with a population attribute, you could select all the cities withpopulation greater than 200,000.

In a location query, you select features whose location meetsparticular conditions—usually in relationship to other features. If youhave a cities layer and a major highways layer, for instance, you couldselect all the cities that are within 50 miles of a major highway.

Once features are selected, you can work with them. For example,you can zoom to them or perform another GIS operation on them. Aselected set is temporary, but it can be saved as a separate layer orexported to a feature class.

LESSON 7

7-6

Getting information from a GIS map

When viewing a map in ArcMap, you can change its display to conveya clearer message, or perhaps to convey a different messagealtogether. For example, you can change the symbols used torepresent the features in the map. You can pan the map to change themap's center, or zoom the map to change its scale. The underlyingdata is the same, but with each such change, the map tells a slightlydifferent story.

ArcMap also lets you explore and query map data to get theinformation you need. For example, you can:

• Zoom in and out to change the map scale and the level of detaildisplayed in the map.

• Use the Pan tool to change the center of the map display.• Use the Identify tool to see the attributes of features you click.• Use the Find tool to find places, addresses, route locations, and

features that have a particular attribute.• Hover over features and see a MapTip pop up with a feature's

name, ID number, or other attribute.• Use the HTML Popup tool to access content formatted in HTML.• Use the Hyperlink tool to open web pages or documents

associated with features.• Use the Select Features tool to select features by clicking them.• Use the Time Slider window to animate the display of features in

a temporal dataset based on a Date field.• Use the Measure tool to measure distances and areas on the

map.

1. Thinking back to the lesson on The importance of coordinatesystems, what must you consider and evaluate before using theMeasure tool to measure distances and areas in a map?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________


7-7

30 minutes Exercise 7: Explore a map using ArcMap

Navigating a map in ArcMap provides you with a variety of ways toglean information from the data displayed in the map. For example,you can pan and zoom the map to change the scale, the extent, andwhere the map is centered. You can identify features by clicking themin the map or searching for and selecting them based on a knownattribute. You can also select features interactively or by location. Awealth of information beyond what you can see when simply viewinga GIS map is available through simple interactions in ArcMap.


• Navigate the map.• Modify symbology.• Find and identify features.• Select features.• Examine an attribute table.• View data change over time.

Figure 7.5

Map of Florida counties,

traversed by a 1992

hurricane.


7-9

Step 1: Navigate the map

a Start ArcMap.

b In the Catalog window, if necessary, expand Folder Connections and C:\Student\ARC1.

c In the Florida folder, double-click FL_Hurricane.mxd to open this map document.

You could also open a map document from the File menu by choosing Open and thennavigating to the MXD file.

The map document opens. The map display is zoomed in to southern Florida.

d Make sure the Tools toolbar is visible.

Hint: If necessary, on the Customize menu, point to Toolbars and make sure Tools is checked.

e On the Tools toolbar, click the Fixed Zoom Out tool a couple of times to zoom out on themap.

LESSON 7

7-10

f Click the Fixed Zoom In tool once to zoom back in a little bit.

The map zooms in and out at a fixed rate, and the level of detail displayed changes as you zoomin and out.

g Click the Pan tool , then click and drag the map.

Panning allows you to adjust the view of the data by shifting the center of the map.

h Click the Full Extent button .

Clicking the Full Extent button zooms your map to show you all the data in your map. In this case,the map zooms out to the full extent of the world because the basemap covers the whole world.


7-11

i Click the Zoom In tool , then click and drag a box around the United States.

The Zoom In tool allows you to specify the area and extent you want displayed. The Zoom Outtool works in a similar way.

j As you zoom in and out, look at the map scale box next to the Add Data button.

Each time you zoom in or out, the scale value of the map changes to reflect the new scale of themap.

1. The scale of the map is the ______ between _________ or _____ on the map and the

corresponding _________ or _____ on the ground.

LESSON 7

7-12

k From the drop-down list next to the scale box, choose one of the preset scales.

You can also type a scale into the box.

l Highlight the current value in the scale box and type 15,000,000, then press Enter on yourkeyboard.


7-13

The larger the number is, the smaller the representative fraction is (resulting in the map featuresdisplaying smaller). This is why it's called a small-scale map.

Conversely, the smaller the number is, the larger the representative fraction is (resulting in themap features displaying larger). Therefore, it's called a large-scale map.

m Continue to experiment with the map scale box, the zoom tools, and the Pan tool.

Now you will zoom to a specific layer.

n Right-click FLHurricane92 and choose Zoom To Layer.

The map zooms to the extent covered by the hurricane path.

Step 2: Modify symbology

When you add a layer to a map, ArcMap assigns a default symbol to represent the layer'sfeatures. Because the default symbol may not be the one you want, you need to know how tochange it.

LESSON 7

7-14

The path of the hurricane isn't easy to discern with the default symbology, so you will change itssymbol to make it easier to see.

a In the table of contents, click the symbol for FLHurricane92.

The Symbol Selector dialog box opens.

b On the right, under Current Symbol, click the drop-down arrow next to Color and choose abright red.


7-15

c Increase the width to 2.

d Click OK.

LESSON 7

7-16

The hurricane path is much easier to see now.

Step 3: Identify features

a In the table of contents, check the box for FL_Counties to turn the layer on.

b On the Tools toolbar, click the Identify tool , then click the easternmost county that thehurricane passed through.


7-17

The Identify window opens.

When you click a feature with the Identify tool, the Identify window lists the feature(s) at thelocation you clicked. You can click a feature in the feature list and see its attributes in the bottompanel.

2. Which county is this?

______________________________________________________________________________

3. What was the population of this county in 2000?

______________________________________________________________________________

LESSON 7

7-18

In the Identify window, you can also right-click a feature to navigate to it, select it for otheroperations, define hyperlinks for it, and so on.

c If necessary, move the Identify window out of the way so you can see the map display.

d In the top portion of the Identify window, right-click the county name and choose Flash.

e Next, right-click the county name and choose Zoom To.


7-19

The map zooms to Miami-Dade county.

f On the Tools toolbar, click the Go Back To Previous Extent button .

g Leave the Identify window open and click the westernmost county that the hurricane passedthrough.

The information for this feature now displays in the Identify window.

4. What is the name of this county?

______________________________________________________________________________


______________________________________________________________________________

h Close the Identify window.

Next, you will use the Find tool to locate a particular county.

LESSON 7

7-20

Step 4: Find features

a Click the Find tool .

Please be patient. It will take some time for the Find dialog box to open.

The Find tool allows you to search for features that match particular attribute values. For example,if you are trying to find Burundi on a map of the world, you can enter Burundi or just Buru in theFind tool, and you'll get a list of the features from layers in your map that contain that searchstring in any of their attributes.

b You can also find locations using address matching or linear referencing (a method of storinglocations using relative positions along a measured line), but those methods are outside thescope of this course.

Refer to the ArcGIS 10.1 Help Library: Using the Find tool.

c With the Features tab active, in the Find field, type Lee.

d Leave the In field set to <Visible layers> and leave Search set to All fields.

You could choose to narrow your search only to a particular layer or to a particular field.


7-21

e Make sure to check the box that indicates you would like to find features that are similar to orcontain the search string is selected.

f Click Find.

All features that match the search string are listed at the bottom of the Find dialog box. In thiscase, there is only one feature listed—Lee County.

LESSON 7

7-22

Once the results of Find are displayed, you can navigate to each feature. You can also click anentry in the results list to flash it on the map (if it is within your map extent), double-click to pan toit, or right-click to choose from other operations you can apply to your results.

g If necessary, move the Find dialog box so you can see the map display.

h In the results list at the bottom of the Find dialog box, click Lee.

The feature flashes in the map display.

6. Was Lee County likely to have been affected by this particular hurricane? Why or why not?

______________________________________________________________________________

i In the results list, right-click Lee and examine the options available.

j Choose Select from the context menu.


7-23

Lee County is now highlighted in cyan.

k In the results list, right-click Lee and choose Unselect.

l Close the Find dialog box.

Next, you will use other methods to select features in your map.

Step 5: Select features

a On the Tools toolbar, click the Select Feature By Rectangle tool , then click Lee County.

LESSON 7

7-24

Once again, Lee County is selected in the map.

b Click the Clear Selected Features button to unselect the feature.

The Select By Location tool lets you select point, line, or polygon features in one layer that have aspatial relationship (e.g., near or overlap) with the features in the same of another layer.

c From the Selection menu, choose Select By Location.

This allows you to select features based on their location in relation to other features. You usedthis tool earlier in this course to select the counties that intersected Lee County.

d In the Select By Location dialog box, for Selection method, choose select features from.

This drop-down list also provides options for adding to the current selection, removing from thecurrent selection, and selecting from the current selection. In the exercise in lesson 5, when youhad Lee County selected, you used the add to the current selection option when selectingadjacent counties.

e For Target layer, check the box for FL_Counties.


