University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) College of Civil Engineering
CEG 468/668 GIS Applications in Civil Engineering
Syllabus for the Spring 2006 Semester
http://www.ce.unlv.edu/Courses/CEG_468/cee468s06.html
http://www.ce.unlv.edu/~jensenf/cee468s06.html

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Introduction: Instructor, Grad Assist, & Lab Monitors

• Instructor: Jeffery J. Jensen, P.E., Work Address: Clark County Development Services, 500 S Grand Central Pkwy, PO Box 551799, Las Vegas NV 89155-1799. Email: jjensen@co.clark.nv.us, Voice: 702-455-0301, Fax: 702-388-7212
• Other Dude: Ching, ccwang@co.clark.nv.us, same work address
• UNLV College of Civil Engineering Office Assistant - Levia Lanier, Work: 702-895-3701 and Viaretta Keith, viaretta.keith@unlv.edu, work: 702-895-3701, fax: 702-895-3936
• Lab Monitors: Roy Hessinger, Technology Administrator for College of Engineering. Email: roy.hessinger@ccmail.nevada.edu, Tel 702-895-2459, Pager: 702-892-4054, Office: CEB Engineering Annex 177, across from the Sidewalk Cafe.
• UNLV Representative for ESRI Software and Virtual Campus Code Requests - Darrell Lutey. Email: darrell.lutey@ccmail.nevada.edu, Tel 702-895-0763, Office CBC-B130 with Campus Computing Services
  • Online Engineering Account Application: Student or Faculty, account will be ready for pickup the next business day in Roy's office or TBE-A311.
  • A311 Generic Login: student Password: (must login to the local computer, not the EGR domain)
  • Problems with www.ce.unlv.edu, contact Trevor Wilcox (staff@egr.unlv.edu) Andrew Gray (grayaw@egr.unlv.edu) or Keith Rinaldo at staff@egr.unlv.edu, Tel 702-895-1563, Office: TBE-B377
  • TBE-A311 lab monitors, Tel 702-895-4236
  • TBE-B367 Lab Setup: 9 computers on north wall, 7 computers on south wall, and 2 rows of 8 computers in middle of lab.
  • CBC B131 has an 11x17 printer

Location and Time

UNLV College of Engineering Room TBE-B367 (Computers: 32 for students & 1 for instructor)

Tuesday nights, 7:00-9:30PM

Objective

Make Great Civil Engineers. To develop sufficient knowledge in each student on how to use, gather, and create spatial data to solve problems in civil engineering.

Prerequisites

CEG 201, and any one of CEG 362, 334, 452, 453

Textbook-Required

Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop, 2nd Edition
by Tim Ormsby, Eileen Napoleon, Robert Burke, Carolyn Groess, and Laura Feaster
ISBN 1-879102-89-7

GIS Tutorial: Workbook for ArcView 9
by Wilpen L. Gorr and Kristen S. Kurland
ISBN 1-58948-127-5

Textbook-Recommended

Microsoft Access 2002: Level 1 computer training courseware. Clark County University, licensed from CustomGuide, Inc. 1502 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis MN 55403. 888-903-2432. www.customguide.com

Microsoft Access 2002: Level 2 computer training courseware. Clark County University, licensed from CustomGuide, Inc. 1502 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis MN 55403. 888-903-2432. www.customguide.com

Software-Required

• GIS - ArcView by ESRI
  • Jan 2006, ESRI started a new program for Site License schools such as UNLV. ESRI will ship 1 Year Time out software to instructors at universities with ESRI Site License free of charge for distribution to students. For more info see Jeff Jensen. Beth, ESRI Customer Service 888-377-4575x1887, Fax 909-307-3083
  • ESRI's ArcView 9 (180-day trial CD-ROM comes with book). If you don't have the book, can order a free 60-day evaluation copy of ArcView GIS 9 on CD-ROM by filling out this form. Note, ArcView 9 will not run on Windows 98 or ME editions. For software support, recommend using the ESRI Online Support Center Discussion Forums
  • Student version of ArcView 9 Single User is available $250 from Hema Morar (hmorar@esri.com), Telebusiness at ESRI. 800-447-9778x1194 or Cambria Happ (chapp@esri.com) 800-447-9778x1588. This student version doesn't require hardware keys. Also it doesn't come with maintenance (free upgrades or tech support). The software does come with manuals. Will have to use the online Discussion Forums and Knowledge Base for any questions regarding ArcView. Student must pay full retail price for ArcEditor ($7,000) or ArcInfo ($14,000). The ArcGIS extensions can also be purchased separately for $250 each (note when ArcGIS upgrades, so do the extensions, so I recommend waiting on this). For example the ArcGIS 3D Analyst 9 normally sells for $2,500 but as a student, can get if for $250. This applies to ArcPress, Spatial Analyst, and Geostatistical Analyst. StreetMap is only $95. Students are able to purchase ArcGIS as long as they meet the following criteria: for Grad and PhD students) must be enrolled in a class, for Undergrad students, must be enrolled in more than 6 units or taking a GIS class at the time of purchase, for Universities) must provide a current course schedule. If you don't want to supply this info to ESRI, I can fax Cambria (Fax: 909-307-3049) with your name on UNLV cover letter as proof of you being a student. Once Cambria has the list, you can call her directly and purchase the software with a credit card.
• Database - Microsoft Access
  • Will be using Access 2002 in the lab
  • Can purchase educational version from Microsoft

Software-Recommened

• GNU Awk (gawk) windows compiled version gawk 3.1.5
• MapGuide 6.3 Viewer-IE
• ER Mapper 6.4
• ArcView 8.x ECW plugin.
• ArcPress for ArcGIS
• Freeware PDF and PostScript viewer GSview4.6 and free PDF creator Ghostscript 8.13
• SSH 3.2 to write to the http://www.ce.unlv.edu/Courses/CEG_468/ directory, /homes/cewww/Courses/CEG_468. SSH allows direct telnet and ftp to ftp.egr.unlv.edu student.egr.unlv.edu. Login name: jensenf (instructor), navigate to /homes/cewww/Courses/CEG_468.Microsoft has a Knowledge Base ID on Using FTP Batch Script (Q96269) which is needed to automate download procedures.
• Adobe Acrobat 7

Instructor's Expectations from Students

• Assignments Submitted on Due Date
  • Primary reason why past students didn't get an A in the course.
  • Avoid Procrastination
    • Set Priorities in your life
    • Get Started - trick yourself into saying you will quick in 5 minutes. Will notice once you begun, its not that bad.
    • Divide and Conqure - break things down into smaller pieces.
    • "Swiss Cheese" Method - start anywhere in the project, doesn't have to be done sequentially.
    • Set a deadline
    • Focus on the end results, not on the path getting there
    • Reward yourself when you reach a milepost
    • "Do Nothing" Method - sit quitely and do nothing. After sometime will realize working on the project is more enjoyable.
• Belief you know databases and GIS
  • "Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right" (Quote by Henry Ford)
  • Desire to learn the software (not surf on the internet during class)
  • Will have multiple opportunites to learn (what more can I do?)
    • Textbook Reading Assignment
    • Listen to Lecture
    • Lecture Notes
    • In Class Assignment
    • Homework Assignments
    • Class Project
    • GIS Tutorial Workbook
    • ESRI Virtual Campus Computer Assignments
    • Reading Assignment Quizes
    • Final Exam
    • Freedom to collaborate with other students
• Come to class prepared
  • Assignments completed and material read
• Communication
  • ask and answer questions
  • "...ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2)
• Enhance your Creativity, not stifle your imagination

Student's Expectations from Instructor

• Ability to effectively teach GIS concepts to each student
• Provide clear instructions on the assignments
• Ensure students have access to the lab (A311& B367)
• Stimulate the mind with new concepts
• Demonstrate real world applications
• Sincerely address the concerns of each student

Learning Objectives - what the students learn is more important than what the instructor teaches

• Students knowledge they apply the GIS tool to solve problems
• Students can create plots in ArcMap. Know how to add layers, label & symbolize features
• Students can generate reports from a tabular database
• Students can query & join tables in a tabular database
• Students can perform spatial analysis/buffers/overlays/spatial joins within ArcMap
• Students can create a tabular & spatial databases (i.e. geodatabase)
• Students can create accurate features (i.e. points, polygons, & lines) using coordinate geometry (COGO) editing tools
• Students can create point features from a database using geocoding and the Add X/Y method
• Students know what metadata is and how to use it
• Students know the various agencies they can obtain GIS related data from
• Students can use raster data such as aerial photos
• Students can create surfaces/digital terrain models (DTM) and contours

Classroom format, grading, homework, exams

• 7:00pm Turn in Homework Assignments from previous week.
• 7:05pm Textbook Quiz
• 7:15pm Answer Student Questions (Workbook, homework, lecture)
• 7:20pm Lecture
• 8:30pm ArcGIS Creationism
• 8:45pm Homework Assignments (students free to leave after this)
• 8:50pm Hands on help until all questions are answered

Term Project

Schedule for Initial Interview

will be held in B367. Objective is to discuss your interests and develop a theme for the term project. Interviews will be 15 minutes for each group, 10 minutes for each student.

Interview Agenda

• Discuss the interests of the student(s): 5 minutes
• Brainstorm: 5 minutes to generate the most ideas (min. 3 ideas per person). Will write these down and submitt to instructor.
  • What civil engineering problems have lists of data/information and a spatial component?
• Select a topic: 5 minutes
  • Criteria - data exists or can easily be created, in your field of expertise, combine efforts with another course, project scope is between 20-40 hrs of work.
• Select a team leader

Example Term Project Ideas

1. 3D Map UNLV building footprints
2. Conversion of Soils Data from NRCS
3. Create storm drain layer
4. Class Term Project. Demonstrate knowledge in apply ArcView 9 to solve problems in civil engineering. Deliverables are a 15 minute presentation and handouts (e.g. maps, background information, slides, notes, etc.). Project can be done as a group or individually. Shashi Nambisan and Thomas Piechota have offered to help identify possible projects.

