lab assignment 4 basics of arcgis server -...

GEOG677 – Internet GIS University of Maryland at College Park

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Lab Assignment 4 – Basics of ArcGIS Server

Due Date: 01/19/2012

Overview

This lab assignment is designed to help you develop a good understanding about the basics of

ArcGIS Server and how it works. You will go through the entire process of creating and

publishing a Web GIS application.

Specifically, your tasks in this exercise include:

Author content for a GIS service

Connect to the GIS server

Publish GIS services

Create a Web GIS application

Before you accomplish these tasks, make sure you are able to login the server successfully and

become familiar with it.

Data to be used:

You are going to use a variety of data about the State of Maryland including:

MD_Bnd.shp: state boundary

MD_Cnty.shp: county boundary

MD_FireStations.shp: fire stations

MD_Hospitals.shp: hospitals

MD_PoliceStations.shp: police stations

MD_Schools.shp: all schools of different levels

MD_Highways.shp: highways

Suppose you work for FEMA, it will be very helpful to make these data available on the Web in

order to raise the awareness of emergency resources in the State of Maryland. Certain GIS

functions can be added to further facilitate the use of these data. That is exactly what you need to

do in this lab assignment.


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Part I: Getting to Know ArcGIS Server: An Example

ArcGIS Server is a complete and integrated GIS that provides a set of software components and

a framework for developing centrally managed GIS applications. It allows users to distribute

maps and GIS capabilities over the Web.

ArcGIS Server has become increasingly popular because of its flexibility (Java or .NET) and

versatility (not just Web mapping, but also geoprocessing, editing, and support most ESRI

extensions such as Network Analyst.). Therefore, it is important to develop a good understanding

about this technology.

Your first task is to read the two documents – “ArcGIS Server Concepts and Terminology” and

“Intro to ArcGIS Server” which I posted on Blackboard under Course Documents > Module 5.

You should be able to answer the following questions:

1. What are the components of the ArcGIS Server system?

2. What is SOM?

3. What is SOC?

4. What types of GIS services can you publish?

5. What are the clients that can use GIS services?

6. What are the three steps to enable Web GIS?

Below is an example to show what a Web GIS application is and also the detailed steps to

illustrate how this application was created using ArcGIS server.

Note:

Part I is only for reading and you don’t need to do anything. You can also use the

same data of the example and go through those steps for practice.

If you are familiar with these steps, you can skip to Part II.

In Part II, you will use a different dataset to create your own application which must meet

some minimum requirements but have room for you to be creative.


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1. The Example

Here is the link: http://129.2.24.163/Lab4_jma3_demo/

This Web GIS application delivers some general data about USA including state boundaries,

cities, rivers, lakes, and highways.

On the top of the Web page, there is a title along with some links. The title should be descriptive

and yet concise. The links should be closely related to the Web application and its author. Or,

links should be added to provide assistance to the users.

On the top-right corner of the Web page, there is a row of tools including Zoom-in/out, Pan, Full

Extent, Identify, Measure, etc. These tools were created by default when the Web application

was created.

Notice that there are some additional tools (tasks) at the top-left corner. These tools can help

enhance the Web application.

http://129.2.24.163/Lab4_jma3_demo/


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Because there are multiple data layers, the map may look over-crowded if all layers are displayed

at the same time, especially at small scale. Thus, it is helpful to define scale ranges for certain

data layers. And scale ranges can be applied to labels as well. In this example, scale ranges have

been applied to data layers – Cities, Roads, and States.

If there are multiple polygon layers, it also helps by making the layers on the top semi-

transparent. In this example, the data layer – Lakes, has been made 50% transparent in order to

see the state boundary underneath.

2. Steps

There are three general procedures to enable GIS on the Internet:

1. Author GIS service content

2. Publish GIS resources as services

Can use either ArcCatalog or ArcGIS Server Manager

3. Use GIS services

Create Web mapping applications

Mobile applications

Desktop applications

Others

Step 1: Author GIS service content

The GIS service content that can be created includes: 2D maps, 3D maps, 3D globes,

geodatabases, and GIS functionality such as locators and geoprocessing models.

You have two options to create the map documents:

1. Create the map document on your local computer and then upload the files to the server.

Upload the data along with the .mxd file. In this case, you should set the data

source in relative path in the map document.

Or, since the lab4 data has already been saved within a folder on the server –

“C:\Workspace\Geog677\Winter2012\Labs\Lab4”, you can upload the .mxd file

to the server and then change the data source.

2. Login to the server and then create the map document there.

For the best visualization effect on the Web later on, you will need to define symbology properly

at this stage. For example,

Arrange appropriate sequence of the data layers in the Table of Content

Select appropriate and descriptive symbols for different features.

Choose appropriate colors

Decide appropriate text font, size, and color for labels.

Define appropriate scale ranges to features as well as labels.

