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

To ensure your viewing the latest agenda, fresh the cache in your web browser by either 1) holding down the shift and clicking fresh with your mouse, or 2) Ctrl-F5 on the keyboard

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

• Map Legend- used to explain symbols. By default includes all layers from the map. ArcMap: Insert -> Legend (only works in Layouts)
• Title- provide a description of map
• Project Info- for example: StatePlane Coordinates, NAD83, Units Feet, Nevada East Zone (FIPS 4701)
• Source Statement- credit to where you obtained spatial data
• North Arrow- used to orient the map with the world
• Scale bar- also used to orient the map with the world. ArcMap: Insert -> Scale Bar... Must have data frame projection and units defined (Data Frame Properties: Coordinate System and General tab). Based on the current map scale show on the Standard Toolbar. If more than one data frame is included with the map, its usually best to keep the scale bar within the data frame it references. Scale bar broken into Divisions, then subdivisions to the left of 0.
• Neatline- border that can be placed around map elements or inside the margins. ArcMap: Insert -> Neatline... Use the Data Frame Properties- Frame tab to place neatlines around data frames.
• Company Logo- identifies group responsible for map. ArcMap: Insert -> Picture.
  • "ArcMap keeps the same ratio of width to height (the aspect ratio) when you resize graphics, so they won't be distorted when you change their size. If you want to make a graphic wider or taller without changing its other dimension, right-click the graphic, click Properties, and on the Picture tab uncheck Maintain aspect ratio. You can then stretch the graphic."
  • "Check the box to save the picture as part of the document if you want to give the map to someone who may not have the picture file. This increases the size of the map document (.mxd), but makes the document more portable."
  • Reference: ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Working with graphic elements, pictures, and neatlines

Scale Bar Map Elements

• Visual indication of the size of features and distances between features on the map
• A line or bar divided into parts and labeled with its ground length, usually in multiples of map units
• scale is based on the active data frame
• can manually resize and move the scale bar
• preserves the ratio/scale if the physical map is enlarged or reduced.
• ArcMap: Insert -> Scale bar
• right mouse click on the scale bar to modify the properties
• Scale Bar window has 3 tabs: "Scale and Units", "Numbers and Marks", and "Format"
• Must set the data frame units before adding a scale bar.
• Bug - cannot rotate a scale bar. Workaround is to convert the scale bar to graphics and then rotate. Problem is if you change the scale of your may, the scale bar will not dynamically update.

Comparison of Data Frame/Viewports in layouts between CAD & GIS

• ArcMap 8.2- Data Frames
  • Locking a data frame keeps it from accidentally being deleted. See ESRI Article #18060. Data Frame is locked when surrounded by short lines at a 45 degree angle.
  • Panning/Zooming in Data View changes the map extents in the Data Frame shown in Layout View. This has its drawbacks.
  • ArcMap has option to use fixed scale and fixed extents which restricts the user from being able to pan/zoom in the data view or the data frame in the layout. Would prefer if this restriction only applied to the data frame in the layout. See ESRI Article #17376.
  • Possible workarounds is to create a separate data view that is outside the layout. Will have duplicated layers but will allow one to pan/zoom without changing the final plot.
  • Don't confuse with Tools -> Customize... -> Options tab -> Lock Customization... button. This locks the customization done on a document or template using a password.
  • Can have several Data Frames per Map Document (.mxd)
  • Can reorder data frames in the ArcMap Table of Contents by using 'Change Layout'.
  • Only one layout allowed, see ESRI Article Number 17577. Big disadvantage. Workaround to Change Map template in Layout View, see ESRI Article #17222 this only works well if changing the layout size. Right mouse select Change Layout... Not a good solution if doing several plots all with the same template (.mxt).
  • Can create non-rectangular viewports in ArcMap. From the Data Frame Properties: Data Frame tab: Check the Enable Clip to Shape box, click the Specify Shape button then finally click on Outline of Selected Data Graphics. ArcUser January-March 2003, p. 25 The polygon outline used to create the non-rectangular data frame must be either a graphic drawn in data view or a polygon feature. See ESRI Article ID: 22887 you previously created
• AutoCAD 2002- Viewports
  • Concept of locking a viewport keeps the user from being able to pan/zoom or delete a viewport.
  • Applies only to layouts, that is changes in the map extent in modelspace doesn't alter the viewports in the layout(s).
  • using the PROPERTIES command in AutoCAD, select the viewport and then select Display Locked and toggle to Yes.
  • Only one Modelspace (MS) per drawing (.dwg). Workaround, insert all spatial data into MS, then use VPLAYER command to freeze/thaw desired layers. Hassle to work with if data is in different projections. Issues when creating Overview/Index/Vicinity/Key maps.
  • Can have several layout pages. Advantageous when developing a set of plans for construction.