Term Project Grading Metric

• Weekly Report Progress (60 pts)
1. Identify Team Members (3 pts)
2. Number of ideas generated in brainstorming exercise (5 pts)
3. Select project from brainstorming exercise (5 pts)
4. Submitted Project Title (2 pts)
5. Submitted Problem Description Statement - Objective of Report (5 pts)
6. Submitted Brief Description of Project (5 pts)
7. Submitted Data Needs (5 pts)
8. Identify Spatial Data Sources (5 pts)
9. Methodology, process to solve the problem (5 pts)
10. Draft GIS figure(s) (5 pts)
11. Conclusion (5 pts)
12. Draft Report (5 pts)
13. Powerpoint Presentation Slides (5 pts)
• Final Presentation (60 pts)
  1. Duration of presentation, 15 minutes
  2. Quality of Power Point Slides
  3. Incorporate GIS graphics from ArcMap into presentation
  4. Discussion of GIS analysis
  5. Participation of team members - graded individually
• Final Report (60 pts)
  1. Used Microsoft Template for report, Use the Microsoft Word Term Paper Template (Templates > Education > For Students > Papers, Reports, and Presentation. Can be downloaded from officeupdate.microsoft.com/TemplateGallery/
  2. Introduction
  3. Included 2 figures created from ArcMap
  4. Conclusion
  5. References
• Extra credit for team leader (5 pts)
• Extra credit submit final report and PowerPoint presentation in native or PDF format (5 pts)

Spring 2006 Term Project Titles

Student Email Address, UNLV username, Engineering Mailbox, and Seating Assignment

CEG 468/668 Group Seating Assignment

ESRI Virtual Campus

ESRI Virtual Campus Courses available for UNLV students contact instructor to obtain the course access code

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STARTING A COURSE:
-------------------------------------------------
Step 1: SIGN IN
Go to http://campus.esri.com. If you are already a Virtual Campus member, sign in with your member login and password. If you are not a member, click "Join now" under Member Sign-In and complete the form to become a member.

Step 2: START A COURSE WITH YOUR COURSE ACCESS CODE
Click "My Courses" on the left side of the page. Type your 14-character Course Access Code, and click "Add to My Courses." The title of the course will appear in your course listing.

Step 3: GO TO CLASS
In your course listing, click on the course title to begin. A list of the course modules is displayed along with other course information.

If you have any questions, go to Campus SUPPORT at http://campus.esri.com/campus/support, and check the FAQs or use the Contact Us link, http://campus.esri.com/campus/support/contact us.

Thank you!

The ESRI Virtual Campus Team
http://campus.esri.com

Virtual Campus License Codes will be passed out at first class

Sample Module Completion Ribbon

How to print the module ribbon of completion some time after its been completed

• Login to your Virtual Campus account
• Go to the module that you completed and click the "completed" icon next to the module's name
• For the course certificate of completion, go to "My Training History" or within the My Courses, click the icon on the top left "display my course status" and print the certificate from there.
• Additional questions, contact Ann Paisalvejakam of ESRI Virtual Campus, campus@esri.com

ESRI Virtual Campus

• Learning ArcGIS 9
  • Module 1 - Getting Started with ArcGIS, Module assigned on, Module due on
  • Module 2 - Creating Map Symbology, Module assigned on, Module due on
  • Module 3 - Referencing Data to Real Locations, Module assigned on, Module due on
  • Module 4 - Organizing Geographic Data, Module assigned on, Module due on
  • Module 5 - Creating and Editing Data, Module assigned on, Module due on
  • Module 6 - Getting Started with GIS Analysis, Module assigned on, Module due on
  • Module 7 - Working with Geoprocessing and Modeling Tools, Module assigned on, Module due on
  • Module 8 - Designing Maps with ArcGIS, Module assigned on, Module due on
• The 15 Minute Map: Creating a Basic Map in ArcMap
• Module 1 of 1
Module assigned on, Module due on
• Any 3 modules from any of the following virtual campus courses
  • Georeferencing Rasters in ArcGIS
  • Getting Started with Surface Analysis using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
  • Introduction to Visual Basic 6
  • Labeling in ArcMap: Tips and Tricks
  • Learning ArcGIS 9 3D Analyst
  • Learning ArcGIS 9 Spatial Analyst
  • Turning Data into Information Using ArcGIS 9
  • Understanding GIS Queries
  • ArcGIS Annotation: Tips and Tricks
  • Basics of the Geodatabase Data Model
  • Creating and Editing Geodatabase Features with ArcGIS 9 (for ArcEditor and ArcInfo)
  • Creating and Editing Geodatabase Topology with ArcGIS 9 (for ArcEditor and ArcInfo)
  • Creating and Editing Labels and Annotation
  • Creating and Editing Linearly Referenced Features with ArcGIS 9
  • Creating, Editing and Managing Geodatabases for ArcGIS 9
  • Customizing ArcGIS 9
  • Editing Spatial Data in ArcMap: Tips and Tricks
  • Geoprocessing with ArcGIS Desktop
  • Understanding Map Projections and Coordinate Systems
  • Working with CAD Drawings in ArcGIS
  • Cartographic Design Using ArcGIS 9
  • Creating and Integrating Data for Natural Resource Applications
  • Creating and Maintaining Metadata Using ArcGIS Desktop
  • Customizing ArcMap: Easy Ways to Extend the Interface
  • Using ArcCatalog: Tips and Tricks
  • Working with Geodatabase Subtypes and Domains (for ArcEditor and ArcInfo)

GIS Tutorial Workbook

Table of Contents

NOTE: Issues and an example of the solutions map will be provided for the first few assignments. For Exercise 1-1, we have provided the minimum required for full points. Also for Exercise 1-1, an example of the map is created to showcase what the map can look like after the you become familiar with the software. We do not expect the map printouts to have all the elements of the example solutions map until later in the semester.


• Tutorial 1 - Introduction
  • Hints - things to avoid
  1. You can export only the selected features to a new dataset to better manipulate the selected features.
  2. You can open a *.dbf file with MS Excel.
  3. For the data document in Exercise 1-1, round values to the nearest integer.
  4. Be sure perform the statistics on only the 5 states with the highest vacant units.
  5. Don't forget you can add to a selection or unselect by holding the SHIFT button and clicking the feature or dragging a box to select multiple features.
  6. While the address field in Mid911 is messy, you are not required to clean up the Address field for Exercise 1-2, simply copy and paste into the data document.
  • Example Solution Map (click image for full size view)
  
  
  
• Tutorial 2 - Map Design
  
  NOTE: The Pittsburg neighborhoods shapefile on the GIS tutorial CD appears to have no project assigned. You can assignment a projection yourself using ArcCatalog (same as the schools dataset) or download the files here:
  
  Pittsburg Neighborhoods shapefile with project: Neighborhoods.shp, Neighborhoods.dbf, Neighborhoods.shx, and Neighborhoods.prj
  
  Hints and issues
  
  
  • Exercise 2-1
    1. You can use insert a dataset twice within the same data frame. From there, you can apply a definition query to each dataset to display only certain features of the dataset (public schools, private schools, etc)
    2. There are different ways to show enrollment of each school. Labeling when there are only a few features or using graduated symbols when there are many features are just two examples.
    3. Creating the hyperlink is not necessary, but you can do it yourself as a simply exercise.
  • Exercise 2-2
    1. You are only required to create a map showing the extents of the city of Pittsburg. Thus, setting the visible scale range and creating two layer groups won't be necessary, but you can do it as a simply exercise.
    2. Use a definition query to display only schools with low enrollment. Alternatively, you can also select those features manually or by the "select by attributes" tool and export the features as a new data set.
    3. Remember you can change the projection and coordinate system if you are having trouble getting datasets to sync up.
  • Questions:
    1. The identify tool can quickly identify which neighborhood each school is in. Remember to set the layer in Identify to the Pittsburg Neighborhood layer.
    2. Reasonable answers are accepted. You can base your analysis on population, area, proximity of other schools, etc. Remember you can add the schools dataset in again without a definition query to see the other school while retaining your definition query of the schools with low enrollment.
  
  Example Solution Map (click image for full size view)
  
  
  
• Tutorial 3 - GIS Outputs
  
  Hints and issues
  
  
  • Exercise 3-1
    1. You will have three data frames for this exercise. Use your judgement to place them in the map document. For example, because the legends for the data frames showing the percentage of males and females are basically the same, you can place the data frames next to each other and have them share a common legend.
    2. You are not required to print the maps out in color, however, you should think about the color scheme (to make sure it will be satifactory to display) in black and white.
  • Exercise 3-2
    1. You are not required to create a layout paper size of 8.5" X 14". The template you created in class would be sufficient. However, you may find that you have more freedom on a larger map to place elements and data layer or frames.
    2. The data frame at the scale of 1:14,000 showing all the historic districts can be made into a vincinity map. However, because the overall historic districts is also a focus item on the map, you may think about making the mapdata frame bigger in order to display the data prominently.
  