7-25

f For Source layer, make sure FLHurricane92 is selected.

g For Spatial selection method for target layer features, in the drop-down list, browse throughthe available options.

h Choose the option to intersect the source layer feature.

LESSON 7

7-26

i Click OK.

j Open the attribute table for the FL_Counties layer.

Hint: In the table of contents, right-click FL_Counties and choose Open Attribute Table.

k At the bottom of the Table window, click the Show selected records button .

7. Which two counties are selected?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

l If necessary, click the Clear Selection button at the top of the Table window.

Hint: You could also have clicked the Clear Selected Features button on the Toolstoolbar.

m Close the Table window.


7-27

One of the other selection methods you can use to select features in a layer is to select featuresusing an attribute query.

n From the Selection menu, choose Select By Attributes.

Select By Attributes allows you to provide a query expression that is used to select features thatmatch the criteria you specify. Again, in the exercise in lesson 5, you used this tool to select LeeCounty based on its name attribute.

o In the Select By Attributes dialog box, for Layer, choose FLHurricane92.

p For Method, choose Create a new selection.

Below Method, you will see a list of field names.

q Scroll down through the list and double-click WINDS_MPH.

This adds "WINDS_MPH" to the query expression box at the bottom of the dialog box.

r Click the Equals button to add an equal sign to the expression, then click Get UniqueValues.

This lists all the unique values present in the WINDS_MPH field.

s In the list, double-click 144 to add this value to the query expression.

LESSON 7

7-28

Make sure that your query expression matches the following graphic.

The query expression tells ArcMap to select features in the FLHurricane92 layer that have a valueof 144 in the WINDS_MPH field.

t Click Verify.

u On the Verifying expression dialog box, click OK, then click OK on the Select By Attributesdialog box to create the selection.

8. Which segment(s) are selected? (Hint: If necessary, right-click the FLHurricane92 layer andchoose Zoom To Layer.)

______________________________________________________________________________


7-29

The selected segment represents the part of the hurricane path that had winds recorded at 144miles per hour.

v Click the Clear Selected Feature button .

w Open the attribute table for FLHurricane92.

x If necessary, click the Show All Records button .

y On the far left of the table, click the gray square for a row in the table.

This selects the row. Notice that the associated feature (hurricane line segment) is also selected inthe map.

z If necessary, move the Table window out of the way so you can view the selected feature onthe map display.

LESSON 7

7-30

Whenever you select features in the map, their associated rows in the attribute table will also beselected. You can also select rows in the attribute table to see their associated features selectedon the map.

aa Click the Clear Selected Features button , but leave the attribute table open.

Step 6: Examine an attribute table

As you know, the attribute table lists the attributes associated with a feature class. Each rowrepresents a single feature, which, in this case, is a line segment that makes up a portion of thehurricane's path.

a Review the attributes for this feature class.

9. What was the name of this hurricane?

______________________________________________________________________________

10. When did this hurricane occur?

______________________________________________________________________________

b Scroll to the right until you locate the CATEGORY field.

Hurricanes are classified based on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, which has five categories.Level five hurricanes are the most serious.

11. Which category was this hurricane classified as?

______________________________________________________________________________


7-31

c Right-click the WINDS_MPH field name and choose Sort Descending.

12. What is the range of values recorded for this hurricane path?

______________________________________________________________________________

You can glean a lot of information from the attribute table, especially when viewed in conjunctionwith the map display.

d Close the Table window.

Step 7: View data change over time

You can use temporal attributes—or attributes that store a measure of time for each feature—tocreate, visualize, and work with time-aware layers. Some examples of time-aware layers: animaltracking locations, crime events, disease cases, urban growth, weather patterns, storm tracks, andso on.

As you know, the FLHurricane92 layer has a DATE_ field. This layer has been time-enabled basedon this field. Once you have enabled time for a layer, you can use the Time Slider to visualize howthe data changes over time.

a On the Tools toolbar, click the Time Slider button .

LESSON 7

7-32

b On the Time Slider toolbar, click the Enable time on map button .

c On the far right of the Time Slider, click the Play button

The map displays a time animation that steps through the Hurricane features sequentially.

13. Did this hurricane move from east to west or from west to east?

______________________________________________________________________________

You can time-enable any data that has attributes specifically referring to times or dates. Temporaldata may refer to discrete events, such as lightning strikes; moving objects, such as trains; orrepeated observations, such as counts from traffic sensors.

d Close the Time Slider window.

e From the File menu, choose Exit.

f When prompted to save the map, choose No.


7-33

Lesson review

1. List aspects of a map that can affect your ability to interpret it properly.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. Using the zoom tools in a map changes which of the following?

a. The level of detail displayed in the map.

b. The number of features visible in the map display.

c. The scale in the map scale box.

d. All of the above.

3. Viewing a dataset's changes over time requires that the dataset be time-enabled.

a. True

b. False

LESSON 7

7-34


Getting information from a GIS map (page 7-7)

1. Thinking back to the lesson on The importance of coordinate systems, what must youconsider and evaluate before using the Measure tool to measure distances and areas in amap?

Measurements are only valid if the projection used in the map preserves distance orarea, or if the features you are measuring lie within the area of the map where there islittle to no distortion present.

Exercise 7: Explore a map using ArcMap (page 7-9)

1. The scale of the map is the ratio between distance or area on the map and thecorresponding distance or area on the ground.

2. Which county is this?

The easternmost county is Miami-Dade.


2,253,362.

4. What is the name of this county?

The westernmost county is Monroe.


79,589.

6. Was Lee County likely to have been affected by this particular hurricane? Why or why not?

Although it may have suffered some damage from high winds and rain, Lee County isnorth of this particular hurricane path.

7. Which two counties are selected?

Miami-Dade and Monroe counties are selected. These are the same two counties youidentified earlier and the only two counties in Florida through which this particularhurricane passed.


7-35

8. Which segment(s) are selected? (Hint: If necessary, right-click the FLHurricane92 layer andchoose Zoom To Layer.)

The segment on the far right.

9. What was the name of this hurricane?

This hurricane was named Andrew.

10. When did this hurricane occur?

This hurricane occurred in late August of 1992.

11. Which category was this hurricane classified as?

This was a level 4 hurricane, although for one segment, it was listed as a level 3.

12. What is the range of values recorded for this hurricane path?

The range of miles-per-hour values recorded for winds for this hurricane path was126-144 miles per hour.

13. Did this hurricane move from east to west or from west to east?

Hurricane Andrew moved from east to west as it crossed Florida.

LESSON 7

7-36

Performing spatial analysis

Introduction

Have you ever looked at a map of crime in your city and tried tofigure out which areas have high crime rates? Have you ever looked atdifferent types of information, like school locations, parks, anddemographics, and tried to determine the best location to buy a newhome? Whenever you look at a map, you inherently start turning thatmap into information by finding patterns, assessing trends, or makingdecisions. This process is called spatial analysis, and it's what youreyes and mind do naturally whenever you look at a map.

Whether it's a statistical analysis to determine whether the patternsthat you see are significant, or an imagery analysis to detect change invegetation over time, the spatial analysis tools that are part of theArcGIS system empower you to answer questions and make importantdecisions using more than a simple visual analysis.

Topics covered

• Applying the geographic approach• Geoprocessing and spatial analysis• Common spatial analysis tasks

Learning objectives


• Apply the geographic approach to solve a spatial problem.

8

data extraction

geoprocessing

overlay

proximity analysis

spatial analysis

Key terms


8-1

The geographic approach - revisited

The geographic approach, which you learned about earlier in thiscourse, provides a consistent workflow for answering questions orsolving problems with GIS that can be applied to any problem with aspatial component. So far, you've focused primarily on the first threesteps—this lesson focuses on step 4.

Step Description

1. Ask ageographicquestion

Develop geographic questions that need to beanswered. These questions attempt to identify how anobject or phenomenon's spatial location affects it or itsinvolvement with other features or phenomenons.

2. Acquiregeographicdata

Obtain the geographic data you need to answer yourquestions.

3. Examinegeographicdata

Create a map of your geographic area and symbolizedata to look for patterns or information that are notalways easy to see on a map.

4. Analyzegeographicinformation

Determine a problem-solving approach and performGIS analysis.

5. Act ongeographicknowledge

Develop your message and intended audience; createvisuals, such as maps, to communicate information.

Table 8.1

This table describes the

steps of the geographic

approach to solving

problems with GIS.

Often, you'll need to repeat steps to refine your analysis. Forexample, while examining your data (step 3), you may realize youneed an additional feature class, so you need to go back and acquireanother data source (step 2). Maybe acting on your results (step 5)leads you to modify the original question (step 1).

GIS analysis doesn't always accomplish the desired results the firsttime through. It's an iterative process—with each successive pass, youmay change the criteria used, the tools used, or the order of theprocesses. You may need to take the time to verify results and visuallyanalyze the data produced by intermediate steps as well as the finalanalysis.