Size and Position of Data Frames

• Editing a Data Frame. In Layout View, right mouse click inside the Data Frame and select Properties. Within the Data Frame Properties, select the Size and Position tab. For exact control of data frame, uncheck the As Percentage and Preserve Aspect Ratio boxes.
• Can use Guides to snap a data frame to an exact location. Turn on/off guides by View -> Guides. To create a guide just click anyware on the ruler. To delete a guide, put mouse over guide in the ruler section, will get a double black arrow, right mouse click and select "Clear Guide". Options context sensitive menu is same as doing a right mouse click on the data frame and selecting options.
• Cannot use guides to move a data frame, only snap to it.
• Cannot nudge a guide. When moving, smallest division unit is set under Data Frame Options, Layout View tab, Rulers section.
• Using Guides
  • Straight lines used in layout view to align map elements
  • Guides can be used to position any map element or data frame.
  • Guides don't appear on the printed map
  • To turn on snap to Guides, right mouse click on the virtual page in Layout View and select Guides -> Snap to Guides.
  • To change snapping tolerance of guide, right mouse click on page and select Options. Then type in the number of units for snapping tolerance.
• "The data frames are stacked on the virtual page according to their order in the table of contents." [Ormsby 01, p. 494]

Title Map Element

• To add use Insert -> Title from the Menu toolbar
• Double click or right mouse click Properties to edit text value.
• Can be snapped to guides.
• Use Text Properties, Change Symbol... button to add a text mask. AutoCAD has similar command called TEXTMASK.
• Units of Points, one inch = 72 points.
• Can nudge the text box using the arrow keys. Must have the text object selected (dashed rectangle surrounding the text identifies it is selected).
• Nudge can be done on any map element. Use to move the element, not resize it.
• What is the difference between a Title Map Element and a Text Map Element in ArcMap? When you add a Title Map Element, the default size is larger and centered when compared to a Text Map Element. Otherwise the two elements are the same. Note the Text Map Element can be added two ways: 1) from the Menu bar, Insert -> Text. 2) from the Draw Toolbar, Select the Bold A icon, which also gives the option to add splined text which isn't available from the Menu bar.

Text Map Element

• View -> Toolbars -> Draw to turn on/off or Insert -s activated when inserting
• tend to insert map elements in the data frame associated with. If not, can cause confusion on which one scale bar applies to when there are multiple data frames.

Printing

• Good idea to do a print preview on maps to verify correctness
• Before printing, always do a full zoom extent in layout view. There are some issues with scale text elements and doing this fixes the problems. See ESRI Article Number 19076.
• ArcMap converts a layout to EMF format which is then used by the printer driver for printing. To debug printing issues, need to identify if problem with conversion to EMF or problem with the printer. See ESRI Article Number 17783.
• Page Setup window can be opened by right mouse clicking the virtual page in layout view and selecting Page Setup... This doesn't work if right mouse click in the data frame.
• Best to set page size before creating a map, but can be done later. If map elements already added, within the Page Setup window, check "Scale map elements proportionally to changes in page size"
• To make plotter independent maps, within the Page Setup window, uncheck "Same as Printer" and specify paper size in the Width and Height boxes.
• "Show printer margins on Layout" checkbox is dimmed if creating a plotter independent page. If "Same as Printer" is checked, then this option will be available. Knowing printer margins helps when placing map element on the virtual page, nothing will print outside these margins.
• Page Setup: output image quality of best means no resampling of the output image. Downside is a larger file that the printer might not be able to process. Workaround is to use ArcPress Extension.
• "The page setup is important because it affects the size of the features, symbols, labels , and other text, as well as other map elements." (ArcGIS Desktop Help, Setting up the page)
• Virtual page size, by default, is same size as the system printer's default page size.
• "Is it possible to create a user-defined printer margin for an ArcMap Layout? No. Unlike the ArcView GIS application, ArcMap will only display printer-defined margins. This functionality was excluded from ArcMap in an effort to avoid common problems caused by user-defined margins not matching the actual printer margins, which can cause 'clipping' when printed." See ESRI Article Number 22443
• Recommend exporting Map Document to PDF if doing more than one plot over a period of time. Benefit is Adobe Acrobat Reader is free, whereas you must tie up an ArcMap license if all you want to do is print. ArcMap: File -> Export

Class 3 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS 9

• Assigned: Module 2 of 8 - Creating Map Symbology. Submit a copy of the module completion certificate, next week.

Term/Class Project

• Submit: number of ideas generated in brainstorming exercise with instructors. Minimum 3 ideas per person.
• Assigned: Select a project from the brainstorming exercise. Due next week

GIS Tutorial Workbook - Tutorial 2 Exercises - Turn in the following:

1. Printout of the map for Exercise 2-1.
2. Printout of the map for Exercise 2-2 showing just the city of Pittsburg zoom extent.
3. Answer the two questions at the end of Exercise 2-2.

Reading Assignment

• Assigned: Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapter 4, 18, and 19
• Quiz on Chapter 4 and 18 next week

ArcView Homework

• Create an ArcGIS map document template (.mxd) for this and future assignments. Add north arrow, neatlines, title, logo, and vicinity map. Paper size 8.5in by 11in, landscape.
• Add point feature of 1000 random elevation points on the new UNLV Research and Technology Park
• Add the Fall 2005, 5 ft pixel, aerial photo as the background.
• Add the street centerline (SCL) geodatabase (streetcenterline.mdb), streets line feature class to the map.
• Label the street using the strname field