  Example Solution Map (click image for full size view)
  
  
  
• Tutorial 4 - Geodatabases
  
  Hints and issues
  
  
  • Exercise 4-1
    1. You will again have three data frames for this exercise, similar to the Tutorial 3-1 Exercise. Use your judgement to place them in the map document. For example, if the legends for the data frames are using the same categories of revenue, you might be able to save some space for your design layout by placing the dataframes next to each other and have them share a common legend.
    2. You can also have three legends and three data frames next to each other. There is no requirement for asthetics, but you should start thinking about how you are able to create better presentation maps.
    3. No labels are required, using a color scheme that shows the highest revenue generating municipality would be sufficient.
  • Exercise 4-2
    1. Remember that you are not required to make the geodatabase and importing the exercise files into it because you will not be turning in the geodatabase.
    2. For this map, you will be using label and choropleth mapping in order to give the map more information.
    3. Be sure to add in the PghTracts dataset so that you will have a complete outline (hollow scheme) of even tracts with no schools. Obviously for those schools, you will have no labeling for them.
  
  Example Solution Map (click image for full size view)
  
  
  
• Tutorial 5 - Importing Spatial and Attribute Data
  
  Hints and issues
  
  
  • Exercise 5-1
    1. The census export file for Florida can be directly downloaded HERE
    2. You will have four dataframes to show the four time period comparisons. Note that you should be using the same histogram and therefore one legend for all dataframes showing the Florida County Population. If the histograms are different, it will take longer for an user to compare the two side by side.
    3. If you have to create a new field for manipulating existing fields, make sure the new field type matches up with what you are trying to do (text, integer, etc).
  • Exercise 5-2
    1. Download the Maricopa County Voting District files here: http://arcdata.esri.com/data/tiger2000/tiger_download.cfm
    2. To download, the state is Arizone, the County is Maricopa, and the layer is Voting Districts 2000
    3. The schools layer does not need to be shown on the map, it is required to make a count of how many schools are in each district.
    4. If the CountySchools.dbf is not on your CD or you are having trouble with it's XY and projections, download the converted files here: CountySchools.dbf , CountySchools.shp , CountySchools.shx , CountySchools.prj.
  
  Example Solution Map (click image for full size view)
  
  
  
• Tutorial 6 - Digitizing
  
  Hints and issues
  
  
  • Exercise 6-1
    1. You can manually select the features per the beat guideline for Exercise 6-1. By sorting the "name" field in ascending order will allow you to select each street section easier.
    2. Alternatively, you can select all streets that the police beat encompasses. However, this will select the extra street arcs beyond the contained beat area. You can then either unselect or reselect the streets by holding down the shift key to get just the police beat area. You should be able to easily distinguish the police beat area from the intersection of the selected streets.
    3. You can then export the selected features to a new dataset in order to create different colors. Using the alternative way, you do not need to create beat1.shp and beat2.shp before starting the exercise.
  • Exercise 6-2
    1. If you prefer to work in AutoCAD, you can insert the orthographics into AutoCAD via the map menu. From there, you can move and manipulate the building outlines to match the orthographic.
    2. Then export the modified building outlines as a shapefile within AutoCAD and simply bring it into ArcMap for display.
    3. This procedure can be done for the parking lot and bustop if you wish to as well. However, make sure you select the correct output type under "mapexport" (polyline, point, etc).
  
  Example Solution Map (click image for full size view)
  
  
  
• Tutorial 7 - Geocoding
  Example Solution Map (click image for full size view)
  
  
  
• Tutorial 8 - Spatial Data Processing
  
  NOTE: Download the UA_08059 and UA_08031 shape files from: http://arcdata.esri.com/data/tiger2000/tiger_download.cfm
  
  The datasets are also available for download here: at_tigeresri484315810.zip and at_tigeresri4357151519.zip
  
  Make Sure you check summary like this for Exercise 8-2:
  
  
  Example Solution Map (click image for full size view)
  
  
  
• Tutorial 9 - Spatial Analysis


Download the completed Exercise 9-1 Data HERE. You're welcome.

Example Solution Map (click image for full size view)

Textbook Assignment

Quizes Reading Assignments

• Hands on quiz - classroom demonstration of GIS concept/command
• Quiz based on topic in reading assignment
• Student will be randomly selected at the beginning of each class
• Student will be quized 2 times during the semester
• Example Quiz Question - How do you add features/layers to the ArcMap map display? Answer: 1) click the Add Data button or 2) File -> Add Data...

How To Remember What You Just Read

• "Before you read it, skim it. Read the headings, look at the graphs or illustrations, get a sense of the material." [Crook 92, p. 111]
• "Based on your survey, formulate some questions about the material you are about to read. If there are questions at the end of the chapter, read through them before you start reading the text." [ibid]
• "Read the text." [ibid]
• "If appropriate, go back and highlight or underline the important sections." [ibid]
• "Review the text." [ibid]

How to use Excel to Randomly select a student to take the quiz

• Step 0. Ensure the Analysis ToolPak feature is enabled (Tools -> Add-Ins... -> Analysis ToolPak)
• Step 1. Copy the table of student names from this page and paste into Excel at cell B1.
• Step 2. Delete all rows without a student name.
• Step 3. Assign an id value, 1 to 32 in the A field
• Step 4. Type the following formula (shown in bold) in cell G1. =RANDBETWEEN(1,32)
• Step 5. Type the following formula (shown in bold) in cell H1. =VLOOKUP(G1,A1:B32,2)
• Step 6. Press F9 key to refresh the random generation. Cell H1 should have the random student who will step to the front of the class and demonstrate the solution to the quiz problem.
• Note, could also using a stop watch which shows the hundredth of a second. Multiply this value to the total number of students and round. This value is the randomly select a student.
• Instructors version of Randomly selecting a student for the quiz, RandomStudentsQuiz.xls
• Alternative method of randomly selecting student using ArcMap, RandomStudentsQuiz.mdb, RandomStudentsQuiz.mxd
• Reference: Standard Practice for Random Sampling of Construction Materials, ASTM D3665-02

Getting To Know ArcGIS Desktop Quiz Questions

• Chapter 3
  1. How do you rename a layer within ArcMap table of contents? (see p. 25)
  2. How do you pan, zoom in/out, and go back to previous extent? (see p. 25-27)
  3. How do you identify features in the ArcMap Map Display area? (see p. 28)
  4. How do you zoom to a layers extent? (see p. 33)
  5. How do you create and use spatial bookmarks? (see p. 36)
  6. How do you measure distances in the ArcMap Map Display area? (see p. 38)
  7. How do you select records in the attribute table and clear those selected records? (see p. 44)
  8. How do you sort ascending/descending of records in the attribute table? (see p. 45)
  9. How do you view statistics on the attribute table? (see p. 46)
• Chapter 4
  1. How do you browse map data in ArcCatalog? (see p. 47, 49, 53)
  2. How do you preview spatial data in ArcCatalog? (see p. 55)
  3. How do you preview tabular data in ArcCatalog? (see p. 58)
  4. How do you add data from ArcCatalog to ArcMap? (see p. 69, 77-79)
• Chapter 18
  1. How do you open a map template (.mxt) and save as a map document (.mxd)? (see p. 462, 464)
  2. How do you pan in ArcMap Layout (tip need to use Layout toolbar no the Tools toolbar)? (see p. 465)
  3. How do you add a graticule to the ArcMap data frame? (see p. 467)
  4. How do you add x,y data to a map? (see p. 469-472)
  5. How do you draw graphics on a layout? (see p. 474-476)
• Chapter 19
• Chapter 5
  1. How do you change marker symbols for a point feature? (see p. 91, 111-114)
  2. How do you change the line symbol for a line/arc feature? (see p. 102-105)
  3. How do you make any feature 50% transparent? (see p. 125)
  4. How do you make Thematic (Choropleth) map? (see p. 95-100)
• Chapter 9
  1. How do you query the attribute table in ArcMap? (hint, Select by Attributes, see p. 249)
  2. How do you zoom to the spatial features selected from the attribute table? (see p. 251)
  3. Cardinality is the relationship between tables. There are 4 types. What type is discussed in the textbook? The other 3 are: One-to-One, Many-to-Many, and Many-to-One. (see p. 227)
  4. The common attribute (also known as the primary key or relate item) is required to match records between two seperate tables? (True or False)? (see p. 226)
  5. A table JOIN appends attributes/fields from one table to another. The result is a single table will all the fields from the two tables. How do you perform a table JOIN in ArcMap? (see p. 232-234)
  6. A table RELATE links the attributes/fields from one table to another. The result is still to separate tables but now with the ability to query one table and view the selection in the linked table. How do you perform a table RELATE in ArcMap? (see p. 243-244)
• Chapter 6
  1. Using the RTC.mdb geodatabase, PostSpeedLimits line feature class, symbolize the map using all values in the MaxSpeedLimit field, in other words speed limit of 75 mph is assigned one color, speed limit of 65 mph is assigned another color, and so on. Each speed limit should have a unique symbol assigned to it.
  2. Using the RTC.mdb geodatabase, PostSpeedLimits line feature class, create a graduated line symbol using the MaxSpeedLimit field. Use 4 classes and the Natural Breaks (Jenks) classification (see p. 158-164).
  3. From previous question, change the number of classes to 3 and the classification method to Equal Interval (see p. 131, 138)
  4. From previous question, change the classification method to Manual and adjust the break values on the histogram using the mouse and typing in values directly (see p. 147)
  5. Using Census data (cctigerline.mdb, CensusBlocks2000spcsSF1blk feature class) make a pie chart symbol based on population (White and Black field names) (see p. 168-169)
  6. Using Census data (cctigerline.mdb, CensusBlocks2000spcsSF1blk feature class) make a dot density symbol based on population (POP2000 field) (see p. 154-156)
• Chapter 8
  1. Show how to query a single feature using the Identify tool? (see p. 198-199)
  2. Show how to make a layer selectable? (see p. 200)
  3. Show how to just view the selected records in the attribute table? (see p. 203)
  4. Show how to clear all features selected? (see p. 204)
  5. Show how to use the Find tool? (see p. 207)
  6. Show how to select features by attribute, for example [strname] = 'Maryland' (see p. 209-214)
  7. Show how to create a report in ArcMap? (see p. 216)
• Chapter 10
  1. Using ArcMap, show how to open the 'Select By Location' query? (see p. 264)
  2. Using ArcMap, show how to setup a Definition Query? (see p. 267-268)
  3. Using ArcMap, show how to setup a Spatial Join? (see p. 271-272)
• Chapter 11
  1. 'You can simplify data by dissolving a group features with a common attribute value into one feature' (see p. 273). Using ArcToolbox, show how to open the Dissolve tool? (see p. 277-278)
  2. Using ArcMap, show how to create a graph? (see p. 284)
  3. Show the ArcToolbox command to Clip one layer with another? (see p. 291) This is another method to create a subset layer based on the geometry of the clipping layer
  4. Using ArcMap, show how to export features into a new layer? (see p. 297) This is another method to create a subset layer.
  5. Select by Location: select the points which are completely within Book 139 and Section 17 of the TRS
  6. Select by Location: select all the streets which intersect the City of North Las Vegas in the City layer
  7. Select by Location: select the TRS which has the center in the City of Las Vegas
  8. Sample data: Quiz.mdb
• Chapter 15 - Creating Features
  1. Using the ArcMap Editor toolbar, show how to start an edit session? (see p. 384)
  2. Using the ArcMap Editor toolbar, show how to select a Tool (e.g. Sketch tool)? (see p. 384)
  3. Using the ArcMap Editor toolbar, show how to select a Task (e.g. Create New Feature)? (see p. 384)
  4. Using the ArcMap Editor toolbar, show how to select a Target layer? (see p. 384)
  5. Using the ArcMap Editor toolbar, show how to turn on/off Snapping? (see p. 387-388)