Set transparency ratio for certain polygon layers


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Note: These settings will be automatically inherited once the map is published on the Web.

Therefore, it is important to define those settings properly NOW.

Make sure all the data layers have spatial references, i.e. all datasets are properly

projected. Ideally, they should use the same coordinate system.

There are no specific rules or requirements to define the symbology. The bottom line is to make

a map more presentable and easier to read.

In this particular example, I have defined the scale ranges as following:

Minimum Scale Maximum Scale

USA_Cities

Features 1:4,000,000 <None>

Labels 1:3,000,000 <None>

USA_Roads Features 1:32,000,000 <None>

USA_States Labels 1:10,000,000 1:4,000,000

Step 2: Connect to a GIS Server

Before you can publish GIS services, you must establish an administration connection to the

ArcGIS server. This means that the account you use to connect to the server must be a member

of the ArcGIS Server Administration group (i.e. agsadmin).

I have already assigned you with an “agsadmin” role on the server. To connect to the ArcGIS

server, you will follow the procedures below:

1. Go to this link: http://129.2.24.163/ArcGIS/Manager/

2. For the user name, type in "hyperion\user_id". You will replace the "user_id" with your

own email id.

3. If you took Geog788R (Web Programming) last fall, you can use the same password to

login. Otherwise, you should use the password - "Geog677_W12 ". (You must change

the password immediately after login. Be sure to remember it because I will not be able

to retrieve it if you forget.)

http://129.2.24.163/ArcGIS/Manager/


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Note: Before you try to login the ArcGIS Server Manager, you must use Remote Desktop to

login to the server first, which will activate your “agsadmin” role.

ArcGIS Server Manager is a Web-based administration tool that allows you to create geospatial

enterprise applications that showcase the geographic information running on your server. You

can create and provide geospatial services such as mapping, querying, routing, and geocoding.

The easy-to-use interface is intended for people with little or no application development

experience. Without programming, you will be able to create powerful mapping applications.

You can also view the log files and monitor the server security.

Step 3: Publish a map service using ArcGIS Server Manager

There are two options of publishing GIS services: ArcCatalog and ArcGIS Server Manager.

In this exercise, you are going to use the second option. With the Web-based ArcGIS Server

Manager, you can administer the GIS server and any of the GIS services it provides. You can

also take advantage of easy-to-use wizards to quickly create Web mapping applications.

Click the Services tab. The Manage Services panel displays any services that have been

published at the root level of the server.

Now, click Publish a GIS Resource and then the browse icon next to Resource textbox.

Navigate the folders until “\\HYPERION\Geog677\Winter2012\Labs\Lab4” where you will see a

list of map documents under this folder. One of these documents will be created by you later in

Part II.

Note: Only shared folders appear in the File Browser and thus accessible by SOCs. I have

already defined “C:\workspace\Geog677” as a shared folder.

I select my own document - “Lab4_jma3.mxd” for Resource.


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Follow the instructions and finish the process.

Now, you should be able to see a new GIS service has been created and it is named –

“Lab4_userid”.

Click on the “+” sign to expand the services. A thumb-nailed preview and properties of each

service are displayed.


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Step 4: Create a Web mapping application

Now that you have a map service running on the GIS server, you can start to create a Web

mapping application so that other people can also see and interact with them via a Web browser.

On the ArcGIS Server Manager window, click the Applications tab. The Web Applications panel

will display any applications that have been previously created. On this panel, you can also edit

or delete existing applications, besides creating new ones.

Note:

When you are working on this lab assignment, you will likely see some Web applications

that would have been created by other students. Please don’t try to edit or delete any

applications that are not created by you.

Click “Create Web Application”. Fill the name and description. You may want to stick with the

same name, i.e. Lab4_userid (replace the userid with your own).


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Note: The name may contain spaces and numbers, but not special characters such as “]”, “;”,

“&”, etc. Underscore is perfectly fine.

Click Next.

On the panel below, you need to specify the layers for the new application. A layer can be any

service that is available there.

Click Add Layer.

In the Add Layers dialog box (see image shown on next page), there are two types of connection

to the GIS server: Internet and Local.

You will double-click on the first one – “http://hyperion/servermpsarcgis/services”.

Navigate and select your map service – “Lab4_userid”.

Click on the layer to view the Layer Properties.


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Expand the “+” sign in front of the selected layer to see all individual layers included.

Here you can modify how symbols will display when a feature is drawn or highlighted as the

result of a task (e.g. query).

Click on the Fields tab. All fields will be listed there. You can decide exactly which fields you

want to display on the map.

Click Next.

The new panel allows you to choose the tasks (i.e. tools or functions) for the new application.

Note: Some tasks require a supporting GIS service. For example, the Find Address task requires

a geocoding service. (You will do this in Lab5.) If you don’t have the required supporting

service, you cannot include that particular task in your Web mapping application.