Class 4: Tuesday, 7 Feb 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

: none

ArcMap Graphics: Points, Lines, Circles, Polygons, Rectangles

• Data View Graphics
  • "If you want the graphic to display with your data, add it in data view. For example, suppose you want to draw a circle representing a buffer around a feature. Instead of drawing the circle over the data frame in layout view, draw it directly over your data in data view. Then, as you pan and zoom your data, the circle pans and zooms with it." (ArcGIS Desktop Help: ArcMap -> Labeling maps with text and graphics -> Drawing points, lines, and circles -> Adding graphics in layout view and data view)
  • If in Layout View, just use the Draw toolbar -> Select Graphics button and double click the data frame. Now when you create graphics within the data frame, they will be linked to it instead of the map layout.
• Layout View Graphics
  • "Since graphics don't change size as you zoom in or out on data, wait to do this until you're satisfied with the display scale. A graphic box that encloses a feature at one display scale, for instance, may not enclose it at another." [Ormsby 01, p. 482]
• Add a graphic using the Draw toolbar
• Can change size of a graphic by using the Select Graphics button (black arrow icon) to click on the graphic, move mouse pointer over one of the blue selection handles, then click and drag.
• Press the Delete key on the keyboard to remove a selected graphic
• Graphic Properties: double click the graphic. Can be used to change the fill color.
• Can edit the vertices of a graphic. Use the Edit Vertices Icon on the Draw Toolbar (black line polygon showing with black points for the vertices). Right-click over the line and click Add Vertex or Delete Vertex. Click and drag to move a vertex.
• Can convert a layer into graphics for cartographic purposes. Right click the layer in the TOC and click Convert Features to Graphics.
• Cannot do the reverse. The ability to convert graphics into map features is not supported in ArcGIS 8.2. Currently logged as an enhancement request with ESRI. Workaround is to to use ArcMap Sketches within an edit session.
• Draw Toolbar -> Default Symbol Properties: once clicked, just click an icon you want to change the default symbol properties on.
• Group Graphics: blue handles on the graphic indicates the dominant graphic, that is the one ArcMap uses to align other graphics with. To change the dominant graphic, hold down the Ctrl key and select the desired graphic. Graphics that are grouped together behave as a single graphic.
• UnGroup Graphics: select the graphic using the Select Graphics tool (black arrow icon) then click Drawing on the Draw toolbar and click Ungroup.
• Aligning Graphics- moves the graphics
• Distributing Graphics- equal spaceWorking with Attributes in ArcGIS
• Chapter 12 of [Ormsby 01] discusses the ability to create buffer graphics.

Create Overview Data Frame (a.k.a. index, vicinity, location, or key map)

• Chapter 19 of [Ormsby 01] shows an overview data frame, but doesn't tell how to create one.
• ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Contents tab -> ArcMap -> Laying out and printing maps -> Adding data frames -> Using on data frame to show the location of another
• In a nutshell, from the Vicinity Map Data Frame, right mouse click on the data frame in the table of contents and select Properties, then select the Extent Rectangles tab
• required item for Tentative Map submission, "V. A vicinity or key map showing the relation of the subdivision to the area in which it is located" (Title 30 Clark County Unified Development Code, 30.28.120 Document Submittal Requirements, p. 30.28 - 19)
• Requires at least 2 data frames, one being the main map display and the other the overview frame.
• Rectangle showing the map extent is dynamic, that is if pan/zoom is peeach feature's shape and its location in the coordinate system." [Ormsby 01, p. 366] Will discuss further in Chapter 14.
• How to create custom reference grid row or column labels ESRI Article ID 17372
• This method is not used by the CCRFCD MPU figures, instead a custom grid was created and shaded based on the map extend/scale. This works but isn't automated.

How to create an exact copy of an Overview Window in a data frame

• Issue being the polygon shading/hatching is solid, not lines drawn at 45 degree angle. This can be done by creating a new line style. Below is email extract from Thomas Purk, tpurk@esri.com of ESRI Technical Support.

1. Select Data Frame from the Insert menu.
2. Rename the data frame to 'Overview'
   1. Right click on the Data Frame in the ArcMap Table of Contents
   2. Select Properties
   3. Switch to the General tab
   4. Type the new name in the Name field
   5. Click Apply and OK
3. Create an extend rectangle for the Overview data frame
   1. Right click on the data frame and select Properties
   2. Switch to the Extent Rectangles tab
   3. Select a Data Frame from the 'Other data frames' list
   4. Click the right arrow button
   5. Click Apply and OK
4. Select Tools -> Styles -> Style Manager...
5. Expand the ESRI.Styles folder and select the Background subfolder
6. Right click in the right hand window and select New -> Normal Background
7. Click the Change Symbol button on the Background dialog box
8. Click the Properties button on the Symbol Selector dialog box
9. Select Line Fill Symbol from the Type dropdown list
10. Change the angle field to 45 degrees
11. Select Red from the Color dropdown
12. Click the Outline button
13. Select Red from the Color dropdown and click OK
14. Click Apply and OK on all dialog boxes
15. Rename the new style to 'Overview' and close the Style Manager
16. Right click the Overview data frame and select Properties
17. Switch to the Extent Rectangles tab
18. Click the Frame button
19. Switch the Outline to None and switch the Background to the new Overview background
20. Click Apply and OK on all dialogs. Once you arrange your Layout view you should see something like the following image.

Add x,y coordinate data to ArcMap

• Use tabular data (e.g. delimited text files, dBase .dbf files, etc) to create a point layer
• Example is surveyors will provide a points file, this is method to view in ArcView
• Table must contain two fields, one for the x-coordinate and another for the y-coordinate. Table can contant other data, but this won't be used in spatial context.
• Creates a data layer similar to a graphic layer, that is to make it a permanent feature, need to export the layer as a shapefile (.shp) or personal geodatabase (.mdb) feature.
• Cannot interactively move a point on the map (unless it has been converted to shp or mdb), need to change the value in the table.
• If using a text file, remember first record will be imported as the field name, enclose strings in double quotes (single quotes will be imported into the database), use either tab or comma field delimitors.
• Field X = Long = Easting
• Field Y = Lat = Northing
• Tools -> Add XY Data...
• Can defined the projection at time of import
• Text files: comma delimited, strings can optionally be enclosed in double quotes, first record is the field heading names
• Problem: XY event themes created from text files are not selectable, ESRI Article #21953
• See ESRI Article Number 21473 on Using ArcObjects to get the x and y coordinates of points, polygon centroids, or line midpoints