ArcGIS Creationism: How to create features in ArcGIS

• ArcGIS vector model implementations
  • ArcInfo Coverages
  • ArcView Shapefiles
  • ArcGIS Geodatabases
• Vectors
  • Points
    • Point Events
    • 3D Point Features (stored in shapefiles and geodatabases, created in ArcMap not ArcScene)
  • Lines/Arcs
  • 3D Line Features (Z values at vertices, stored in shapefiles and geodatabases, know its a 3D feature because Shape Field in the attribute table will contain Z, e.g. Polyline Z)
  • Polygons
  • 3D Polygon Features (Z values at vertices, stored in shapefiles and geodatabases)
• Raster/Grid Surfaces
• TIN Surfaces
• Tabular Data/Tables
  • Geodatabase (create using ArcCatalog)
    • Table within Geodatabase
    • Feature Classes (arcs, points, polygons)
      • Create Point features from .tab or .csv files (ArcCatalog Contect Menu, Create Feature Class -> From XY Table...)
• Map Elements
  • Text
  • Graphics
• Map Documents (.mxd)
• Map Templates (.mxt)
• ArcScene Documents (.sxd)
• ArcGlobe Documents (.3dd)
• Annotation
• Route/Topology
• Geocoding Service

Class 1: Tuesday, 17 Jan 2006

Class Introduction

• Discuss Course of Study/Syllabus
• ESRI Virtual Campus Signup
• Request College of Engineering student account
• Class Project Appointments

GIS Process

• Identify the Problem - creativity
  • Does the problem have any lists (database) and spatial compentents (maps)? If yes, then use GIS.
• Aquire or Create the Data - tends to be the most time consuming
• Know the Tools - primary objective of this course
  • Analyze - most enjoyable
  • Report Findings

Software Tour

• ESRI ArcView, ArcEditor, ArcInfo
• ArcMap - Map Display, Table of Contents, Toolbars
• ArcCatalog - Catalog Tree, Catalog Display, Toolbars
• ArcToolbox - run old ArcInfo workstation programs, being incorporate in ArcCatalog in future release

Class 1 Homework

Administrative

• Obtain & Submit email address to instructor.
• Obtain computer account with the College of Engineering.
• Email College of Engineering login name (NOT password) to instructor
• Create account on campus.esri.com
• Enroll in all the provided virtual campus courses
• Install ArcGIS on home computer if running Win2000 or XP.
• Identify members of your team for the class project

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS 9

• None

Term/Class Project

• Identify Team members or if doing project solo

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapters 1, 2, and 3

ArcView Homework

• None

Class 2: Tuesday, 24 Jan 2006

Guest Speaker: none

Class working directory

• c:\esri\ceg468 (use in both A311 & B367 lab)
• share the folder (windows explorer, right mouse click on folder and select Sharing and Security..., Sharing tab then click the Share this folder option
• Copy contents of the Getting to Know ArcGIS textbook CD to c:\temp\ceg468\GTKArcGIS

The GIS 4 Step Solution Process

• Step 1: Identify Problem
• Step 2: Create or Acquire Data
• Step 3: Perform Analysis
• Step 4: Present Results

Overview of GIS

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• '"Geographic information system" means a collection of computer hardware, software and data that is used for the collection, management, manipulation, analysis and display of information that includes a positional component.' (Nevada Administrative Code, NAC 625.795 4a)
• Basically just a database linked to a map that allows one to perform spatial queries/analysis. For example, in databases such as Microsoft Access, a form is used to input and display data. The query connects the form to the database. The data isn't stored in the form. So in ArcGIS, the form would be ArcMap and the database is Microsoft Access (known as the GeoDataBase, GDB). In Autodesk Land Development, the database is the points file, alignment, etc. and the form is AutoCAD.
• "Any geographic information system should be capable of six fundamental operations in order to useful for finding solutions to real-world problems. A GIS should be able to Capture data, Store data, Query data, Analyze data, Display data, and Output data" (ESRI Virtual Campus-Basics of ArcGIS, Lesson 1: Introducing a GIS, What can a GIS do?)

GIS Tabular Data

1. Flat files
   • Simple ASCII text files, whether columnar, tab (.tab) or comma delimited (.csv)
2. Relational Database Management Systems (RDMS)
   • Use of a relate item (known as a primary key) to link separate tables together
   • Objective is to limit duplicate field entries by using an ID and lookup table (a.k.a. switchboard)
   • Use the write once principal - data is stored in one record, then linked into other tables.
3. Object Database
   • Basically any data that is embedded in the file, example is AutoCAD drawings-attributes stored within file.

GIS Data Types/Features

1. Points
   • Represents a single place on a map, such as a fire hydrant
   • A single coordinate pair is used to identify the location.
   • Point features have clear boundaries or distinction between other features
   • Use point features if your data is countable
2. Lines/Arcs/Polyline
   • Represents a linear feature, such as a street centerline.
3. Polypolylines/Routes
   • A single feature that includes two or more polylines, such as a bus route
   • Just a convenient way to group related polylines into one map feature so that they can be selected or linked to a database as a single entity
   • Known as Dynamic Segmentation in ArcInfo
4. Polygons
   • A feature that encloses an area, a boundary, such as the State of Nevada.
   • 3D Polygon Features - stores Z values in a shapefile or geodatabase
5. Polypolygons/Multipart Features
   • Map feature consisting of two or more polygons that is treated as a single map feature (multiple noncontiguous areas), such as the State of Hawai'i which consists of several islands. Known as Multipart Features in ArcGIS, Polypolygons in Autodesk MapGuide, MPolygons in AutoCAD Map.
6. Regions
   • Composite polygons (hybrid of polygons and layers)
   • Implemented in ArcInfo, similar to polypolygons (supports noncontiguous areas) but more powerful
   • Allows for overlapping polygons (e.g. spatial index of construction projects or showing the boundary of a country over time)
   • Nested features are supported, that is polygons within polygons, for example counties within a state.
   • See ESRI Article Number 23404 How to Create a region or boundary map with no internal boundaries in ArcMap.
   • See ESRI Article Number 21381 How to Create donut polygons from existing features in ArcMap
7. Text/Annotation
   • Labels that appear on maps
   • Tend not to have any attributes or location associated with it directly
   • Annotation is typically text but can also be any graphic element that annotates your map (e.g. lines, circles, and polygons).
   • Dynamic Text/Labels- labels generated from a database. Autodesk LDD and Map and AutoCAD block attributes do this.
   • Static Text- labels places by hand. Called annotation by ESRI. AutoCAD TEXT command.
   • Feature-Linked Annotation- have the control of static text, but also if the feature (e.g. fire hydrant) is deleted, label is also deleted (e.g. fire hydrant number). Used by ESRI
8. Raster Images
   • Matrix/Grid of pixels, identify by rows and columns
   • Opposite of vector drawings
   • A pixel/cell contains a single value
   • Example, aerial photos
   • Use if data varies continuously across an area, not countable. Example temperature, rainfall, elevation.
9. Map Elements (a.k.a. map objects, map components)
   • Used in map layouts/paperspace for final presentation, instead of analysis like data view/modelspace.
   • Title of Map - should be easy to see and reflect the map's purpose
   • North Arrow - used to orient the map to the world. Size of north arrow should not be so large that it diverts attention from the map body. Known Bug: The north arrow and other graphic elements shift positions in the layout, see ESRI Article ID 25845
   • Legend - used to help the reader interpret the map body
   • Scale bar - used to relate the size of objects on the map to the real world. Typically located on the bottom of the map and can be represented as a verbal scale (1"=40') or a representative fraction (1:480)
   • Borders and neatlines - borders are used around the data frame and neatlines highlight the map elements.
   • Inset Maps - also known as Overview/Index/Vicinity/Key maps and are used to identify the location of the map body (data frame) a larger portion of the world.
   • Marginalia (mar'gi'na'lia)- any supporting elements on a map that help the reader interpret the map
10. Paperspace/Layouts vs. Modelspace/Data Views
    • Modelspace- scale of objects are 1:1, drawn at actually size. Can think of the modelspace like the body of a document. "Data View is the all-purpose viewing option for exploring, displaying, querying, editing, and analyzing data." [ESRI Virtual Campus - Presenting Data in ArcGIS Lesson 1: Making maps in ArcMap]
    • Layouts- virtual page upon which you place and arrange data frames/viewports and map elements. The objects are scaled to fit on paper. Engineers typically use scale of 1"=40'. Can think of the Layout as the header/footer section in a document, watermarks, page numbers, etc. "The Layout View lets you produce cartographic quality digital and hardcopy maps using the information contained in your data frames, reports, and graphs." [ibid]
    • ArcPlot is similar to Layouts
    • ArcEdit is similar to Modelspace
    • Viewports/Data Frames link the modelspace to the layout
    • Layouts usually contain graphic and map elements
11. Coordinates
    • X-Y coordinates locate a point in 2D space
    • two types of coordinates systems: geographic (lat/long) and projected (stateplane)
    • Origin is lower lefthand corner of graph, typically begins with 0,0
    • False Origin- used to keep coordinates positive, e.g. Mount Diablo Meridian (MDM) (near San Francisco, CA) is the true origin for State Plane Coordinates but the origin is shifted 8,000,000 meters down (Northing) and 200,000 meters to the right (Easting).
12. Table Attributes
    • One or more records (rows) with one or more fields (columns)
    • stores the tabular information in a GIS
    • Cell- the intersection of a record/row with a field/column