LESSON 8

8-2

Questions you can answer with GIS

Even when you are attempting to solve a larger problem, it can bebroken down into a basic question or a series of questions you aretrying to answer. Generally, those questions will fit into one of thefollowing categories.

Category Question prefix Example

Condition What is...? or Which is...? Which is the highestmountain peak?

Location Where is...? Where is the nearest gasstation?

Trends What has changedsince...?or How has __________changed since...?

How has air qualitychanged since electric carswere introducedcommercially in California?

Patterns Which spatial patternsexist...?

Which spatial patterns existbetween land use anddemographics?

Modeling What if ...? What if the wind directionchanges as the fire linemoves west?

Table 8.2

This table provides a list of

the types of questions you

can answer with GIS and

example questions for

each category.

Can you think of an example of a question for each of the categoriesabove?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________


8-3

What is spatial analysis?

In GIS, the terms geoprocessing and spatial analysis are often usedinterchangeably. However, these two terms, while related to oneanother, are actually different.

Each time you examine the locations, attributes, and relationshipsbetween features in geographic data to address a question or gainuseful knowledge, you are performing spatial analysis. Spatial analysisextracts or creates new information from geographic data, helpingyou solve problems and answer questions about the world aroundyou.

The part of the geographic approach that involves manipulating data(e.g., running tools) to create or extract information is calledgeoprocessing. A typical geoprocessing tool performs an essentialoperation on geographic data—such as projecting a dataset from onemap projection to another, adding a field to a table, or creating abuffer zone around features—and returns the result of the operationas an output dataset. ArcGIS includes hundreds of suchgeoprocessing tools.

Figure 8.1

A geoprocessing tool

performs an operation on

an input dataset, often

producing an output

dataset.

Of the five steps that make up the geographic approach, only one(step 4) centers on geoprocessing. During spatial analysis, one ormore geoprocessing tools are run based on the analysis objectives.GIS users then explore, interpret, and share the results, using them todraw conclusions and make decisions.

LESSON 8

8-4

Geoprocessing in analyses

In a typical analysis that includes geoprocessing operations, youwould follow the steps below:

1. Determine which geoprocessing tools you need.2. Determine the order in which the geoprocessing tools should be

used.3. Locate the first tool and open its dialog box.4. Enter the tool parameters, including the input and output

datasets.5. Run the tool.6. Repeat steps 3-5 for each geoprocessing tool in order.7. Examine the final output, and repeat some or all of the analysis

steps as needed.


8-5

Common analysis tasks

Geoprocessing tools used for analysis typically fall into threecategories: data extraction, overlay, and proximity.

Data extraction

The process of creating a new subset of features in one feature classbased on the geographic extent of another feature class is nameddata extraction. For example, suppose you want to assess streetconditions within Wilson, North Carolina. You have a feature classrepresenting the streets for the entire county. You also have a featureclass representing the city boundary.

With an operation named clip, you can use the boundary dataset toextract (or clip out) the street features that fall within the city limitsinto a new dataset. This allows you to isolate the features of interestfor your analysis. Doing so reduces the size of the dataset you'reusing, which reduces processing time during future geoprocessingoperations. ArcGIS won't have to consider all the other street featuresin the county—just the ones you have isolated.

Figure 8.2

In a clip operation, a clip

layer is overlaid like a

cookie cutter on top of an

input layer. The input

layer's features (in this

case, streets) are clipped

to the extent of the clip

layer (e.g., city boundary).

LESSON 8

8-6

Overlay

If the data you need to answer a specific question is contained indifferent layers, you can combine (or overlay) the layers to create anew layer that contains the data from both input layers. For example,suppose you have layers of vegetation and soils. To determine whichvegetation types are common with particular soil types, you couldoverlay the two layers using an operation named union. The datasetcreated by the union operation would contain all the features andattributes from both layers. You could quickly query the new layer todetermine the relationship between them.

Figure 8.3

A vegetation layer is

overlaid with a soils layer.

The overlay operation

creates a new layer with

features and attributes

from both the vegetation

and soils layers.


8-7

Proximity

A common type of GIS analysis, named proximity analysis, involvesfinding what is near or within a certain distance of one or morefeatures. Buffer is a common geoprocessing operation used forproximity analysis. For example, if you want to notify lot owners abouta new bus stop that is within a certain distance of their property, youcan use a buffer operation to find all the lots within that distance. Abuffer creates a zone of a specified distance around one or morefeatures.

Figure 8.4

In this example, a buffer

has been created to

define the area within a

certain distance of the bus

stop.

LESSON 8

8-8

Analyze crime data

When GIS datasets contain more data than you need, you can extractonly the features you need, outputting the features and attributes youwant to keep as a separate feature class or table. Extract tools selectfeatures and attributes in a feature class or table based on an attributequery (SQL expression) or location. The resulting features andattributes are stored in a new feature class or table. The mostcommon extract tool is the Clip tool.

Overlay tools are usually used to determine where different types offeatures coexist in the same area. In a general sense, performing anoverlay involves combining multiple data layers into one. Thecollection of Overlay tools provides the ability to combine, erase,modify, or update input features, writing the output to a new featureclass. New information is created when overlaying one set of featureswith another. Two of the most common overlay tools are Union andIntersect.

Proximity tools determine the proximity of features within one ormore feature classes or between two feature classes. These tools canidentify features that are closest to one another or calculate thedistances between or around them. The most common proximity toolis the Buffer tool. Any buffers you create will adopt the values of thefeatures they are buffering.


8-9

40 minutes Exercise 8: Analyze hurricane storm surge data

Earlier in this course, you gathered and prepared data for a hurricanestorm surge simulation study that is being conducted by the NationalHurricane Center and Lee County, Florida. In this exercise, you willuse that data to analyze the effects of a category 3 hurricane stormsurge inundation on certain vulnerable facilities (schools, hospitals,day care centers, and nursing homes) in the county. The results ofyour analysis will help focus emergency response initiatives for thosefacilities. The primary question you need to answer is, "Whichvulnerable facilities are at greatest risk from a category 3 storm surgeinundation in Lee County?"


• Extract features in your area of interest.• Identify vulnerable facilities.• Overlay two layers.• Identify secondary facilities that may be at risk.

Figure 8.5

Map of Lee County

hurricane storm surge

inundation displaying

hospitals, schools, nursing

homes, and day care

centers. This map also

displays one-mile buffers

around hospitals.


8-11

Step 1: Open ArcMap and examine the map document

a Start ArcMap and open C:\Student\ARC1\Florida\StormSurge.mxd.

The map displays Lee and the surrounding counties, along with points that represent vulnerablefacilities.

Step 2: Extract features in your area of interest

You can see that some of the points for the various vulnerable facilities are outside the study area.

LESSON 8

8-12

a In the table of contents, right-click the FL_Hospitals layer and choose Zoom To Layer.

The map zooms to the extent of the hospitals layer, which covers the entire state of Florida. Youmay also notice that the schools, nursing homes, and day care centers also cover the entire state.

You don't need to work with layers that contain many more features than required, so you willextract only those features that are within your area of interest.

1. Which tool extracts only the features from an input layer that are within the extent of thefeatures in another layer?

______________________________________________________________________________

b From the Geoprocessing menu, choose the appropriate tool.

c In the tool's dialog box, for Input Features, use the drop-down to select FL_Hospitals.

Notice that the Output Feature Class field is automatically set to the \Documents\ArcGIS\Default.gdb geodatabase.


8-13

So far in this course, you have clicked the Browse button to navigate to another location. In thisexercise, to save time, you will change this default geodatabase setting so the output from all thetools you run will be set to the StormSurge geodatabase.

d Click Cancel to close the tool dialog box.

e In the Catalog window, right-click StormSurge.gdb and choose Make Default Geodatabase.

f Reopen the Clip tool.

g In the tool's dialog box, for Input Features, once again use the drop-down to selectFL_Hospitals.

h Set Clip Features to LeeCounties.

Notice that the Output Feature Class field is now set to the C:\Student\ARC1\Florida\StormSurge.gdb geodatabase.

i Highlight the default name (at the end of the path in the Output Feature Class input box) andtype FL_HospitalsClip.

j On the tool's dialog box, click OK to run the tool.

ArcMap generates the new layer and adds it to the map display.

LESSON 8

8-14

k Right-click the new FL_HospitalsClip layer and choose Zoom To Layer.

The new layer is symbolized with a default symbol. You will set it to match the current symbol forthe FL_Hospitals layer.

l Open the layer properties for the FL_HospitalsClip layer.

Hint: Right-click FL_HospitalsClip and choose Properties.


8-15

m Click the Symbology tab.

n In the upper-right corner, click Import.

o In the Import Symbology dialog box, for Layer, choose FL_Hospitals.

p Accept all other defaults.

LESSON 8

8-16

q Click OK on the Import Symbology dialog box.

r Click OK to close the Layer Properties dialog box.

You don't need both hospitals layers, so you will remove the one that contains hospitalsthroughout the state.

s In the table of contents, right-click FL_Hospitals and choose Remove.