Creating Point Layer from x,y values in a table using ArcCatalog

• Two methods to create a point layer: Event Theme [Ormsby 01, p. 476] or From XY Table
• From XY Table
  • Step 1: from ArcCatalog tree, right-click on XY table, Create Feature Class -> From XY Table
  • Step 2: select field name that has x-coordinates (e.g. Eastings)
  • Step 3: select field name that has y-coordinates (e.g. Northings)
  • Step 4: Spatial Reference of Input Coordinates. Coordinate System tab -> Import... button. Then select a feature which has the coordinate system you want to copy. Dataset can be a geodatabase feature class, shapefile, or ArcInfo coverage.
  • Step 5: accept defaults on remaining
  • Issues when creating a feature class and its extent is outside the XY domain, see ESRI Article ID 21419
• Event Theme
  • Issues using an Access table that has a blank space in the name. See ESRI Article ID 21390
  • Reference: ArcGIS Desktop Help: Contents tab - ArcCatalog -> Exploring the values in a table -> Creating new data sources from the values in a table

Create x,y,z features in ArcCatalog

• right mouse click on the text file in ArcCatalog to bring up context sensitive menu. Select Create Feature Class -> From XY Table.
• Any ASCII text file can be converted into a point shapefile or a point feature class in a personal or ArcSDE geodatabase.
• Text file must contain x and y field. The field name doesn't have to have x,y label. For example can use Easting, Northing field names.
• Z field is optional. If used, ArcCatalog will auotmatically create a point feature that has Z values, also know Point Z shape type.
• When creating a new 3D point feature class, use Shape Geometry Type Point with the field property-Contains Z values- as Yes.
• Within an ArcMap edit session, can create new 3D point features, problem is how to specify the elevation, z value, seems you can only use the Sketch tool to create a 2D point.
• Would be handy to create a 3D point by clicking on an elevation surface, that is the elevation at the location clicked on the TIN surface would be copied into the 3D point geometry feature.
• ArcGIS software doesn't allow you to specify the Vertical Datum of the Z elevation points. Datum most often used is the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). So you must keep track what your elevations are based on.
• See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcCatalog -> Exploring the values in a table -> Creating new data sources from the values in a table

Event Tables

• Layers created from tables containing location information in ArcMap.
• Two fields that contain raw coordinates or raw measures that can be compared with existing feature classes.
• Create event layer using the Add XY Data tool in ArcMap. Note an event layer behaves just like any other feature layer, can symbolize it, turn on/off, etc.
• Street addresses can be used

Using ArcMap with Relative Path Names

• Solves the problem of transferring ArcMap documents (.mxd) and data features (e.g. geodatabase, shapefiles, coverages, etc.) from UNLV Lab to another computer
• Best to save .mxd and data features in the same Windows directory (e.g. c:\ceg468)
• Within ArcMap: File -> Map Properties... click Data Source Options... button, then select the "Store relative path names" radio button.
• The Source tab in the ArcMap Table of Contents will still show the full path, but internal will recognize relative path names.
• Can now copy on to a CDROM/Zip Drive and ArcMap will find the data source link. This avoids the red exclamation point on the layer name in the ArcMap Table of Contents.
• References:
  • How to Save an ArcMap map document to a CD preserving the paths to the data. ESRI Article Number 20905
  • How to Remove red exclamation point and relocate an ArcMap data source. ESRI Article Number 16476
  • How to Distribute a client-side geocoding service to other users. ESRI Article Number 19316
  • Error: The import geometry type does not match destination geometry type. ESRI Article Number 22484

Map Documents (.mxd)

• Displayed in ArcMap. Used to store graphic elements, text, and links to the data in the TOC amoung other things.
• red exclamation point next to the feature class in the ArcMap TOC indicates that the data is missing. Right mouse click and click Set Data Source to fix. See ESRI Article Number 16476.
• Using the Save command can increase the size of the .mxd, see ESRI Article Number 20872. Recommend doing a Save As.
• Use relative path names to help solve issues with moving data. See, Save an ArcMap map document to a CDROM preserving the paths to the data, Article Number 20905.

Class 4 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS 9

• Submit: Module 3 of 8
• Assigned: Module 4 of 8 - Organizing Geographic Data (due next week)

Term/Class Project

• Submit: Select a project from the brainstorming exercise
• Assigned: Submitted Project Title

GIS Tutorial Workbook - Tutorial 3 Exercises - Turn in the following:

1. Printout of the map for Exercise 3-1.
2. Printout of the map for Exercise 3-2.

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapter 19 and 5
• Quiz on Chapter 19 and 5 next week

Homework

• Download the following from the GIS data section at the bottom of the syllabus:
  • RFCD2002MPU-MapH17.pdf
  • CCRFCD-LVMPU2002.mdb
  • MPUTypicalLandUse.lyr
  • StreetCenterline.mdb
  • sclan.e00
  • RFCD logo
  • RFCD Map Document Template (rfcdmpu.mxd)
• Make an 11" x 17" layout similar to the Clark County Regional Flood Control District 2002 Master Plan Update for the Las Vegas Valley, Map H-17
  • Set reference scale 1" = 3000 ft
  • Use WatershedFlamingo dynamic labels on the BasinID field, include a white halo mask
  • Use the MPUTypicalLanduse.lyr
  • Add Flow Arrows for the Flamingo Wash Watershed
  • Add major street names from the sclan coverage
  • Add RFCD logo, scale bar, north arrow, and legend