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 1

1. Primary ArcGIS Supported Spatial Files
   • ArcView Shapefiles (which consist of 3 separate file types .shp, .shx, & .dbf) only contains one data type. The .shp and .shx store information about the feature geometery, .dbf is a dBase III file format that stores the shapefile's feature attribute table. A fourth file type is the project file (.prj) which stores the shapefile's coordinate system. Database (.dbf) field name can be a max of 10 characters.
   • ArcInfo Coverages (a folder/directory of data) can contain multiple data types, that is a collection of feature classes. When adding an ArcInfo coverage theme, note the folder behind the envelope. Click this to open a single data type.
   • AutoCAD .dwg and .dxf files and MicroStation .dgn files
   • GeoDataBases, GDB (short for geographic database)
     • next-generation coverage
     • geographic information is physically stored inside a DBMS (Microsoft Access .mdb) for a personal geodatabase, that is both spatial and attribute data is stored in one database. Note a single database (.mdb in case of Access) can contain several tables.
     • provides centralized management
     • can use GIS across many applications [ArcGIS White Paper, p. 8]
     • Feature dataset is a group of feature classes that share topology. Use feature datasets when you want to edit different features together. For example, water valves (nodes) and water lines (arcs). Would not use a feature dataset on dissimilar features, for example rivers and streets. All feature classes in the feature dataset must have the same coordinate system.
     • ArcInfo Coverage is similar to a GeoDatabase, can store several data types e.g. polygons, lines, etc.
     • ArcView Shapefile is similar to a Feature Class in a GeoDatabase, can only have one feature type, e.g. points
2. Map Legend/Table Of Contents (TOC)
   • Primarily used to toogle layers on/off
   • Shows the layers being displayed in ArcMap
   • Shows how layers are organized into data frames
   • Order displayed in TOC is order drawn in the ArcMap - Map Display window. Top layer in TOC is the layer last drawn (on top of all the other layers) in the map display.
   • 3 tabs: Display, Source, and Selection
   • To toogle on/off the table of contents use Menu toolbar: View -> Table of Contents
   • Red exclamation point just before the layer name implies the layer's data source is broken
   • Ctrl Mouse Click will toogle on layers on/off
   • To show/hide contents of a layer's legend: click layer's plus or minus sign in TOC
   • To show/hide contents of a data frame: click data frame's plus or minus sign in TOC
   • ArcGIS Desktop Help: ArcMap -> Getting started with ArcMap -> Using the table of contents
   • Data Frames within the TOC cannot be reordered. See ESRI Article 17570
   • Context Menus - right mouse click on a layer [Ormsby 00, p. 21]
3. Coordinate Systems
   • X-Y coordinates locate a point in 2D space
   • two types of coordinates systems: geographic (lat/long) and projected (stateplane)
   • Origin is lower lefthand corner of graph, typically begins with 0,0
   • False Origin- used to keep coordinates positive, e.g. Mount Diablo Meridian (MDM) (near San Francisco, CA) is the true origin for State Plane Coordinates but the origin is shifted 8,000,000 meters down (Northing) and 200,000 meters to the right (Easting).
4. Scale
   • 1:100 implies features on a paper map are 100 times smaller than their true size in the world
   • Ratio between the paper plot (e.g. layout/paperspace) and the real world (e.g. modelspace). In other words "Scale describes the relationship of size on a map to size in reality" (Inside AutoCAD Map 2000, p. 3)
   • Customary to express unitless terms, e.g. 1:5000 where 1 represents one unit on the paper and 5000 is the actual distance on the ground. In USA, often will hear 1"=40' which is really (1:480) and means 1" on the paper map is 40' in the real world.
   • AutoCAD setup, must identify if units are feet or meters. Unable to draw anything that is unitless. Units in a GIS are defined by the projection/coordinate system.
   • 1:1000 read as "one to one thousand", 1=map unit and 1000=real world unit
   • 3 variables: paper size, project size/limits, and scale.
   • large scale, implies a large ratio, so objects/features on the map appear big, e.g. 1:1 scale
   • small scale, implies a small ratio, so objects/features on the map appear small, e.g. 1:1,000,000
   • scale can refer to the scale of the map or the scale at which the data was digitized (process of tracing paper maps into the computer)
   • Larger the scale, the nearer features are to their actual size
   • USGS Map Scales Fact Sheet
   • 3 Types of Scale in ArcMap: 1) Current Map Scale (shown on the Standard Toolbar), 2) Current Map Reference Scale (Data Frame Properties -> General tab), and 3) Annotation Feature Class Reference Scale. Annotation Scale see ESRI Article ID 22993 How does ArcMap convert labels to annotation dialog box work when creating geodatabase annotation?
   • Current Map Reference Scale is used to set the size of the text. So when you zoom in, text is larger, when you zoom out, text is smaller. When the Reference Scale is blank, the text size remains constant when zooming in/out.
5. Features
   • have shape, location, attributes, and spatial relationships associated with it.
   • Vector data (Points, Lines, Polygons)
   • GIS links features to attributes
6. TIN Surfaces
   • Known as Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) in GIS, Digital Terrain Models (DTM) in CAD
   • Data consists of X, Y, and Z points (also known as mass points or nodes) that are connected by lines/triangles which are called Edges, and the area of the triangles is known as faces. [ESRI 3D Analyst, p. 49]
   • TIN will preserve all of the precision of the input data while simultaneously modeling the values between known points. [ESRI 3D Analyst, p. 49]
   • Typically used with for elevations. Assumption is the elevation changes linearly between points
   • Used to generate elevation contours and determine cut and fill quantities
7. Raster Surfaces/GRIDs/Images
   • Grid of evenly sized cells
   • Example is pictures such as aerial photos
   • Use products like Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk CAD Overlay, ER Mapper, and ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Extension.
   • Typically require a method of interpolation to populate cells between known points
     • Spline Interpolation: This general-purpose interpolation method fits a minimum-curvature surface through the input points. Conceptually, this is like bending a sheet of rubber to pass through the points while minimizing the total curvature of the surface. It fits a mathematical function (a minimum curvature, two-diemsional, thin-plate spline) to a specified number of the nearest input points while passing through all input points. This method is best for gradually varying surfaces such as elevations, water-table depths, or pollution concentrations. It is not appropriate when there are large changes within a short horizontal distance because it can overshoot estimated values. [ESRI 3D Analyst, p. 51]
     • Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation: the closer the distance between points, the stronger the influence.
     • Natural Neighbors Interpolation: locally weighted-average interpolation
     • Kriging Interpolation: distance between sample points reflects a spatial correlation which is used to explain variations in the surface. Most appropriate when you know there is a spatially correlated distance in the data, often used in soil science and geology. [ESRI 3D Analyst, p. 51]
     • Trend Interpolation: least-squares regression fit which results in a surface that minimizes the variance of the surface in relation to the input values. The resulting surface rarely goes through the input points. [ESRI 3D Analyst, p. 51]
8. Thematic Maps
   • display of attributes in a map showing certain themes/characteristics
   • Example, use color coding to identify parcel zoning, point symbols to identify survey points (e.g. Point Known (PK) Nail, brass caps, valves, etc.)
   • "Research has shown that the human eye is limited in its ability to decipher differences in colors when they exceed 12 colors in one view" [ESRI Virtual Campus, Learn ArcGIS I, Module 6, Lesson 2, Graphic Perception]
   • "If you decide to use different shades of the same color, be aware that the human eye can decipher no more than seven or eight distinct shades from the available 256 shades of one color." [ESRI Virtual Campus, Learn ArcGIS I, Module 6, Lesson 2, Graphic Perception]
   • Thematic maps fall into two categories: qualitative and quantitative
     • Qualitative- depict different features with different symbols according to some attribute
     • Quantitative- show differences in features' numeric attributes. Classifying or grouping data according to numeric values.
   • Used to display multiple attributes: for example a sewer line, the diameter can be shown by the width of the symbol (also known as proportional symbols) and the material can be displayed by the color. Use Chart symbols to compare more attributes.
9. Topology
   • Spatial Relationships, also known as Topology. In GIS, every feature knows who its neighbor is (2D) whereas in CAD objects float (3D), that is drawn independent of one another. In GIS you build/clean topology after line/polygons have been drawn. Good paper on topology, see Understanding Topology and Shapefiles by David M. Theobald. Appendix C in the ArcGIS 8.1 White Paper discusses topology in the new geodatabases.
   • "Generally, a CAD system uses lines to draw its features, but cannot tell you about the relationship between those features (their distance apart, the quickest route from one to the other, and so on). A GIS, however, has a built-in intelligence called topology that tracks the relationships between features." [Flynn 97, p. 3]
   • ArcView Shapefiles (.shp, .dbf, & .shx)and AutoCAD Drawings (.dwg) don't support topology. AutoCAD Map, ArcInfo coverages, and its next generation geodatabases all support topology.
   • Tends not to be create automatically. AutoCAD Map use Map -> Topology -> Create (or MAPCREATE from command line). In ArcInfo use BUILD or CLEAN commands.
   • "Topology is a mathematical procedure used to determine feature spatial relationships and properties, including: Connectivity of lines, Direction of lines, Length of lines, Adjacency of areas, and Area definition" (ESRI Virtual Campus-Basics of ArcGIS, Lesson 1: Introducing a GIS, What is a GIS?)