Removing a layer from the table of contents does not delete the data on disk; it simplyremoves the layer from the map.

t Repeat this process for the FL_Schools, FL_NursingHomes, and FL_DayCareCenters layers;clipping their extent to the boundary of LeeCounties and setting their symbology to match theoriginal layer. Be sure to remove the original layers once the data has been extracted.

Now that you have reduced the number of features, any geoprocessing you do will be faster.

u Zoom to the extent of the LeeCounties layer.

Step 3: Identify vulnerable facilities in Lee County

You want to identify the vulnerable facilities in Lee County.


8-17

In this step, you will select only the storm surge polygons within Lee County. First, you have toselect Lee County.

a From the Selection menu, choose Select By Attributes.

b In the Select By Attributes dialog box:

• For Layer, choose LeeCounties.• For Method, choose Create a new selection.• In the list of fields, double-click "NAME".• Click the Equals button .• Click Get Unique Values.• In the Unique Values list, double-click 'Lee'.

Click Unique Values to see the values for the selected field when creating a queryexpression. You can type a value in the Go To input box to quickly navigate this list.

Your query expression should read, "NAME" = 'Lee'.

c Click Verify.

d When your expression is successfully verified, click OK to dismiss the Verifying expressiondialog box.

e On the Select By Attributes dialog box, click OK .

Lee County is now selected.

LESSON 8

8-18

f In the table of contents, right-click LeeCounties and choose Selection > Zoom To SelectedFeatures.

g From the Selection menu, choose Select By Location.


8-19

h In the Select By Location dialog box:

• For Selection method, choose select features from.• In the Target layers list, check the box for Cat3 and uncheck all other boxes.• For Source layer, choose LeeCounties, then, just below LeeCounties, check the box for

Use selected features.• For Spatial selection method for target layer feature(s), choose are within the source layer

feature.

Your Select By Location settings tell ArcMap to select features from the Cat3 that are within theselected features of the LeeCounties layer (i.e., Lee County).

LESSON 8

8-20

i Click OK.

Do you notice how not every Cat3 polygon inside Lee County is selected?

The Cat3 polygons are irregularly shaped, so selecting them by location this way doesn't provideyou with the selection you were looking for. Some of the Cat3 polygons within Lee County are notselected, perhaps because they extend beyond the county boundary. You want to select all of theparts of the polygons that are within Lee County.

First, you will unselect the selected features from the Cat3 layer.

j In the table of contents, right-click the Cat3 layer and click Selection > Clear selected features.

This clears only the selected features in the Cat3 layer so that, once again, the only featureselected in the map is Lee County.

In the next step, you will overlay the Cat3 polygons and the selected Lee County polygon tocreate an output that combines the features and attributes of both.


8-21

Step 4: Overlay the Cat3 layer with Lee County

You want to create a new feature class that includes features constructed from the overlappingportions of Lee County and the Cat3 layer.

a From the Geoprocessing menu, choose Intersect.

b Click and drag Cat3 from the table of contents to the Intersect tool's dialog box, underFeatures.

c Repeat this click and drag process for the LeeCounties layer.

The Output Feature Class is automatically set to C:\Student\ARC1\Florida\StormSurge.gdbbecause you set this as the default geodatabase.

d Highlight the default name at the end of the Output Feature Class path and typeLeeCat3Intersect.

e Click OK to run the Intersect tool.

f On the Tools toolbar, click the Clear Selected Features button .

The Clear Selected Features button clears all the selected features in your map.

LESSON 8

8-22

g Turn off the Cat3 layer.

h If necessary, change the symbology for the LeeCat3Intersect layer to make it easier to see.

Try importing the symbology from the Cat3 layer.

The new LeeCat3Intersect layer contains features that represent Cat3 polygons within Lee County.These are the polygons you will use to determine which vulnerable facilities in Lee County are atrisk from a category 3 storm surge.

Since you used Intersect, the new features include the attributes from both layers.

i Right-click the LeeCat3Intersect layer and choose Open Attribute Table.


8-23

j Close the attribute table when you are finished browsing the attributes.

k Open the Select By Location dialog box.

Hint: From the Selection menu, choose Select By Location.

l In the Select By Location dialog box:

• For Selection method, choose select features from.• For Target layers, check the boxes for FL_HospitalsClip, FL_DayCareCentersClip,

FL_NursingHomesClip, and FL_SchoolsClip; uncheck the boxes for all other layers.• For Source layer, choose LeeCat3Intersect.• For Spatial selection method, choose intersect the source layer feature.

LESSON 8

8-24

m Click OK to run the tool.

n Right-click the FL_SchoolsClip layer and choose Open Attribute Table.

2. How many schools in Lee County are at risk from a category 3 hurricane storm surge? (Hint:Look at the bottom of the Table window.)

______________________________________________________________________________

Opening the attribute table is only one way to determine the number of selected (i.e., affected)features in a layer.

o Close the Table window.

p At the top of the Table Of Contents window, click the List By Selection button .

The List By Selection button is one of the buttons that allows you to change the way the layers inyour map are listed in the table of contents. It groups layers automatically by whether or not they


8-25

are selectable and have selected features. It also lists the number of selected features in eachlayer.

A selectable layer means that features in the layer can be selected using the interactiveselection tools, such as those on the Tools toolbar or the Edit tool, when in an edit session.

3. For each of the following layers, use the List By Selection view to determine how many ofeach type of facility are at risk.

Layer name Number of affected facilities

FL_NursingHomesClip

FL_DayCareCentersClip

FL_HospitalsClip

4. Which type of vulnerable facility has the most features at risk during a category 3 stormsurge?

______________________________________________________________________________

The FL_HospitalsClip layer has the fewest facilities at risk.

5. List the hospital(s) that are completely within the storm surge polygon and therefore mostat risk. (Hint: Open the attribute table for the FL_HospitalsClip layer.)

______________________________________________________________________________

These are the facilities that may need to be given priority during evacuation efforts in the event ofa category 3 hurricane storm surge in Lee County.

q Clear the selected features.

r At the top of the Table Of Contents window, click the List By Drawing Order button .

LESSON 8

8-26

Use List By Drawing Order to author the contents of your map. You can change thedisplay order of layers on the map, rename or remove layers, and create or managegroup layers.

Step 5: Identify hospitals close to the storm surge inundation polygon

a Click the FL_HospitalsClip layer and drag it to the top of the Table Of Contents window.

b Zoom in to the center of Lee County where there are several hospitals.

Some of these hospitals are not within the storm surge polygons, but they are fairly close to them.While these hospitals may not need to be evacuated because of flooding, they will likely be at riskof some residual damage or from overcrowding during the storm.

You will create a buffer of a mile around each hospital point to identify hospitals that are likely tobe affected based on their proximity to the storm surge.


8-27

c From the Geoprocessing menu, choose Buffer.

d In the Buffer tool's dialog box, for Input Features, choose FL_HospitalsClip.

e Set Output Feature Class to C:\Student\ARC1\Florida\StormSurge.gdb\HospitalBuffers.

f Set the Distance value to 1 and the units to Miles.

LESSON 8

8-28

g Click OK to run the Buffer tool and create the one-mile buffers around each hospital.

Now you will determine which of the hospitals in Lee County may still be at increased risk becauseof their proximity to the storm surge polygons.


8-29

h In the Select By Location dialog box:

• For Selection method, choose select features from.• For Target layers, check the box for HospitalBuffers and uncheck the boxes for all other

layers.• For Source layer, choose LeeCat3Intersect.• For Spatial selection method, choose intersect the source layer feature.

i Click OK.

LESSON 8

8-30

j Right-click LeeCat3Intersect and choose Zoom To Layer.

k Right-click HospitalBuffers and choose Open Attribute Table.

6. How many hospitals within Lee County are more than a mile from (i.e., not selected) thecategory 3 storm surge polygon? (Hint: Evaluate the selection based on the attributevalues in the County field.)

______________________________________________________________________________

You have identified which vulnerable facilities in Lee County are most at risk from storm surgeinundation during a category 3 hurricane and hospitals that may become overcrowded during orshortly after such a storm.

l Close the Table window.

In the next lesson, you will learn how to share the results of your analysis.

m Click the Clear Selected Features button .


8-31

n From the File menu, choose Exit.

o When prompted to save the map, choose Yes.

When you finish working on a map, you can save it as a map document, or MXD file. In this case,you are saving changes to a map document that has already been saved. If the map hadn't beensaved before, you would need to provide a name and save it into a folder location. ArcMapautomatically appends a file extension (.mxd) to the map document name.

The data displayed on a map is not saved with it. Map layers reference the data sources inyour GIS database.

You will use this map in the next lesson when you learn how to share your results.