Class 5: Tuesday, 14 Feb 2006

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 5 - Symbolizing features and rasters

Symbols and Styles

• Used to mimic nature. Conveys information about real world features on the map.
• Influenced by scale
• Vector symbology: points, polygons, and lines. Raster symbology: change color of cell/pixel.
• Suite of symbols is called a style, think of a style as a palette of symbols
• Styles are a collection of predefined symbols, colors, and other map elements such as labels, north arrows, scale bars, and borders.
• Can be stored in a layer (.lyr) file. Remember data features are not stored in layer, just a reference. Custom symbols are stored in the layer, this is very helpful when distributing file.
• Can export map styles. This allows you to save map elements and symbols from many styles into a single style: Tools -> Styles -> Export Map Styles
• Initially a new map document loads two default styles: ESRI and a windows-generated symbolset with the same name as the user's login. [ESRI Virtual Campus, Learning ArcGIS II, Module 1, Lesson 2, Displaying Layers]
• New styles contain a standard set of symbol and map element folder but they are empty, which is indicated by the white folder icon. Yellow folder implies it contains an element.
• Change Symbology
  • To change color: right mouse click on symbol in TOC
  • Symbol Selector: double click on symbol in TOC
• See ESRI Article Number 18784 if you want to Set ArcMap's legend shade to match transparency
• See ESRI Article Number 17494 for a description of ArcMap's advanced symbology option for transparency by field works only on polygons

Creating Marker Symbols

• 4 marker types
  • Picture Graphic
    • Can be either a bitmap raster image (.bmp) or an Enhance Windows Metafile vector format (.emf)
    • Tools -> Styles -> Style Manager. In Marker Symbol, right mouse click on open space and select New. Layer Properties -> Symbology. Categories - Unique values, Advanced button - rotation field
  • Simple - fast drawing set of basic glyph patters with an optional mask
  • Character - a glyph from a TrueType font
  • Arrow - a glyph from a TrueType font
  • Software to create glyphs
    • Font Lab
    • Macromedia Fontographer
    • www.microsoft.com/typography
    • convert Mac fonts to PC, use CrossFont from Asy
    • True Type Font Creator Program by high logic. Cannot create open type fonts.
• See ArcGIS Desktop Help: ArcMap -> Working with Styles and Symbols -> Creating Marker Symbols

Symbols by Attributes

• Categorical/Qualitative/Descriptive Attributes: usually text but may be numbers if the numbers are codes standing for descriptions (e.g. landuse, zoning, etc.)
• Quantitative Attributes: measurements or counts of features (e.g. area, population, etc.)
• See ESRI Article Number 22897 for discussion on how to Rotate point labels by an attribute field and offset them so that labels are placed on top the points

Using Interstate Shields

• Uses a label symbol instead of a linetype or a marker symbol
• Layer Properties > Labels tab, Method: 'Define classes of features and label each class differently'
  • Add new Class Interstate, SQL Query (e.g. street.name = 'I 15')
    • Change Text Symbol: Symbol... button -> Properties button -> Advanced Text tab, check Text Background, Properties... button -> Type Marker Text Background, Symbol... button, then select 'Interstate HWY 1' symbol
    • Other Options, click the Placement Properties... button, Placement tab, Line Settings Orientation, click Horizontal radio button.
  • Add new Class USRoute, SQL Query (e.g. street.name = 'US 95')
    • Change Text Symbol: Symbol... button -> Properties button -> Advanced Text tab, check Text Background, Properties... button -> Type Marker Text Background, Symbol... button, then select 'U.S. Route 2' symbol
    • Other Options, click the Placement Properties... button, Placement tab, Line Settings Orientation, click Horizontal radio button.
  • Class uncheck Label features in this class
• How to label interstate highways with a shield marker containing the highway number, ESRI Article ID 20248

Compare Aerial Photo Images

• Using the ER Mapper compressed aerial photos taken in Fall 2000 (f0016222.ecw) and Fall 2001 (f0116222.ecw) compare the two. Might need to download the ecw plugin under the software section. ArcGISwithCompressor_v1.1.3_20Nov02.exe
• from ArcMap Menubar: View -> Toolbars -> Effects, use Transparency option (100% invisible, 0% full visibility)
• also available from TOC Layer Properties - Display tab: Transparent box
• Example applications: pavement management and Dr. K's students are using it for air quality, relate development activities to air quality monitor readings.
• ER Mapper can change tranparency without a refresh, much better.
• Transparency only works in true color mode, see Article Number 14606
• Symbol sets, 'No Color' acts like 100% transparent, see Article Number 14807

ArcMap Images

• Pyramids
  • Use to improve redisplay of image when zooming/panning around.
  • will create a Reduced Resolution Dataset (same filename as image but with .rrd extension) in the same directory as the image.
  • If directory is write-protected (e.g. CDROM) then its written to c:\temp\rasterproxies. (see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Contents -> ArcCatalog -> Working with rasters -> about proxy files)
  • .rrd file size approximately 8% of the original raster dataset
  • Auxillary File (.aux) created by ArcGIS, has information about the raster such as statistics, histograms, and pyramids. Sometimes this information is stored within the raster image itself. ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Contents tab -> ArcCatalog -> Working with rasters -> Calculating statistics for your raster dataset
• Raster Image Catalog: a dbf table that must have the following fields: IMAGE, XMIN, YMIN, XMAX, YMAX.
• ArcObjects Online, Create Raster Catalog From A Directory
• Personel Geodatabase doesn't support raster image catalogs, the IMAGE field is a reserved key word.
• Can include universal naming convention (UNC) paths in the IMAGE field. For example, \\ccgis1\aerialphotos\someimage.tif
• Can use ArcObjects to Project Raster images, see c:\arcgis\arcexe83\ArcObjects Developer Kit\Samples\Raster\ProjectRaster\ProjectRaster.exe This program will output 3 different file image formats (Image, Tif-think GeoTiff, Grid) and .rrd file. All necessary projection information is included in the image header file, no need for a separate world file.
• ArcMap does on-the-fly project of images as long as the image projection is defined. This will also work with images stored in a raster catalog.
• List of supported raster formats, see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Contents tab -> ArcCatalog -> Working with rasters -> Supported raster formats. List includes the following formats: Bitmap (.bmp), Graphics Interchange Format (.gif), JPEG and TIFF