Click Add Task. I would select the following tasks:

1. Query Attributes

2. Search Attributes

3. Print


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Now we need to define the details about each task.

First, select Query Attributes.

Then, click “Configure…” button.

Fill the task Name and Button Text.

Click the Settings tab.

Choose the specific lay which you want to query on. In this case, I chose “USA_States”. See

image below.

Now, you need to define the Query expression properties.

I decided to set the Label Text as “Find a State”. And then I chose the field as STATE_NAME.

There are two options when creating a query. One option allows the users to enter the input by

themselves. Another option is the users will be provided with a pre-defined list of choices.

Click Get Sample Values. A list of values for STATE_NAME is generated.


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Similarly, I followed the instructions and defined the task – Search Attributes.


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Lastly, define the task – Print.

This task is very useful because it allows the users to create customized maps based on their

interests and needs. For example, the resulting map from a query can be saved and printed as a

map.

I can specify which map elements to be included on the customized map (e.g. legend, north

arrow, and scale bar). The legend can be further defined in terms of exact layers to be included.

Click Next until you are asked to enter a title and choose a theme for the new application.

There are three default links to ESRI sites. In this case, I decided to replace them with some links

that are more relevant.

MPSGIS Program – http://www.geog.umd.edu/gis

Dept. of Geography – http://www.geog.umd.edu

University of Maryland – http://www.umd.edu

You can add any Website or many if you want to. However, it is a bad idea to place too many

links there.

Note:

Whenever you add a new link, you must save it by clicking on the pen icon or hit the

“Enter” key. Otherwise, the new link will be lost when you move on to next step.

http://www.geog.umd.edu/gis

http://www.geog.umd.edu/

http://www.umd.edu/


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Click Next. On this panel, it allows you to specify the map elements that you want to display on

the Web application. In this case, I left most of them as default. However, I decided to specify

the Map Copy Right information.

On the Properties panel, I specified the copyright information. The Label text entered will appear

as a link. When users click this link, the text that was entered in the Description box will display.

Be sure the boxes for all of the map elements are checked and then click Next.

Click Next and then Finish to create the Web application.

A new window of the Web browser should open and display the Web application.

If the pop-up blocker is turned on your Web browser, it might prevent the Web application form

launching. If this occurs, you need to make sure this site is not blocked from now on.

The URL of this new Web application is: http://hyperion/Lab4_jma3_demo/ (locally) or

http://129.2.24.163/Lab4_jma3_demo/ (Internet)

Now anyone with Internet connection will be able to see this Web GIS application, i.e.

“consuming” these GIS services.

http://hyperion/Lab4_jma3_demo/

http://129.2.24.163/Lab4_jma3_demo/


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Part II: Getting Started with ArcGIS Server

Assuming you have read the Part I, you can now start to work and create your own Web

application following similar procedures.

Your tasks and the requirements are: Go to ELMS, download the data if you want to create the map document on your local

computer.

Unzip the data and save them on your local computer.

Launch ArcMap and add the data layers.

Define the symbology.

o You can be creative here. However, your map must meet the following minimum

requirements:

You must set certain data layer as semi-transparent.

You must define and apply scale range for at least one feature layer.

You must define and apply scale range for the labeling text of at least one

feature layer. (Don’t forget to turn on the labels first.)

You also should use the meaningful icons/symbols to represent those

features. An example is shown below.


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Save the map document. o Make sure you set the data source using relative paths. (In ArcMap, click File >

Document Properties… > Data Source Options… and then check the option to store

relative path names to data sources.) o The map document must be named as “Lab4_userid” where the userid should be replaced

with your own.

Upload the map document to the server through Remote Desktop. Make sure you save it

under the folder – “C:\WorkSpace\Geog677\Winter2012\Labs\Lab4\”. Then, open it and

make sure it works fine. If the map layers are missing, you need to repair the data

sources.

You will create a Web application by following similar steps described in Part I.

o You can be creative in terms of defining some settings or adding new tasks.

However, your application must meet the following minimum requirements:

You must include these two tasks: Query Attributes, Search Attributes,

and Print.

You must customize those default ESRI links.

You must modify the copyright information and include your name in it.

Once you finished creating the Web application, you need to create a Word document in

which you should write down the URLs of your Web pages and then a few screen shots.

o The URL should be like this: http://129.2.24.163/Lab4_userid (replace the userid

with your own.)

o You need to test to make sure the Web application works fine before sending out

the URL.

Submit the lab report document through Lab 4 on ELMS. The deadline is 01/19/2012.

You can also directly create the map document on the server using ArcMap because the data has

already been saved under the folder - “C:\WorkSpace\Geog677\Winter2012\Labs\Lab4\”. That

way, you don’t have to upload the file.

Again, as a reminder, you can be creative as long as your result meets the minimum requirements

indicated above.

----- THE END -----

http://129.2.24.163/Lab4_userid