LESSON 8

8-32

Lesson review

1. List the steps of the geographic approach.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. You are creating a city map for delivery drivers, but the streets data you have covers theentire county. Which tool would allow you to reduce the number of streets features basedon an extent of the city boundary?

a. Buffer

b. Clip

c. Extract

d. Intersect

3. Geoprocessing tools generally perform an operation on geographic data and often returnan output dataset.

a. True

b. False

4. You are looking for places within a mile of a river where there are habitats of multiplespecies. Which Overlay tool could you use to combine features from multiple layers (e.g.,the habitat data with the river buffer) to output only those habitats located within theone-mile buffer zone?

a. Union

b. Clip

c. Intersect

d. Buffer


8-33

5. A tanker truck has crashed on the highway, releasing a cloud of hazardous fumes. You needto quickly create a map that identifies the affected area, a polygon that surrounds the crashsite by five miles in all directions. Which Proximity tool could you use to accomplish thistask?

a. Buffer

b. Clip

c. Intersect

d. Union

LESSON 8

8-34


Exercise 8: Analyze hurricane storm surge data (page 8-11)

1. Which tool extracts only the features from an input layer that are within the extent of thefeatures in another layer?

The Clip tool extracts input features that overlay the clip features in another layer.

2. How many schools in Lee County are at risk from a category 3 hurricane storm surge? (Hint:Look at the bottom of the Table window.)

There are a total of 42 (out of 254) schools at risk in Lee County.

3. For each of the following layers, use the List By Selection view to determine how many ofeach type of facility are at risk.

Layer name Number of affected facilities

FL_NursingHomesClip 34

FL_DayCareCentersClip 13

FL_HospitalsClip 1

4. Which type of vulnerable facility has the most features at risk during a category 3 stormsurge?

There are more schools at risk than any other type of vulnerable facility.

5. List the hospital(s) that are completely within the storm surge polygon and therefore mostat risk. (Hint: Open the attribute table for the FL_HospitalsClip layer.)

Only Cape Coral Hospital is completely within the storm surge polygon.

6. How many hospitals within Lee County are more than a mile from (i.e., not selected) thecategory 3 storm surge polygon? (Hint: Evaluate the selection based on the attributevalues in the County field.)

None of the hospitals in Lee County is more than a mile from the category 3 stormsurge polygon.


8-35

Sharing results

Introduction

Once you have created a map or performed an analysis to solve aproblem, you need to share the results so they can be properlydistributed, interpreted, and applied. In fact, communicating andsharing your work is often the most rewarding part of GIS.

Although people use GIS for many reasons, one useful way to think ofGIS is as a powerful communication tool. Whether your audience isthe public at large, planners, business executives, electedgovernment officials, customers, students, or your colleagues at work,you ultimately want to ensure that the map or analysis results youproduce are provided in a usable format. The ArcGIS system makes iteasy to communicate and share your work and put powerful maps,visualizations, and functionality into people's hands without requiringthat they be GIS experts.

Topics covered

• Exporting maps as PDF files• Generating reports and graphs• Sharing a map as a map package• Creating presentations

Learning objectives


• Choose an appropriate method for sharing a map or analysisresults based on a given scenario.

• Apply various methods for sharing a map or analysis results.

9

map package (MPK)

Key terms

Sharing results

9-1

The importance of sharing results

Why is it important to share results?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

How are maps and geographic information commonly shared bymembers of your organization?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

What are some ways you have seen maps and geographic informationshared by others outside of your organization?______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

LESSON 9

9-2

Common ways to share results

ArcGIS offers a number of ways to share your map and analysisresults, including web maps accessible in browsers and on mobiledevices, printed map layouts, maps included in reports andpresentations, map books, atlases, maps embedded in applications,and so on. The option you choose depends on the target audienceand the desired delivery method.

Share results as ArcGIS neededto use?

When/why use?

Map package(MPK)

To share complete mapdocuments

Layer package(LPK)

To share a dataset and its layerproperties

Web map To share a map to be accessedon the web

Exported map(e.g., PDF)

To share a map as an image

Report, chart, orgraph

To share feature attributes andrelationships

Presentation To share map content asannotated slides

Table 9.1

This table lists common

methods used to share

results, whether ArcGIS

software is required to use

those results, and when

and why you might choose

to share your results using

each method.

Map packages and layer packages

As you work on a map in ArcMap, you can save it as a map document(or MXD file), which others can open and use if they have ArcGIS forDesktop and access to the data. Each layer in the map documentreferences data on disk and is symbolized with a default symbol orwith a symbol you specify.

To share a layer, including its symbology definition, you can save it asa layer (LYR file) or package it as a layer package (LPK file). Layer filesinclude a reference to the data on disk and a symbology definition.

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When you add a layer file (LYR) to your map, it will draw exactly as itwas saved as long as you have access to the data referenced by thelayer. Layer packages, on the other hand, allow you to package thesymbology definition with the data so users who do not have accessto the data storage location can access the data. You can share eitherof these file types over the network and by e-mail, but you can alsoshare layer packages on ArcGIS Online.

To share an entire map document with ArcGIS for Desktop users whodo not have access to the data server, you can create a mappackage. Map packages include a map document (.mxd) and thedata referenced by the map layers packaged into one portable file.Like layer packages, map packages make it easy to share maps thatinclude the symbology of the source map by uploading the MPK filedirectly to ArcGIS Online, saving it locally and e-mailing it, or makingit available on a file share. Because a map package is a snapshot ofthe map and the current state of its data, another valuable use formap packages is documenting your work.

Web maps

You can create a web map using ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS ExplorerOnline. You could also create a map service in ArcGIS for Desktopand create a web map that uses it. Web maps bring your map to themasses, allowing anyone you choose to access your map through anintranet or the Internet. The map reader doesn't need anything morethan Internet access and a web browser to access your map.

Web maps are useful because they can be shared and used through aweb connection without the user having to install any ArcGISsoftware. Web maps can also be shared and used by ArcGIS forDesktop users.

Printing and exporting your map

You can export maps to several industry-standard file formats,including PDFs. The Portable Document Format (PDF) is a populargraphics file format that supports vector and raster graphics in asingle compact file. PDF files are designed to be consistentlyviewable and printable across different platforms. They are commonlyused for distributing documents on the web, and the format is now anofficial ISO standard for document interchange.

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9-4

Reports, charts, and graphs

The facts and figures behind your analysis can often be captured inreports, charts, and graphs, making them invaluable companions tothe maps you create. Reports, charts, and graphs let you effectivelydisplay attribute information about map features in a tabular orgraphical format that you control. The information displayed in thereport, chart, or graph comes directly from the attribute informationstored within the geographic data or stand-alone table in your map.In your reports, charts, and graphs, you can choose which fields fromyour table you want to display and how you want to display them.Once you've created it, you can place the report, graph, or chart onyour map layout or save it as a file for distribution.

Presentations

Using ArcGIS Explorer or ArcGIS Explorer Online, you can createpresentation maps that contain slides that let people view your mapas a presentation. Unlike PowerPoint, these presentation slides arecompletely dynamic, so users can pan and zoom the map and click onmap features to find out more about them before moving on to thenext slide.

With ArcGIS Explorer Online, you can share a presentation through adirect link or by embedding it in a website. Presentations are acollection of annotated slides that help communicate the importanceof the map's content such as its basemap, features, and layers. Youplay a presentation with control buttons to start, go forward, go back,end the presentation, and so on. Presentations that are created inArcGIS Explorer Online as part of the map can be viewed from anyArcGIS map client, including the ArcGIS.com map viewer and ArcGISfor iOS. You can also embed a map in presentation mode in a webpage.

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9-5

50 minutes Exercise 9: Share hurricane analysis results

In the previous lesson, you performed an analysis to identify thevulnerable facilities at risk of a Category 3 storm surge inundation inLee County. In this exercise, you will create various files to share yourresults with decision makers throughout the county.


• Export your map as a PDF.• Create and share a map package.• Use ArcGIS Explorer Online to build a presentation.

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9-7

Step 1: Export the map as a PDF

a Start ArcMap and open C:\Student\ARC1\Florida\StormSurge.mxd.

This exercise uses the results from the analysis you performed in lesson 8. If you wereunable to successfully complete that analysis, use the map document and geodatabase inthe C:\Student\ARC1\Results\Lesson08 folder.

b Zoom in to Lee County. (Hint: Use the Zoom In tool and draw a box around Lee County.)

As part of an upcoming meeting, the Board of County Commissioners will present a PDF of yourmap. The PDF will be printed and handed out at the meeting.

Before you create a PDF of the map, you are going to prepare the map in layout view.

ArcMap provides two ways to view a map: data view and layout view. Each view allows you toview and interact with the map, but in different ways. Data view provides a geographic window for

LESSON 9

9-8

exploring, displaying, querying, editing, and analyzing the data in your map. Layout view allowsyou to view your map as it would appear on a printed page.

c From the View menu, choose Layout View.

You can also switch to Layout View by clicking the Layout View button , just below themap display.

Layout view allows you to see what the map will look like when printed or exported to a PDF.

When you switch to Layout View, the Layout toolbar opens. This toolbar provides tools that allowyou to interact with the map display in the layout.