Guest Speakers(s)

none

Class 5 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS 9

• Submit: Module 3 of 8
• Assigned: Module 4 of 8 - Organizing Geographic Data (due next class)

Term/Class Project

• Provide a description of the problem you are solving with GIS. Also know as a Problem Description statement.
• Due next week

GIS Tutorial Workbook - Tutorial 3 Exercises - Turn in the following:

1. Submit Tutorial 3: 1) Printout of the map for Exercise 3-1 and 2) Printout of the map for Exercise 3-2
2. Assigned: nothing

Reading Assignment

• Assign: Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapter 9 Joins and Relating Tables

Homework

• Make an 8.5" x 11" plot. Include the following map elements: Margin Neatline, Company Logo, Title, Scale bar, Legend, and North Arrow.
• Main data frame - use the sidewalk ramps database you converted into a point feature class created in class. Symbolize each ramp with a wheelchair marker symbol. Add the Clark County street centerline feature.
• Vicinity Map data frame - Add the Clark County SCLMajor layer within the streetcenterline.mdb geodatabase. Also include the graticules. Show I 15 and US 95 highway shields using the sclmajor_l feature class from the street centerline geodatabase. Include a shaded relief image of Clark County (use ccdemspcszft.tif DEM) in the background of the vicinity map.
• Turn in next week

Class 6: Tuesday, 21 Feb 2006

• Download the street centerline geodatabase, Assessor Parcel layer for Book 163 Section 19 (AssessorParcel16319.mdb), Shaded Relief of Clark County (clarkdem.tif), Clark County National Elevation Dataset (ccdemspcszft.tif), city boundaries, and jensen.style from the GIS data section of this syllabus

ArcScene and 3D Analyst Extension

• Used to view 3D data, cannot provide an output plot
• How to open ArcScene
  • Windows: Start -> All Programs -> ArcGIS -> ArcScene
  • ArcMap: check Tools -> Extensions -> 3D Analyst box is checked. Then View -> Toolbars -> 3D Analyst
• How to render features in 3D
  • TIN Surfaces and 3D features are automatically rendered in 3D
  • Raster Surfaces (grids and images) and 2D features are drawn as though they were resting on a flat surface. Need to define their z-values to render in 3D. (Using ArcGIS 3D Analyst,see p. 156)
    • DEMs - to render in 3D just set the raster layer's base height to itself (Layer Properties -> Base Heights tab, Obtain heights for layer from surface)
• How to Change Vertical Exaggeration to all layers
  • ArcScene: right mouse click the scene layer data frame in the table of contents and select Scene Properties (alternative is View -> Scene Properties...)
  • General tab: enter a value of 10 under vertical exaggeration
  • A fractional vertical exaggeration can be used to flatten surfaces or 3D features that have extreme vertical variation.
• How to Change Vertical Exaggeration to a single layer
  • Vertical exaggeration on a single layer can be achieved by changing its z-unit conversion factor (Using ArcGIS 3D Analyst, p. 177)
  • ArcScene: right mouse click the DEM layer in the table of contents and select Layer Properties
  • Base Heights tab: change Z Unit Conversion to 10
• Raster Resolution is used to improve performance, the smaller the number of rows and columns improves the display performance but reduces the resemblance of the base surface to the original (Using ArcGIS 3D Analyst,see p. 164)
• Sample data: c5data.mdb, c5data.tif, c5data.tfw