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 2

1. ArcGIS Desktop consists of ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo
   • ArcView is a subset of ArcEditor which is a subset of ArcInfo. Similar to AutoCAD and AutoCAD Map, where AutoCAD Map can do everything AutoCAD can do.
   • Only ArcView is available as a stand-alone seat
   • "ArcView 8 is a powerful GIS data visualization, query, analysis, and map creation solution designed for Microsoft Windows NT/2000. It provides interactive tools for exploring, selecting, displaying, editing, analyzing, symbolizing, and classifying data as well as for automatically creating, updating, and managing metadata." (ESRI Virtual Campus-Basics of ArcGIS, Lesson 2)
   • ArcEditor adds the ability to edit coverages and geodatabases
   • ArcInfo adds additional geoprocessing tools and a full version of ArcInfo Workstation (comprised of ARC, ArcEdit, ArcPlot, INFO, and ARC Macro Language or AML)
   • All 3 types of ArcGIS (i.e. ArcView, ArcEditor, ArcInfo) include these 3 Applications
     • ArcMap Application- used to display and query geographic data on maps and to edit and output data
     • ArcCatalog Application- used to browse/preview geographic data sources and create and update metadata. Basically a Windows Explorer for spatial data.
     • ArcToolbox Application- contains powerful tools for performing geographic analysis and data conversion. Used to change map projections.
   • ArcView Extensions: Network Analyst, 3D Analyst, ArcPress, Geostatistical Analyst, Spatial Analyst, and StreetMap.
   • ArcGIS System consists of ArcGIS Desktop, ArcIMS, and ArcSDE. Won't be covered in this course.

Exploring ArcMap

• Used to display, analyze, and print maps
• What an ArcMap application windows consists of
  • Main menu toolbar- pulldown menu, in some cases can be used in replace of icons. Cannot be toggled off.
  • Tools toolbar- pan, zoom icons
  • Standard toolbar- print, save icons
  • Draw toolbar- add graphic elements to map
  • TOC- shows data frame(s) and what layers it contains
  • Map Display
  • Status Bar- displays results of measure tool, informs user when ArcMap is busy (globe is spinning), shows a description of buttons and menu items as you mouse over them.
  • note: toolbars can float or be docked
• Magnification Window
  • handy feature that allows a closer view of a particular area without changing the data frame's scale
  • From menu toolbar, click Window -> Magnifer...
  • Only works in View -> Data View mode. Option is dimmed/grayed out when in View -> Layout View mode
• Overview Window
  • creates a separate window that is linked to the map display
  • Shows zoom extent of map display on the full zoom extend in the overview window
  • Used to pan and zoom the map display
  • Must be in Data View mode in ArcMap, else the Window -> Overview... is grayed/dimmed out
  • Not able to print the overview window in a layout, see Article #20204 To create an overview window in a layout, see the online help ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Contents tab -> ArcMap -> Laying out and printing maps -> Adding data frames -> Using on data frame to show the location of another. Will be cover in later sessions of class.
  • Similar to DsViewer command in AutoCAD 14 and later.
• Spatial Bookmarks
  • Zooms to a define location in the map display
  • 3 ways to create a spatial bookmark
    • From the Main Menu Toolbar click View -> Bookmarks -> Create
    • From the Identify Results dialog box, right-click on the identified feature and click Set Bookmark in the context menu. Bookmark is named after the feature.
    • From the Find dialog box, right-click the Value in the Find Results list and click Set Bookmark in the context menu. Bookmark is named after the feature.
  • To use a spatial bookmark: View -> Bookmarks -> then select name of bookmark
  • To remove a spatial bookmark: View -> Bookmarks -> Manage: Click a bookmark then click remove.
  • Can only be defined on spatial data, can't be defined on an area of the layout page in layout view.
  • Cannot use Spatial Bookmarks on raster layers. See ESRI Article ID 18368
  • See [Ormsby 00, p. 34-35]
• Attribute Table
  • Right mouse click on the layer name in the TOC to open the context menu, select Open Attribute Table
  • Selecting a record in the table view also selects the map feature is the map display window [Ormsby 01, p. 41]
  • Selecting a map feature in the map display will also select the record in the table view.
  • Can rearrange the order of the fields for display purposes by highlighting the column and dragging. Note this doesn't change the order of fields in the database.
  • To sort the records, right-click on the field name in the attribute table and click Sort Descending or Sort Ascending
  • Field Statistics: right-click on the field name and click Statistics
  • To view in ArcMap, right mouse click on feature attributes in TOC, select Open Attribute Table.
  • composed of records/rows and fields/columns.
  • Values stored in cells.
  • Resize display of field widths by moving over the field heading until the two-headed arrow is displayed.
  • Map features linked to attribute table. Select a record in the table will highlight feature in the map display.
  • Clear Selection
  • Sort Records
  • Statistics of Fields
  • See online help [ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Working with tables -> Opening a layer's attribute table]

Tools Toolbar

1. Zoom
   • Changes the display scale has shown in the Standard Toolbar (ArcMap Menubar: View -> Toolbars -> Standard)
   • To zoom in click the + magnifier icon in the Tools toolbar. A single click in the map display zooms around a point. Click and drag will create a rectangle to zoom around an area.
   • To zoom out click the - magnifier icon in the Tools toolbar.
   • To zoom to a specific scale in the data frame, type or choose the desired scale on the Standard toolbar.
   • To zoom to the extent of a layer, choose "Zoom to Layer Extent" from the context menu of the layer in the TOC.
   • To zoom to the full extent of a data frame, click the Full Extent button (icon of the world) on the Tools toolbar. If option is grayed out, click View -> Data Frame Properties: Data Frame Tab and check Automatic extent.
   • Continous Zoom/Pan (ArcMap): Tools -> Customize: Commands Tab: Pan/Zoom, in Commands Window drag and drop the "Continuous Zoom and Pan" button onto the Tools toolbar.
   • Continous Zoom/Pan (ArcCatalog): Tools -> Customize: Commands Tab: Geography Category, in Commands Window drag and drop the "Continuous Zoom and Pan" button onto the Tools toolbar.
   • Continous Zoom/Pan: hold right mouse button down and move mouse to zoom in/out
   • Continous Zoom/Pan: hold left mouse button down and move mouse to pan
   • Wheel Mouse Scroll - just rotate the wheel mouse to scroll up/down in ArcMap
   • Wheel Mouse Zoom - hold down Ctrl key while scrolling with mouse to zoom in/out
   • Wheel Mouse Switch between Data View & Layout View - hold down Shift key while rotating wheel mouse to switch views
2. Select Features
   • white arrow with a square map in the upper right corner
   • Used to select feature in a data frame or in Data View
   • [Ormsby 00, p. 201]
3. Select Elements
   • icon that has a black arrow
   • Used mainly in Layout View to select map elements (e.g. north arrow, legend, and so on)
4. Identify Tool
   • use the mouse to perform a spatial query feature attributes
   • Another method to query data
   • Icon found on the Tools toolbar
   • features in all visible layers under the pointer will be identified. Solves issue of overlapping features.
   • Displays all fields with it's values/attributes of the identified feature. Not like Map Tips which only display attributes of one field.
   • Can "flash" the feature in the map display by clicking the name of the feature on the left pane in the Identify Results window.
   • See [Ormsby 00, p. 26-27, 197-200]
5. Find Tool
   • Another method to query attribute data
   • Results of query are displayed like the Identify Results window
   • [Ormsby 00, p. 207-208]
6. Measure Tool
   • must select icon on Tools toolbar
   • looks like a ruler with a question mark (?) above it
   • Results of measure in map display are displayed in the status bar
7. Hyperlink Tool
   • icon that has a yellow lightning bolt on it
   • Need to define hyperlinks before you can use them
   • 2 ways to define hyperlinks: Field-based and Dynamic
   • Use field based hyperlinks instead of manual hyperlinks, see ESRI Article Number 17520.
   • Note if the hyperlink button is grayed out, open the layer properties in the TOC, select Display tab, then check "Support Hyperlinks using field"
   • Cannot use the Hyperlink tool on raster layers. See ESRI Article ID 18368
   • See [Ormsby 00, p. 205] or online help [ArcMap Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Querying maps -> Displaying a Web page or document about a feature]

Map Tips

• allows one to query a single field in a layer by moving the mouse over the feature in the map display.
• To view map tips, right mouse click on layer name in TOC, select Properties, then Display tab and check 'Show MapTips (uses primary display field)'
• Map Tips option is disable for shapefiles with the spatial index file is missing (.shx) see ESRI Article ID 20898
• Some issues on speed when trying to zoom and display map tips at the same time. Basically, ensure your the only one accessing the data.
• To change the appearance of the map tips, must edit the Windows 2000/XP Tooltip defaults (Control Panel -> Display -> Appearance tab) See ESRI Article ID for details.