Layout view also allows you to add elements to your map that will help map readers properlyinterpret your map's message.

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9-9

One of the most important elements for many maps is the legend. A legend helps a map readerinterpret the meaning of the symbols used to represent features on the map. Legends consist ofexamples of the symbols on the map with labels containing explanatory text.

You will add a legend to your map.

d From the Insert menu, choose Legend.

e In the Legend Properties dialog box, the map layers are listed on the left, while the legenditems are listed on the right.

Not all layers in a map need to be in its legend. In this case, you will only keep certain layers.

Removing layers from the legend does not remove them from the table of contents or fromthe map.

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9-10

f Click the HospitalBuffers layer in the Legend Items list on the right to select it.

g Once you have the HospitalBuffers layer selected, click the left arrow button .

h Keep the number of columns in your legend set to 1.

i Click Next.

You could provide your legend with a title, but in this case, you will accept the defaults on thispanel and simply click Next.

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9-11

j Continue accepting the defaults by clicking Next through the rest of the panels until you getto the final panel, then click Finish.

Your legend draws in the center of the map.

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9-12

k Click and drag the legend to the lower-left corner of the map.

The purpose of a legend is to help the map reader understand the symbols in the map. In thiscase, the layer names are somewhat complicated. To make it easier to interpret the symbols, youwill change the layer names.

The legend is dynamic. If you change the layer name in the map, it will automatically change inthe legend.

l Click the FL_HospitalsClip layer in the table of contents, then slowly click it a second time tomake it editable (i.e., a box appears around it).

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9-13

m Type Hospitals, then press Enter on your keyboard.

Notice that the new layer name is immediately reflected in the legend.

LESSON 9

9-14

n Repeat this process to name the layers as listed in the following table.

Current name New name

FL_DayCareCentersClip Day Care Centers

FL_NursingHomesClip Nursing Homes

FL_SchoolsClip Schools

LeeCat3Intersect Category 3 Storm Surge

LeeCounties* Lee County

* Although the LeeCounties layer contains multiple counties, your map is centered on Lee County. Forthe purpose of the map, you will change the layer name to Lee County.

Next, you will add a title to your map.

o From the Insert menu, choose Title.

ArcMap adds a default title.

p To change the default title, double-click it to open the Properties dialog box and make surethat the Text tab is selected.

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9-15

q Type Lee County Cat 3 Storm Surge Risk.

r Click Change Symbol.

s In the Symbol Selector, click the Bold button , then click OK.

t On the Properties dialog box, click OK.

LESSON 9

9-16

u Click the title and drag it above the map display.

There are a number of other elements you could add, such as a north arrow or a scale bar, butbecause such elements are not necessary for the purpose of this map, you will leave it as is.

v From the File menu, choose Export Map.

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w In the Export Map dialog box:

• Navigate to the C:\Student\ARC1\Florida folder.• For Save as type, choose PDF.• For File name, type LeeCountyCat3Map.

x Click Save.

LESSON 9

9-18

y In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Student\ARC1\Florida and double-clickLeeCountyCat3Map.pdf.

You can now provide this map to the Board of County Commissioners to print and distribute attheir meeting.

z When you are done looking at the map, you may close it, then close Windows Explorer.

Sharing results

9-19

Step 2: Create a map package and upload it to ArcGIS Online

The Board of County Commissioners wants to share the map document with the SouthwestFlorida Regional Planning Council. They have asked you to create a map package that can beuploaded and shared via ArcGIS Online.

Before packaging a map, enter descriptive information about it in the MapDocument Properties dialog box. This information is built into the package and isaccessible to others when you upload your map package into ArcGIS Online.

a From the File menu, choose Map Document Properties.

b In the Map Document Properties dialog box:

• Provide a short summary and a description for your map.• For Author, type your name.• For Credits, accept the default or leave it blank.• For Tags, type Florida, storm surge, Category 3, hurricane, Lee County.• For the purposes of this course, leave Hyperlink base blank.• Check the box to store relative pathnames to data sources.

Relative paths in a map specify the location of the data contained in the map relative to thecurrent location on disk of the map document (.mxd file) itself. Because relative paths don'tcontain drive names, they enable the map and its associated data to be moved to any disk drivewithout the map having to be repaired. As long as the same directory structure is used at the newlocation, the map will still be able to find its data by traversing the relative paths.

LESSON 9

9-20

When delivering documents, toolboxes, and data to another user, relative pathsshould be used. Otherwise, the recipient's computer must have the same directorystructure as yours.

c Click OK.

d From the File menu, click Share As > Map Package.

The Map Package dialog box opens.

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9-21

First, you will specify where to save your map package—either as a file on disk or in your ArcGISOnline account.

e Choose Upload package to my ArcGIS Online account.

f Uncheck the box to include Enterprise Geodatabase data instead of referencing the data.

In this case, your map does not include enterprise geodatabase data.

g On the left, click Item Description.

LESSON 9

9-22

The information you entered for the Map Document Properties displays on this panel. You couldmodify it here if necessary.

h Click Additional Files.

If necessary, you could specify Additional Files you wanted to include in the map package. Thisoption allows you to include other content, such as detailed documentation, reports, graphs, etc.

i Click Sharing.

j If prompted to log in, enter your user name and password to sign in.

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9-23

k Check the box for Everyone (public).

If you were a member of a group, you could check the Members of these groups box, then selectthe group with which you wanted to share.

l In the upper-right corner of the dialog box, click Analyze to validate your map for any errors orissues.

A Prepare window will display, with a list of any issues. In this case, there are no errors to address.

m Once validated, close the Prepare window and click Share to create your map package.

n If prompted to save the map document before creating the map package, choose Yes.

The Packaging window remains open while the map package is being created.

LESSON 9

9-24

Once the map package has been created, you will see a message verifying that it has succeeded.

o Open a web browser and enter www.arcgis.com to open ArcGIS Online. (If necessary, sign inwith your Esri Global account.)


The MY CONTENT list now contains your map package.

This file is now readily accessible for Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.

p Leave ArcMap and the web browser open.

Step 3: Create a web map

In this step, you will use ArcGIS Explorer Online to create a web map that shows the hospitalslikely to be affected by the Category 3 storm surge. You will then use this web map as the basisfor a presentation you will create with the same application.

Sharing results

9-25

a In the web browser, type www.arcgis.com/explorer into the Address bar and press Enter,then in the upper-left corner of the ArcGIS Explorer Online window, click New Map.

The first step in creating a web map is to choose a basemap. Just like with ArcGIS Online, ArcGISExplorer Online chooses a default one for you, but you can change it if you want.

To change the basemap, click the Basemap button .

LESSON 9

9-26

b Keep the existing basemap, or choose a different one, then zoom into southwestern Floridaand pan the map until it centers on Lee County.

Hint: If you kept the existing basemap (Terrain with Labels), you will see county boundarieswith labels once you zoom into southwestern Florida.

You need to import the layer you created when you intersected Lee County with the Category 3storm surge polygons. You also need to add the hospitals in Lee County.

c Click the Add Content button , then in the Add Content window, click Import.

1. Which kinds of data files can you import when creating a web map in ArcGIS ExplorerOnline? (Hint: TXT files aren't explicitly listed but are implied when CSV files arementioned—both are plain text files.)

______________________________________________________________________________

2. How does this list of files you can import differ from the ArcGIS.com map viewer?

______________________________________________________________________________

Sharing results

9-27

You need to add zipped shapefiles that contain the hospitals in Lee County and the Category 3storm surge polygon that you intersected with Lee County.

d Minimize the ArcGIS Explorer Online window and maximize ArcMap, then in ArcMap, in thetable of contents, right-click the Category 3 Storm Surge layer and choose Data > ExportData.

e In the Export Data dialog box:

• Choose to export all features using the same coordinate system as the layer's sourcedata.

• For Output feature class, click the Browse button .

f In the Saving Data dialog box:

• For Look in, navigate to the C:\Student\ARC1\OnlineFiles folder.• For Save as type, choose Shapefile.• Name the file Category3.shp.• Click Save.

g On the Export Data dialog box, click OK, then when prompted to add the data to the map,choose No.

You don't need to add this data to the map. You only needed to create the shapefile so you couldzip it and upload it to ArcGIS Online.

h Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Student\ARC1\OnlineFiles.

Notice the Category3 files.

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9-28

Remember, shapefiles display as a single file in ArcCatalog, but when viewed in Windows Exploreror another file management system, they display as a collection of files. Each file is distinguishedby its file extension.

i Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard as you click the first Category3 file and then clickthe last.

All of the Category3 files should now be selected. Now, you will zip these files.

j Right-click the group of selected Category3 files and choose 7-Zip > Add to archive.

k In the Add to Archive dialog box:

• For Archive format, choose zip.• For Archive, highlight the default name and type LeeCategory3.zip.

This will be the name of the zipped file you create that you will then upload to ArcGIS ExplorerOnline.

l Accept all other defaults and click OK.