Using Spatial Analyst in ArcMap to create an elevation relief

1. Spatial Analyst setup
   • Can use either Spatial Analyst or 3D Analyst, which are separate extensions to ArcMap, to create a shaded relief
   • Need 3 things to run the extension: 1) install the software, 2) turn on the extension: Tools -> Extensions -> check Spatial Analyst, and 3) turn on the toolbar: View -> Toolbars -> Spatial Analyst
   • See [Ormsby 01, p. 115-125] for discuss on symbolizing raster images. Recommend using the ArcMap Color Ramp Elevation #1 for Shaded Reliefs (to see the name of the color ramp, right mouse click on the shading and toggle off Graphic View). Sample grids: c:\GTKArcGIS\Chapter05\Data\afhorndem and c:\GTLArcGIS\Chapter05\Data\afhornshd
2. Custom ArcMap Color Ramp for Shaded Reliefs - jjensen.style. Can install from any location, I keep mine with the other styles that ship with ArcMap (c:\arcgis\arcexe83\bin\Styles\). To install in ArcMap: Tools -> Styles -> Style Manager... then click the Styles drop down menu. On the very bottom is Add... When you reopen ArcMap this custom style will be missing so to make it permanent, copy the style into your custom styles (c:\documents and settings\jjensen\Application Data\ESRI\ArcMap\jjensen.style)
3. Add DEM (e.g. use Clark Clark DEM projected in stateplane coordinates, ccdemspcszft.tif) to ArcMap. Use above Color Ramp to symbolize.
4. Hillshade
   • From the Spatial Analyst Toolbar: Surface Analyst -> Hillshade... (recommend using ccdemspcszft.tif)
   • Can use Solar Position and Intensity (SOLPOS) website to determine the Azimuth Angle (i.e. angular direction of the Sun) and Altitude angle of the sun in Las Vegas NV is: (lat=36 degrees north, long=115 degrees west). US Pacific Time Zone is -8:00 (U (GMT - 8:00). Elevation is around 600meters or 2000ft. Azimuth angle is given from south, so -45 degrees is the same as 180 + 45 = 225 degrees from the North, this is the value the Hillshade command wants. The Sun angle (altitude) is 45 degrees (this should be entered in the Hillshade command). Note SOLPOS will return 135 degrees, which is just 180 - 45 = 135. For figures of Azimuth Angle and Altitude angle see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Extensions -> Spatial Analyst -> Analysis Concepts in Spatial Analyst -> Surface Analysis -> Producing a Hillshade
   • Instructor Jeff Jensen - recommends having the Hillshade as the top layer with 70% transparent and the elevation color ramp layer below with 0% transparent.
   • [Ormsby 01, p. 122-123] recommends Elevation layer should be above the hillshade layer in the TOC. Elevation Top Layer, Hillshade Bottom Layer. Make the elevation layer 70% transparent.
   • double click the Elevation layer to open the Select Color Ramp window. Right mouse click the color ramp symbols and turn off graphic view. Select Elevation #1 color ramp.

USGS Digital Elevation Model (DEM)

• USGS National Elevation Dataset
• Shaded Relief of North America
• How to Mosaic multiband images using ArcGIS and Spatial Analyst, see ESRI Article Number 22005
• What GRID functions can be used in the Raster Calculator, see ESRI Article Number 21488
• Using command line GRID requests in ArcGIS Spatial Analyst, see ESRI Article Number 19415
• Create a single image from an HSV gridcomposite, see ESRI Article Number 14675
• What is a DEM? see ESRI Article Number 18950
• In the past, could download individual DEMs from ftp://edcftp.cr.usgs.gov/pub/data/DEM-SDTS/ but for some reason this directory is empty
• Issues when Projecting DEMs - use bilinear resampling method instead of nearest neighbor, see ESRI Tech Support Article ID 29127

USGS National Elevation Dataset

• "The USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) has been developed by merging the highest-resolution, best-quality elevation data available across the United States into a seamless raster format." ( NED homepage)
• Obtain NED for the State of Nevada from Rita Carmen, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of State Lands. 333 W Nye Lane, Room 118. Carson City NV 89706. Voice: 775-687-4365x227. Fax: 775-687-3783. Email: rcarman@govmail.state.nv.us
• Clark County Nevada: 36115=Area31. 36114=Area30. 35115=Area35. 35114=Area34. 36115 (Lat=36, Long=-115, Area31=name of directory the ArcGIS DEMGRID file is stored in on the CDROM obtain from Rita)
• USGS NED Shaded Relief Imagery Data available from ESRI ArcData Just zoom into desired area, then web page program will create either a TIFF image or ArcInfo GRID of the area. File will be zipped (.zip) and downloaded automatically.

Options To Clip Raster Images

• ArcToolBox: Data Management Tools -> Raster -> Clip
• Clip a raster dataset using the display extent in ArcMap ESRI Article Number 30330
• How to clip a raster dataset Article Number 20887

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 9 - Joining and relating tables

Database Relationships

• Cardinality- "describes how many objects of one type are related to an object of another type" [ESRI Virtual Campus- Working with Attributes in ArcGIS Lesson 2]
• one-to-one: one parcel can have one parcel id. Use Table joins. Read as destination table-to-source table.
• one-to-many: one parcel can have many owners. Use Relate joins. Using a Table join will omit all records after the first match. Example application is building occupancy, one building such as a shopping center may be occupied by many tenants. Another example is soil types.
• many-to-one: many parcels can have one owner. Use Table joins. Another example is lookup tables such as landuse codes.
• many-to-many: many parcels can have many different owners. Use Relate joins. Using a Table join will omit all records after the first match.

Relate Tables

• to setup: right mouse click on layer name in the TOC and select "Joins and Relates" -> "Relate". Fill in correct table name and Primary Keys (PK).
• Unable to query with the related table with "Select By Attributes" from the menu toolbar. To query the table first need to Open the table, then using the Options -> "Select By Attributes" can perform a query on the related table. Then use Options -> Related Tables to view the map features.
• relates have more overhead than joins.
• When selecting records, the records in the relate table are not automatically selected. See ESRI Article Number 17714.
• Cannot symbolize features based on fields in the relate table. Only works for joins.

Join Tables

• Appends the attributes from one onto the other based on a field common to both tables
• To make a permanent join, export the data to a new dataset (right-click the layer in the table of contents, point to Data, and click Export data).
• Cannot edit joined tables directly, need to edit the source. Changes to the source will be reflected in the joined tables.
• To create a join: right-click the layer you want to join in the TOC, point to "Joins and Relates" and click "Join". Helpful if the join table is already in the TOC but can always click the Browse button to search for it.
• Can query the joined fields directly.
• More commonly used over relates.
• Destination/Primary Table- typically the attribute table for the spatial theme, table to which the fields from the source table will be appended
• Source/Secondary Table-typically contains descriptive attributes
• Advanced button - 'Keep all records (default)'
  • How to select rows with no data values in a joined field using ArcMap. See ESRI Article ID 21031
• Advanced button - 'Keep only matching records'