Layers/Themes

• Transparent overlays
• Used to organize and group data
• Used extensively by AutoCAD
• Concept of Table of Contents/Layer Manager is used to organize layers. Mainly used to turn on/off layers. ArcMap's Table of Contents (TOC) is different from AutoCAD's Layer Manager, TOC can show ArcInfo coverages, shapefile, CAD files etc. Think of it as Layer Manager and XRefs linked together.
• Order of Display- "top of contents equals top of map"
• Layers can be any of the following datasets: vectors, raster, tabular and surfaces (Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN)).
• ArcMap Layers are similiar to AutoCAD External References (x-refs). The data is just linked to ArcMap/AutoCAD.
• "...collections of geographic objects that are alike" [Ormsby 01, p. 2].
• Layer files (.lyr) "...are not spatial data sets, but rather instructions for displaying spatial data sets with certain colors, symbol markers, line widths, and so on." [Obrmsby 01, p. 46]. Similiar to a map document, a layer stores the path to the source data and other layer properties, including symbology (see the layer properties through the Layer Properties dialog).
• Layer files (.lyr) are similar to ER Mapper algorithm files (.alg).
• ArcMap 8.1: use the source tab in the Table of Contents of ArcMap to view the data sources for the layers. "When the Display tab is active, you can reorder layers but you won't see certain objects, such as stand-alone tables. When the Source tab is active, you can't reorder the layers but stand-alone tables are listed." [ESRI Virtual Campus, Learning ArcGIS II, Module 1, Lesson 1, Displaying Layers]
• The layer references source data stored on the computer, it is not the source data itself.

Data Frames

• A group of layers
• Similar to AutoCAD view ports
• Can have multiple data frames, but can only work on the active data frame
• Can rename a data frame: Method 1: Data Frame Properties, General Tab, name text box. Method 2: click the data frame name once, wait a second, then click again, will have the option to edit the text.
• Used by ArcMap which requires at least one data frame to exist.

Class 2 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS 9

• Assigned: Module 1 of 8 - Getting Started with ArcGIS. Submit a copy of the module completion certificate, next week.

Term/Class Project

• Assigned: Compile a list of ideas on possible class project. Basically provide results of team interview brainstorming with instructors.

Reading Assignment

• Assigned: Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapters 1, 2, and 3
• Quiz on reading next week

GIS Tutorial Workbook - Tutorial 1 Exercises - Turn in the following:

1. Printout of the map for Exercise 1-1.
2. Printout of the map for Exercise 1-2.
3. Printout of the data document for Exercise 1-1 and 1-2.

Classroom ArcView 9.x Homework

• Add the following layers to ArcMap: street centerline, city boundaries, RTC Monorail Terminals, & RTC Monorail
• Zoom into the RTC Monorail area
• From ArcMap - Data View, print the map (File -> Print). Write your name, date, and homework assignment#.
• Submit at the beginning of class next week.

Class3: Tuesday, 31 Jan 2006

Term Project Interviews

• After Lecture, see interview schedule

How to create random x,y,z coordinates using Excel

• Example - create 1,000 random x,y,z coordinates on the Harry Reid UNLV Research and Technology Park, located between Durango on the west, Cimarron to the east, Patrick to the north, and Sunset to the south (Assessor Book 163 Section 33, Township 21 South Range 60 East Section 33. Using Stateplane coordinates (Nevada East zone, units feet, NAD83 datum and NAVD 88 vertical datum). Easting/X values between 745,500 feet and 749,000 feet. Northing/Y values between 26,727,000 feet and 26,730,300 feet. Elevation/Z values between 2500 feet and 2565 feet.
• Excel Step 1: label fields/columns
  • ID, X, Y, Z
  • The ID field is just an autonumber of non-repeating values
  • The X field will contain the easting or longitude values
  • The Y field will contain the northing or latitude values
  • The Z field will contain the elevation
• Excel Step 2: Populate the ID field
  • Type number 1 in cell A2, enter on the keyboard, then select cell A2 with the mouse
  • Edit -> Fill -> Series. Check columns, type = linear, step value = 1, stop value = 1000
• Excel Step 3: Populate the x, y, z fields with random numbers
  • Type the following formula in field B2: =RANDBETWEEN(745500,749000)
    • This will create a random number between 745500 and 749000 (stateplane coordinate within Las Vegas NV valley)
  • Select cells B2 to B1001
    • F5 to goto cell B1001
    • Shift+End+up arrow to select the column. Use shift down arrow to unselect the X field header name.
    • Edit -> Fill -> Down (or Ctrl+D). This will copy the formula in B2 cell to cells B3 to B1001
  • Type the following formula in field C2: =RANDBETWEEN(26727000,26730300)
    • follow same steps to copy the formula
  • Type the following formula in field D2: =RANDBETWEEN(2500,2565)
    • follow same steps to copy the formula
• Excel Step 4: Export spreadsheet into text file (.txt or .csv extension) or dBase 4 (.dbf) format
• Solution: link to download (Excel spreadsheet RandomXYZpointsUNLVresearchpark.xls, comma seperated value file RandomXYZpointsUNLVresearchpark.csv, or dBase 4 file RandomXYZpointsUNLVresearchpark.dbf)
• Aerial Photo of the Research and Technology Park, photos taken Fall 2005, 5 ft pixels, F0516333.TIF f0516333.tfw F0516333.aux
• Excel Notes
  • May need to turn on the Tools -gt; Add-Ins... check Analysis ToolPak if RANDBETWEEN function is not working
  • How do you zoom/goto any spreadsheet cell? Use F5 key
  • How do you zoom/goto cell A1 in the spreadsheet? Ctrl+Home
  • How do you scroll to the end of a series? Shift+End+down arrow
  • How do you scroll to the beginning of a series? Shift+End+up arrow
  • How do you refresh the spreadsheet calculation/analysis? F9

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 4 Exploring ArcCatalog

ArcCatalog

• Need to Know
  • Similar to Windows Explorer but for spatial data
  • Catalog Tree- used to browse data sources
    • Recommend viewing file extensions in ArcCatalog, sometimes have problems when downloading files and Windows adding a txt extension on the file. To view file extensions, Tools -> Options -> General tab, uncheck 'Hide file extensions'.
    • Different icons for the file types, e.g. square bumpy icon represents an image.
    • Double-clicking a map document (.mxd) will open in ArcMap.
    • Illustrates the spatial data hierarchy in which its organized.
    • File -> Connect to Folder... (add \\ccgis1\gisdata location to ArcCatalog). Then next time ArcCatalog is open, the connection to \\ccgis1\gisdata will already be done.
    • Add Database Connection to SDE. Database Connections -> Add Spatial Database Connection. Server: ccgis2, Service: port:5151, Database: gismo, User Name: public1, and Password: public1 (inital one-time setup)
  • Contents Tab: items selected in the Catalog Tree will be displayed in the Contents tab. For example, selecting a map document (.mxd) in the Catalog tree will show a thumbnail in the Contents tab.
  • Preview Tab: used to view data in two formats, spatial-Geography View (shows spatial extend of feature) or tabular-Table View (shows feature attributes). If viewing an .mxd file, will see the map layout.
  • Metadata Tab: documentation about the data. Some of the properties of the data are automatically generated and can be viewed in this tab.
  • Used to create a new personal geodatabase. File -> New -> Personal Geodatabase. (Note must have a directory selected in the Catalog Tree as well as have write permissions in that directory).
  • Drag-n-Drop files from ArcCatalog to ArcMap. Another method to add data to ArcMap.
  • Creating new Data (i.e. Table) in ArcCatalog
    • ArcCatalog has the ability to create tables. It doesn't have the ability to edit or input records on these newly created tables (use Microsoft Access or ArcMap)
    • ArcCatalog can only create tables in a GeoDataBase (GDB), both personal and SDE
    • Step 1: from the ArcCatalog tree, right-click the GDB and click New -> Table
    • Step 2: Enter table name
    • Step 3: Add a field to the table: enter field name and data type. Repeat this for all fields
    • Step 4: Add data using Microsoft Access or ArcMap
    • All simple tables in the geodatabase require an ObjectID type field
    • Can use another table as a template, get everything but the data records
    • ArcMap doesn't like Access table names that have a dash "-"
    • Reference: ArcGIS Desktop Help - Contents tab -> Geodatabases -> Creating new items in geodatabases -> Creating tables
  • Add a field in ArcCatalog
    • How to calculate the values of one field to another field in Desktop ArcInfo 8 Article Number 10014
• Nice to Know
  • Simple query using Identify available in ArcCatalog Preview-Geography Window
  • To find spatial data use the Search Button (magnifying glass on top of a file cabinet) on the Standard toolbar.
  • Location toolbar- can type the path to an item in this text box. Note, this path is added to the location list for quick reference.
  • "When you copy, rename, or delete data sources with ArcCatalog, auxilary files and other data sources that are linked to the datasets are also copied, renamed, or deleted." (see ArcGIS Desktop Help: ArcCatalog -> Managing the Catalog's contents -> Organizing your data -> About organizing your data with ArcCatalog).
  • Deleting a database connection or shortcut doesn't delete the database or the target.
  • View -> Toolbars -> Geography
    • Only available the Preview tab is selected in the Catalog Display window of ArcCatalog
    • Zoom In, Zoom Out, Pan, and Full Extent - work the same as ArcMap
    • Identify
    • Create Thumbnail - zoom into feature, then click the Create Thumbnail button. Now the contents tab shows a sketch of the feature. A thumbnail for a map (.mxd) is stored with the map document. A thumbnail for a layer or data source is store within its metadata.
    • See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcCatalog -> Exploring an item's geography -> Creating thumbnails
    • See [Hutchinson 04, p. 26] for additional info on ArcCatalog.
  • View file extension in Windows Explorer. Tools -> Folder Options... View tab, uncheck Hide extensions for known file types. Now when browsing folders, full filename is displayed, e.g. junk.txt
  • Universal Naming Convention (UNC), Mapped Network Folders vs. Add Network Places
    • Windows Command Prompt and UNC. Basically CMD doesn't support UNC path. Workaround, pushd \\ccgis1\gisdata (see Article 26901 by John Savill)
    • How to add a Network Place in Windows Explorer, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 308416
    • Mapped Network Folders assigns an "... alias-the assigned drive letter-that provides an alternative means of access. In general, drive mapping is obsolete, having been supplanted by improvements in and greater reliance on My Network Places." (see Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out, ISBN: 0735613826, p. 971)
    • Issues sharing ArcMap documents (.mxd) if layer data sources use different alias, i.e. mapped network folders. For example, Admin maps \\ccgis1\gisdata to the O: drive and Design maps it to the M: drive. UNC will solve this problem. Won't solve problem if you just give the .mxd file to another agency.
  • Catalog Metadata tab- provides information about the data set, such as coordinate system, attribute descriptions, etc. ArcCatalog creates a XML document of the metadata. XML focus on content, HTML focus on display. XML documents can be searched. Example metadata site in Clark County. ESRI has a whitepaper on metadata, "ESRI Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata". Another reference by the Federal Geographic Data Committee, Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Workbook". Typical definition given for metadata is "data about data."
  • Creating a Custom Metadata Synchronizer
  • Can only print Metadata from ArcCatalog, use ArcMap instead to print Preview of data
  • Can perform dual field sort by highlighting fields, right mouse click primary sort field and select Ascending/Descending Sort. Secondary sort is automatically performed
  • Don't have to save changes in ArcCatalog like you do in ArcMap [Ormsby 01, p. 57]