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Before you upload this zipped shapefile, you will create another that includes only the hospitals inLee County.

m In ArcMap, open the attribute table for the Hospitals layer, then if necessary, sort the COUNTYfield in Ascending order.

Hint: Right-click COUNTY and choose Sort Ascending.

n Select only the hospitals that are in Lee County.

Hint: Hold the Shift key down on your keyboard while you click the gray square at the far leftof the first row and then click the gray square at the far left of the last row for which Leeis the COUNTY value.

All the rows in between these two should also be selected because you held down the Shift key.

3. Which selection tool could you have used to make this selection?

______________________________________________________________________________

o Now that you have made your selection, close the Table window, then right-click Hospitals andchoose Data > Export Data.

p In the Export Data dialog box:

• Make sure Export is set to Selected features.• For Use the same coordinate system as, choose this layer's source data.• Click the Browse button .

LESSON 9

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q In the Saving Data dialog box, save the data in the C:\Student\ARC1\OnlineFiles folder as ashapefile named LeeHospitals.shp.

r In the Export Data dialog box, click OK, then when prompted to add this layer to the map,choose No.

s Using the same process you followed to create the zip file for the Category3 shapefile, createa zipped shapefile for LeeHospitals.

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Once you have both the LeeHospitals and the Category3 files zipped, you can add them to yourweb map.

t Minimize ArcMap and maximize the ArcGIS Explorer Online window, then in the Add Contentwindow, click Import, then click Shapefile.

u In the Open dialog box, navigate to the C:\Student\ARC1\OnlineFiles folder, click one of thezip files you just created, then click Open.

v In the Import Shapefile dialog box, click OK to accept the default to Generalize features forweb display.

The zipped shapefile is added to the map.

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w Repeat this process to add the other shapefile.

x Just above the map display, click the Save button .

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y In the Save Map dialog box:

• For Title, type Lee County Hospitals at Risk.• Enter the following tags: Lee County, hospital, Florida, Storm Surge, Hurricane.• For Summary, type Lee County Hospitals at Risk From Category 3 Storm Surge.

z Click Save.

You now have a web map that shows the hospitals in Lee County and their proximity to aCategory 3 storm surge inundation. You could now share this map with members of yourorganization.

Next, you will create a presentation based on this web map.

Step 4: Create a presentation

a In ArcGIS Explorer Online, on the left, click the Layers button .

b Click the LeeCategory3 layer and choose Zoom To.

Now your map is centered on the area of interest.

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c Near the top of the window, click the Presentation tab.

d If you want, click the left arrow button to collapse the Layers list.

e Click the center of map display where it reads, Click to add the first slide.

f Zoom in to Cape Coral Hospital.

g Click where it says Click to add title.

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h Type Cape Coral Hospital.

i Click the New Slide button to add another slide to the presentation.

The map view looks the same, but the title you just typed was replaced by a new box where youcan add a title for this slide. Before you do, you will pan and zoom to another hospital.

j Zoom out, then pan and zoom in on the next closest hospital to the northeast.

k If necessary, click the hospital to identify it.

4. What is this hospital's name?

______________________________________________________________________________

l Close the pop-up window and, if necessary, pan to recenter the map on this hospital.

m Type the name of the hospital as the title for this slide.

n Click the New Slide button and repeat the process above to add a slide for each hospital inLee County.

Hint: There are five hospitals.

o Once you have created all five slides, click the Save button .

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p Click the Start Presentation button .

q If prompted to allow ArcGIS Explorer Online to stay in full-screen mode, click Yes.

The presentation opens in full-screen mode.

r Move your mouse over the presentation.

s Controls display at the bottom of the slide; these allow you to move through the presentation.

t Click the Next arrow to display the next slide.

u When you are finished navigating through the presentation, click the End Presentation button.

v Save the map.

w Using the skills you have learned, share your map with Everyone.

x Return to ArcGIS Online.

Hint: If necessary, open a new tab and navigate to www.arcgis.com.

y Click MY CONTENT to see that your web map is now listed in your content.

Step 5: (Optional) Remove the content you created

Each personal account registered with ArcGIS Online comes with 2 GB of total storage space.Over time, you may find that you are approaching your storage limit or that you no longer needsome of the content you have created, stored, and shared on ArcGIS Online.

It is a good idea to regularly clean out your ArcGIS Online account by deletingunwanted content. Even if you want to keep content, unsharing content after it nolonger needs to be shared is a good way to minimize irrelevant or outdated resultsfrom ArcGIS Online searches.

a To delete or unshare content you no longer need, open ArcGIS Online and, if necessary, log into your account.

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b If necessary, click MY CONTENT.

c To delete an item, simply check the item's box and then click Delete.

A Delete dialog box prompts you to make sure you are certain.

d In the Delete dialog box, click Delete.

e To keep an item, but stop sharing it, check the item's box and then click Share.

f In the Share dialog box, uncheck Everyone (or any other groups or organizations with whichyou have shared it), and then click OK.

You may share, unshare, or delete multiple items at a time.

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Lesson review

1. Your colleague, at another organization, has asked you to share a dataset you producedduring one of your recent analyses. You have clearance to share the data, but she needs tohave it display in her map just as it did in yours. Which of the following options will allowyou to send her this single dataset with the symbology preserved?

a. Layer package

b. LYR file

c. Zipped shapefile

d. Map package

2. You have created an ecological map of the United States as a part of your thesis. You'd liketo share the map over the Internet, but you don't have permission to provide copies of thedata. Which of the following options will allow you to easily and efficiently share the mapwith the general public?

a. Layer package

b. Map package

c. Web map

d. Presentation

3. You need to share a sensitive map document with another department, but they don't haveaccess to the server that it is stored on. You can't write to their server, and the file and dataare too large to e-mail. Which of the following options allows you to quickly and easilyprovide them with the map document and its supporting data?

a. Upload the MXD file to ArcGIS Online, which will automatically upload the data alongwith it.

b. Create a map package and upload it to ArcGIS Online, sharing it only with yourorganization.

c. Create a separate layer package for each of the files so they can rebuild the mapdocument.

d. Zip the map document and e-mail that.

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Exercise 9: Share hurricane analysis results (page 9-7)

1. Which kinds of data files can you import when creating a web map in ArcGIS ExplorerOnline? (Hint: TXT files aren't explicitly listed but are implied when CSV files arementioned—both are plain text files.)

You can import CSV files, shapefiles, and GPX files.

2. How does this list of files you can import differ from the ArcGIS.com map viewer?

It doesn't differ. You can add the same kinds of files to either application.

3. Which selection tool could you have used to make this selection?

You could also have used the Select By Attributes tool to make this selection.

4. What is this hospital's name?

This hospital is named Lee Memorial Hospital.

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Appendix A

A-2

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Exclusive Remedy and Limitation of Liability: During the warranty period, Licensee's exclusiveremedy and Esri's entire liability shall be the return of the license fee paid for the Training Courseupon the Licensee's deinstallation of all copies of the Training Course and providing aCertification of Destruction in a form acceptable to Esri.

IN NO EVENT SHALL ESRI OR ITS LICENSOR(S) BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE FOR COSTS OFPROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES, LOST PROFITS, LOST SALES ORBUSINESS EXPENDITURES, INVESTMENTS, OR COMMITMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH ANYBUSINESS, LOSS OF ANY GOODWILL, OR FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, AND/OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR USE OF THETRAINING COURSE, HOWEVER CAUSED, ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, AND WHETHER ORNOT ESRI OR ITS LICENSOR(S) HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.THESE LIMITATIONS SHALL APPLY NOTWITHSTANDING ANY FAILURE OF ESSENTIALPURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY.

No Implied Waivers: No failure or delay by Esri or its licensor(s) in enforcing any right or remedyunder this Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of any future or other exercise of such rightor remedy by Esri or its licensor(s).

Order for Precedence: This Agreement shall take precedence over the terms and conditions ofany purchase order or other document, except as required by law or regulation.

Export Regulation: Licensee acknowledges that the Training Course and all underlyinginformation or technology may not be exported or re-exported into any country to which the U.S.has embargoed goods, or to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department's list of SpeciallyDesignated Nationals, or to the U.S. Commerce Department's Table of Deny Orders. Licenseeshall not export the Training Course or any underlying information or technology to any facility inviolation of these or other applicable laws and regulations. Licensee represents and warrants thatit is not a national or resident of, or located in or under the control of, any country subject to suchU.S. export controls.

Esri data license agreement

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Severability: If any provision(s) of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal, orunenforceable by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction, the validity, legality, andenforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Governing Law: This Agreement, entered into in the County of San Bernardino, shall beconstrued and enforced in accordance with and be governed by the laws of the United States ofAmerica and the State of California without reference to conflict of laws principles.

Entire Agreement: The parties agree that this Agreement constitutes the sole and entireagreement of the parties as to the matter set forth herein and supersedes any previousagreements, understandings, and arrangements between the parties relating hereto.

