Module 4: Creating a Quick Map

Sarah HartsburgGIS Tech, Contractor for NPS Fire GISsarah_hartsburg@contractor.nps.gov

Module Objectives

•Describe NWCG GIS SOPs for incident mapping

•Review required elements for fire maps

•Demonstrate creating a quick map using a map template

GIS Standard Operating Procedures for Incidents (GSTOP)

•Developed to provide consistency in GIS products and services, will be met by all NWCG participating agencies

•Focus is on work performed by GIS Specialist (GISS)

•Useful as guidelines for any fire personnel making maps

Why GIS SOPs?

•Ensure critical information is conveyed in fire maps

•Promote consistency which allows users to quickly and efficiently understand critical information that is being communicated in map

What Do SOPS Include?

•Expectations for GISS•File Naming and directory structure•Documentations and metadata•Minimum essential datasets•Map symbology•Map products•Data sharing, backup and archiving•Team transition

SOPS as Guidance for Creating a Quick Map

Minimum Essential Datasets

Describe base data need to meet map and analysis needs on an incident.

Map Symbology

Consistent symbology allows firefightes to quickly and easily understand information being presented in the map.

SOPS as Guidance for Creating a Quick Map – Page 2

SOPS as Guidance for Creating a Quick Map – Page 3

• Map Products

• GSTOP provides guidance on datasets/elements to be used in creating different map products to ensure that the maps will work for the primary intended use.

Required Elements for All Maps

STANDL

Scale Bar Title Author North Arrow Date Legend

SOPS as Guidance for Creating a Quick Map – Page 4

Optional Map Elements for All Maps

SGD

Source Statement Graticule/Grid Datum

SOPS as Guidance for Creating a Quick Map – Page 5

Demo - Creating a Quick Map Using a Template

Map Product

Purpose

Required Elements

Wrap Up

•Overview of NWCG GIS SOPs for incident mapping

•Review of required elements for fire maps

•Demonstrate creating a quick map using a map template

Questions??

Open ArcMap

1. Open a new blank ArcMap document

2. Toggle to Data View

3. Turn on the toolbars you’ll want to use – Draw, Editor, Layout, Standard and Tools will be used in this demo

Add Base Data

1. Click the Add Data icon on the standard toolbar.

2. Navigate to the folder that holds your base data

3. Select the file(s) you want to add, and hit ADD

Add Incident Data

1. Click the Add Data icon again

2. Navigate to the folder that holds your incident data

3. Select the file(s) you want to add, and hit ADD

4. Zoom into the area of your data

Add Symbology

1. Download/copy the NWCG style file to your computer.

2. In ArcMap,on the menu click Customize> Style Manager

3. Select Add Style to List and navigate to the location where you’ve saved the style file.

4. Highlight the file, click Open then hit OK.

Add Symbology (con’t.)

1. In the Style Manager window, you will see a folder with the name of the file you added

2. Expand it and click on any of the yellow folders

3. You should be able to see the symbology you’ve added to ArcMap

Add Symbology – Page 2

1. When possible use NWCG standard map symbology for points, lines and polygons

2. Double click on the symbol below your fire perimeter

3. Symbolize the line as Uncontrolled Fire

Symbolize Based on Feature Attributes

1. Right click on the layer containing points and open the attribute table, and look at the data

2. Note the different types of points contained in the layer and the field “Type” that can be used to distinguish the points.

3. Close the attribute table

Symbolize Based on Feature Attributes (cont.)1. Right click on the layer

containing points, select Properties, and click on the Symbology tab

2. On the left side of the dialog box, choose Categories and Unique Values

3. In the Value Field, select Type

4. At the bottom of the box, select Add All Values

5. Double Click on the symbol next to each value to select a symbol for the point

6. Hit OK

Add Labels – Label all features in a layer the same way1. Right click on the points

layer 2. Click on Label Features3. All the features in that

layer should now have labels

4. To change the appearance of the labels, right click on the layer again and open the Properties window

5. Open the Labels tab6. Below Text Symbol

Change size, color, symbol as needed

Add Labels – Label Features in Same Layer Differently1. Right click on layer, open

Properties, open the Labels tab

2. Change drop down menu next to Method to “Define classes of features and label each class differently”

3. Click Get Symbol Classes

4. Choose Drop Point from the Class list

5. Check Label Features6. Label Field is “Label”7. Change size, color,

symbol as needed

Add Labels - Label Features in Same Layer Differently (con’t.)

1. Choose Water Source from the Class menu

2. Uncheck Label features in this class

3. Hit OK

Add Labels – Scale Labels by Setting Reference Scale

1. Zoom into the desired scale

2. Right click on the Data Frame

3. Select Reference Scale > Set Reference Scale

Apply Map Template

1. Toggle to switch to Layout View or click View on the main menu and select Layout View

2. On the Layout toolbar, click the Change Layout icon.

3. Navigate to your map template, hit OK

4. Hit Finish.

Remember the Required Map Elements…

1. Scale

2. Title

3. Author

4. North Arrow

5. Date

6. Legend

And the Recommended Map Elements? They are Provided in the Template

1. Source Statement

2. Graticle/Grid

3. Datum

Working with the Map Template

1. The layout toolbar icons allow you to zoom in/out, and pan the map layout rather than the data

2. Use the Zoom tool on the Layout tool bar to zoom into the Title box

3. Right click on the box again and select properties

4. Edit the text in the box 5. Hit OK

Map Template - continued

1. Right click on the Legend and select Ungroup

2. Remove the Legend Items you haven’t used in your map by selecting them and deleting them

Working with the Map Template (con’t.)1. Click the Zoom to 100%

icon to take a closer look at your map

2. Check for spelling errors

3. Look at labels to make sure they are the right size, aren’t covering any important information on the map

4. Click the Fit to Page icon

5. Make sure the area included in your map is what you want it to be

Export a Geo-enabled PDF1. From the Menu, select

File > Export

2. Choose PDF as Type

3. Under Options, select the Advanced Tab and check Export Map Georeference Information

4. Name your map document and save.