Adding data to ArcMap

• Drag and drop feature from ArcCatalog to ArcMap TOC or drop on the Data Frame in the Map display.
• Drag and drop layers onto the data frame will order the layers by feature class. See ESRI Article Number 17519.
• Remember you can reorder layers in the TOC, just can't reorder data frames.
• Can copy and paste layers between data frames

Searching for Map Data

• Edit -> Search from Menu toolbar or Magnifying glass and file cabinet button on the standard toolbar
• Results of search, right mouse click on feature of interest, select 'Go To Target' to open the spatial dataset in ArcCatalog Catalog Tree.
• Can also drap and drop results of search into ArcMap.

Importing files into geodatabase tables using ArcCatalog

• How to Create a point feature
  • Can use a Tab Delimited ASCII files, have extension .tab
  • Can use a Comma Delimited ASCII files, have extension .csv
  • ArcCatalog Context Menu, right mouse click on .tab or .csv files, Create Feature Class -> From XY Table...
• Import dBase III/IV tables and INFO tables in Geodatabase
  • Import -> Table to Geodatabase...
• Import Access tables into Geodatabase
  • Need to register the table with the Geodatabase: within ArcCatalog, right mouse click on table and select Register with Geodatabase. This will create an ObjectID field in the table.

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 18 - Making Maps Quickly

Templates

• Provides a standardized layout when creating a series of maps.
• Similar to Microsoft Word, where every Word document (.doc) is based on a template. A template determines the basic structure for a document and contains document settings such as fonts, macros, page layouts, special formatting, and styles.
• AutoCAD also uses templates. These store standard settings such has:
  • unit type and precision
  • title blocks, borders, and logos
  • layer names
  • snap, grid, and orthos settings
  • drawing (grid) limits
  • dimension styles
  • text styles
  • linetypes
  Biggest problem with AutoCAD templates is they are based on the plotter settings. So one cannot create a universal template layout that will work with all printers/plotters.
• ArcMap template features
  • Custom User interface information is stored in the template, for example whether or not the Table of Contents is docked or free-floating, which toolbars are displayed, etc. Note user interface changes are stored in the normal template unless you save in another map or template.
  • Store Data Layers
  • Create a new template from an old one.
  • Map documents have extension (.mxd), Map templates use (.mxt) extension.
  • Stores a predefined layout which can include map elements such as north arrows, scale bars, and logos.
  • Can store special symbols and styles
  • Can reference a style or group of styles. Note a style is a suite of symbols and map elements that provide information about the symbol properties, label specifications, color schemes, legend and scale bar characteristics, and coordinate reference systems.
  • Store VBA macros/modules
  • Default .mxt file location \ArcGIS\Bin\Templates

How to Create an ArcMap Plotter independent map template

• Benefits: create a template once which can be used on all printers/plotters
• within ArcMap: File -> Page and Print Setup (uncheck Use Printer Page Settings and uncheck Scale map elements...)
• Layout View, create the marginalia and data frames needed for the template
• File -> Save As... then change 'Save as type' to ArcMap Templates (*.mxt)
• User then adds data/features to the data frames, saves as Map document (*.mxd) and gets ready to print
• This is the key: File -> Page and Print Setup (check Use Printer Page Settings)
• You now have a universal map template without any shifting
• Discussion: if you check the 'Use Printer Paper Settings' option on Page Setup creates a virtual Print Preview. If you uncheck 'Use Printer Paper Settings' then ArcMap will place the origin (0,0) for the entire map inside the maximum printable area of the printer paper size selected, which causes the marginalia to shift on plot.
• See Problem: ArcMap clips map when printed, ESRI Article 17300

Layout Toolbar

• Only works in Layout View
• View -> Toolbars -> Layout to turn on/off the toolbar
• Zoom Whole Page- similar to zoom Full Extent in the Data View, but this only applies to Layouts
• Zoom In, Zoom Out, Pan
• Within ArcMap Edit Session, hit the Z key to start a zoom in process.
• Zoom Control 100% drop down box is the same as Zoom to 100% button
• When using Layout Toolbar to zoom in/out at different percentages, the actual scale of the map (either inherited from the scale set in Data View or as set in Layout View) remains the same. [ESRI Virtual Campus, Learning ArcGIS I, Presenting Data in ArcGIS, Lesson 1]
• Remember that the data frame zoom tools only work in data frames. To zoom or pan the page layout, use the layout tools (View -> Toolbars -> Layout). AutoCAD uses one pan/zoom tool, works in both Modelspace and Layouts.

Logos and Pictures

• Windows Enhanced Metafile (.emf) is the best format for inserting images as pictures in ArcMap
• Use any graphics software package that supports export to Windows bitmaps or Windows enhanced metafiles.
• Use products like Adobe Illustrator to create EMF graphics. Use products like Autodesk AutoCAD to create WMF graphics
• Can use the Metafile Companion shareware to create and edit WMF/EMF files.
• Windows Metafile (.wmf) is a 16-bit metafile used by Microsoft Windows to display a picture. An enhanced metafile (.emf) is a 32-bit metafile that is a superset of the .wmf. See Windows Metafile FAQ.
• Note PostScript images are not support, only JPEG, GIF, TIF, EMF, BMP, and PNG (see ESRI Article Number 17274) even though ArcMap can create a PostScript plot file.
• Note ArcMap markers can be a .bmp (raster format) or .emf (vector format). EMF format has better clarity and scaling abilities. The pictures used in the styles that come with ArcMap are stored in \bin\styles\pictures folder where ArcGIS is installed. See ArcMap online help, Creating marker symbols.
• EMF or BMP image files can be used as a north arrow. See ESRI Article #20538.
• Can use Microsoft Paint to create a bmp logo. Use Image -> Attributes to set size of logo, e.g. 1"x1". Then draw anything and do a save as .bmp.
• Limitations of Metafile Formats (EMF, WMF) When Printing PostScript, seeEMF and PostScript
• WitzImg from Witzend Software. Free EMF/WMF view can be downloaded from www.download.com. From the developer: "The WitzImg program lets you quickly browse through your graphics files, and displays a faithful thumbnail view of each file as it's selected. If you've ever wanted a convenient way to quickly peruse clipart, photos, drawings -- all your graphics files -- download the free WitzImg utility and see how easy it is. Designed to showcase our Witzend Thumbnail Image Viewer (tm) ActiveX control, the WitzImg utility recognizes all common graphics formats, including JPEG, GIF, TIFF, bitmap (BMP), cursor (CUR), icon (ICO), and metafiles (WMF and EMF). You can view an image in any of three sizing modes: (1) stretched-to-fit; (2) stretched-to-fit with aspect ratio maintained; and (3) normal size. Under Windows NT/2000/XP, the WitzImg program can even rotate the selected image."

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 19 - Making Maps for Presentation

Basic Map Elements to include on Maps