Appendix A

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BSuitable projections

Table 1: Projections Suitable for World Maps

Property Projection

Conformal (maintain shape) • Mercator• Hotine Oblique Mercator

Equal Area (maintain area) • Mollweide• Goode's Homolosine• Eckert IV & VI

Equidistant (maintain distance) • Azimuthal Equidistant• Equidistant Cylindrical

Straight lines of direction • Mercator

Compromise • Winkel Tripel• Miller Cylindrical• Robinson

Suitable projections

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Table 2: Projections Suitable for aHemisphere

Property Projection

Conformal Stereographic

Equal Area Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area

Equidistant Azimuthal Equidistant

Compromise Vertical Perspective

Table 3: Projections Suitable for a Country, City or Smaller Area

Area of Interest Directional Extent Property Projection

Near equator East-West • Conformal• Equal Area

• Mercator• Cylindrical Equal Area

Mid-latitudes or polarregions

• Conformal• Equal Area

• Lambert ConformalConic

• Albers

Oriented along a meridian North-South • Conformal• Equal Area

• Transverse Mercator• Cylindrical Equal Area

Anywhere Oblique • Conformal• Equal Area

• Hotine ObliqueMercator

• Lambert Azimuthal

Similar in alldirections

• Conformal• Equal Area

• Stereographic• Lambert Azimuthal

Any directionalextent

• Equidistant• Compromise

• Equidistant Conic• Vertical Perspective

Table 9.5

Appendix B

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CCourse roadmapThis course is one of the foundational courses for a wide variety of Esri course offerings. The pathyou take after having completed the foundational courses depends on the role you play withinyour organization and the tasks you perform most often.

The courses listed are just a fraction of the total number of courses offered by Esri. For moreinformation about Esri Training, visit www.esri.com/training.

Course roadmap

C-1

DAnswers to lesson review questions

Lesson 1: The ArcGIS system (page 1-7)

1. ArcGIS is a comprehensive system that enables everyone to work with and applygeographic information.

a. True

2. ArcGIS Online is a website that can be used by anyone interested in finding, using, sharing,and/or creating rich, interactive, intelligent maps.

3. Which ArcGIS system component is designed to allow GIS professionals to compile, use,and manage geographic information?


4. Which ArcGIS system component is designed to allow GIS professionals and anyone toshare resources created using ArcGIS for Desktop via the web?

c. ArcGIS Online

5. Which ArcGIS system component is designed to be used by anyone who wants to connectto and work with ArcGIS using devices such as the iPhone, Android, Windowssmartphones, tablets, etc?


Answers to lesson review questions

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Lesson 2: The basics of GIS (page 2-21)

1. Based on your current understanding, how would you define GIS?

A GIS integrates five key components (people, hardware, software, data, andworkflows) as a system used to manage, process, and display spatial and attributeinformation for features and phenomenon in the physical world. The combined spatialand attribute data is called geographic information.

2. During this lesson, five basic reasons to use GIS were discussed. Which of those five bestmatches how you will be using GIS? Provide an example to support your selection.

The reasons to use a GIS are nearly as infinite as the features and phenomenon youcan map, although the questions you are asking or problems you are trying to solvecan generally be sorted into common categories. For example, you may be interestedin mapping where things are, such as customer addresses, newly opened franchiselocations, polar bear sightings, or streetlights throughout the city. Or perhaps youwant to create maps that show where there are more of a particular feature orphenomenon or where the concentration is greatest. You might also map therelationship between features to show which features are nearest to, within, outside,or adjacent to other features.

Appendix D

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Lesson 3: Understanding GIS data (page 3-24)

1. Vector data models real-world features as points, lines, and polygons.

2. The raster data model represents the surface of the earth as a grid of equally sized cells.

3. Both vector and raster data can be stored in a geodatabase.

a. True

4. You open a table and see that it has no Shape field. What does this indicate?

A table without a Shape field indicates that it is a stand-alone table. If the tablecontains spatial data, you may be able to convert the table to a feature class orshapefile, which can be drawn on a map.

5. Information that describes data in ArcGIS is called metadata.

Lesson 3: Understanding GIS data

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Lesson 4: The importance of coordinate systems (page 4-38)

1. Some coordinate systems preserve all four properties, while others distort one or more.

b. False

2. Coordinate systems that are based on a 3-D spherical model of the earth are calledgeographic coordinate systems. The values in this type of coordinate system are usuallylatitude and longitude.

3. You open a map document to find that the layers do not line up properly. What might thisindicate?

If the layers in your map do not line up properly, they may have different GCSs. Aseach layer is added, ArcMap will check to see whether its geographic coordinatesystem matches the rest of the data in the data frame. If it does not, ArcMap willprompt you to select an appropriate geographic transformation. Failing to apply anappropriate transformation will cause the data to be misaligned.

4. Projected coordinate systems are based on a flat, 2-D surface. The units for thesecoordinate systems are generally feet or meters.

5. You are creating a map that will be used to subdivide various lots throughout the city.Which spatial property should your map projection preserve?

b. Area

6. If you were mapping a flight from Toronto, Canada to Barrow, Alaska, which type ofprojection could you use to determine how far the plane would need to fly?

You could use an equidistant projection, as this would accurately measure distancefrom one or two points to any other point.

Appendix D

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Lesson 5: Acquiring and selecting GIS data (page 5-30)

1. This lesson introduced eight important considerations when evaluating data. List all eight.

Format, Spatial reference, Source, Metadata, Attributes, Currency, Scale, and Useconstraints.

2. When evaluating data for a project, which of the following considerations allows you todetermine whether the data can be redistributed?

b. The use constraints

3. Which of the following methods can you use to get data into a geodatabase?

d. All of the above

Lesson 5: Acquiring and selecting GIS data

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Lesson 6: Using ArcGIS Online resources (page 6-31)

1. A web map may contain more than one GIS service.

a. True

2. By default, ArcGIS Online shows web content only, which includes web and mobileapplications, and web maps and tools. If you are looking for content to add to ArcGIS forDesktop, you will need to change the setting to show All Content.

3. How do you determine the use constraints for an item on ArcGIS Online?

b. Open the item's Details page.

4. Your organization needs to download a dataset of Australia's historic earthquakes that theycan use in ArcGIS for Desktop. When searching ArcGIS Online for "AustralianEarthquakes," which of the following file types should you search for?

d. Layer packages

Appendix D

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Lesson 7: Interacting with a map in ArcGIS for Desktop (page 7-34)

1. List aspects of a map that can affect your ability to interpret it properly.

The symbols in a map should be intuitive and follow standard conventions for mapmaking (e.g., water should be blue). By default, ArcMap assigns a random color and astandard symbol to each layer you add to map. When symbols more closely match thefeatures they represent, it is instantly easier to decipher the message of the map.Adding elements to your map, such as a legend and a title, can also help convey themap's message.

2. Using the zoom tools in a map changes which of the following?

d. All of the above.

3. Viewing a dataset's changes over time requires that the dataset be time-enabled.

a. True

Lesson 7: Interacting with a map in ArcGIS for Desktop

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Lesson 8: Performing spatial analysis (page 8-33)

1. List the steps of the geographic approach.

1. Ask a geographic question.2. Acquire geographic data.3. Examine geographic data.4. Analyze geographic information.5. Act of geographic knowledge.

2. You are creating a city map for delivery drivers, but the streets data you have covers theentire county. Which tool would allow you to reduce the number of streets features basedon an extent of the city boundary?

b. Clip

3. Geoprocessing tools generally perform an operation on geographic data and often returnan output dataset.

a. True

4. You are looking for places within a mile of a river where there are habitats of multiplespecies. Which Overlay tool could you use to combine features from multiple layers (e.g.,the habitat data with the river buffer) to output only those habitats located within theone-mile buffer zone?

c. Intersect

5. A tanker truck has crashed on the highway, releasing a cloud of hazardous fumes. You needto quickly create a map that identifies the affected area, a polygon that surrounds the crashsite by five miles in all directions. Which Proximity tool could you use to accomplish thistask?

a. Buffer

Appendix D

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Lesson 9: Sharing results (page 9-39)

1. Your colleague, at another organization, has asked you to share a dataset you producedduring one of your recent analyses. You have clearance to share the data, but she needs tohave it display in her map just as it did in yours. Which of the following options will allowyou to send her this single dataset with the symbology preserved?

a. Layer package

2. You have created an ecological map of the United States as a part of your thesis. You'd liketo share the map over the Internet, but you don't have permission to provide copies of thedata. Which of the following options will allow you to easily and efficiently share the mapwith the general public?

c. Web map

3. You need to share a sensitive map document with another department, but they don't haveaccess to the server that it is stored on. You can't write to their server, and the file and dataare too large to e-mail. Which of the following options allows you to quickly and easilyprovide them with the map document and its supporting data?

b. Create a map package and upload it to ArcGIS Online, sharing it only with yourorganization.

Lesson 9: Sharing results

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