Raster Image Processor (RIP)

• Fancy plotter driver that improves the speed and quality of a final plot
• ESRI's ArcPress
• EasyCopy Gold from autoGraph international

Reference Systems: Grids and Graticule

• Graticules
  • "A graphic representation on a map of the network of parallels and meridians (latitude and longitude) that subdvide the earth's surface" (ESRI Virtual Campus-Basics of ArcGIS, Lesson 1: Introducing a GIS)
  • To add a graticule to an ArcMap layout, see ESRI Article Number 14165
  • To create a non-rectangular graticule border, see Article Number 22887
  • From ArcMap: View menu -> Data Frame Properties -> Grids tab - New Grid button
  • USGS Digital Elevation Models (DEM) data is 1:24,000 scale, every 7.5-minute. Setup a graticule every 0 degrees 7 minutes 30 seconds to assist in referencing Federal data.
  • To place a grid or graticule below the data layers in a map, convert it to a graphic. See ESRI Article Number 17370
  • To change the font style of a graticule, see ESRI Article Number 22097
  • Must define a coordinate system for the data frame in ArcMap before applying a graticule. See ESRI Article Number 22515
  • Can change the X and Y origin of the Graticules. From the Data Frame Properties, Grids tab, select the graticule, and click Properties -> Intervals tab. Use this procedure if having incorrect label values on the graticule. See ESRI Article Number 20370
• Grids
  • Use a Measured Grid to place UTM grids and State Plane grids.
  • Can use a different coordinate system for the grid reference system than the data frame projection.
  • Reference Grid is often used has a map index. Have uniform size for all cells in the grid. In Las Vegas, typically use the Township-Range-Section lines as map index even though the size of each section isn't uniform. This would be known as a custom overlay reference grid. "Custom overlay reference grids use the geometry of a polygon data source to define the grid lines and an attribute column in this same layer to specify the labels." (ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Laying out and printing maps -> Adding grids and graticules (reference systems))

Paper Size

• Standard Paper Size Descriptions
• ISO 216 (Metric) Engineering
  • Based on ratio 1:√ 2 (1:1.4142)
  • Basic size of metric paper is one square meter, which is the area of an AO sheet of metric paper. See Stock Solution
  • AO size folded once is A1 size, folded twice is A2 size, folded thrice is A3 size, and so on until A8 size. International Standard Paper Sizes
• ANSI (English) Engineering
  • E Size (34"x44") folded once is D size (22"x34"), folded twice is C size (17"x22"), folded thrice is B size (11"x17") and lastly folded 4 times is A size (8.5"x11"). F size (28"x40") is an exception.
  • Tend to use A and B sizes in Engineering offices, sometimes D size.
  • D size rolls have to special ordered. Standard plotter paper rolls come in 24", 30", and 36" widths
  • Cleanly reduce a D size to B size. Sometimes referred as half-size plots.
• Architectural/ARCH
  • E size (36"x48") folded once is D size (24"x36"), folded twice is C size (18"x24"), folded thrice is B size (12"x18") and lastly folded 4 times is A size (9"x12")
  • Tend to use ARCH D size in engineering offices
• Paper Size Requirements
  • "The Contractor shall furnish five (5) blueline and one (1) mylar reproducible set of cabinet schematic wiring diagrams 24 inches x 36 inches in size, multiple sheets may be used." (RTC Section 623). Mylar is the DuPont Product name for polyester film white matte.
  • "All drainage plan submittals must be on sheet size 24"x36"." (Clark County Development Services)
  • Plan sheet size is 24"x36" with 0.5" margins except 1.5" on left edge. (see City of Las Vegas Standard Plan Guidelines and Design Layout for Land Development Projects, Nov 1998 p. 7)
  • "A record of survey must be ... 24 by 32 inches. A marginal line must be drawn completely around each sheet, leaving an entirely blank margin of 1 inch at the top, bottom and right edges, and 2 inches at the left edge along the 24-inch dimension." (NRS 625.350)
  • "The size of each sheet of the final map must be 24 by 32 inches." (NRS 278.372 Final map: Requirements and contracts)
  • "Each sheet of the originals shall be twenty-four (24) inches by thirty-two (32) inches..." (Title 30 Clark County Unified Development Code, p. 30.28-19)
  • "Each sheet of paper...used for the map shall be 18 by 26 inches in size..." (California Codes Streets and Highways Codes Section 3110 (b))

Review transferring data files from UNLV to home/work

• Store .mxd and spatial data in the same directory
• use relative path names paths in the .mxd (within ArcMap: File -> Map Properties -> Data Source Options button -> Store relative path names option
• copy the entire directory to storage/transfer device (e.g. USB thumb drive)
• This will solve any future problems with broke links (red exclamination point on the layer name in the table of contents)

Class 6 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS I

• Submit: Module 4 of 8
• Assigned: Module 5 of 8 Creating and Editing Data (due next class)

Term/Class Project

• Submit: Problem Description statement (Objective of Report)
• Assigned: Brief description of Project

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapters 6 and 7.
• Quiz on Chapter 6 and 7 next week

GIS Tutorial Workbook - Tutorial 4 Exercises

1. Nothing Assigned Last Week
2. Assigned: Tutorial 4: Printout of the map for Exercise 4-1 and 4-2

Homework

• Create a map on 8.5"x11" paper
• Main data frame, display the Assessor Parcel 163 Section 19 AssessorParcel16319.mdb.
• Symbolize the map using the Assessor Subdivision name by joining the Parcel polygon feature class to the AOSubd. Provide a different color/shade for each subdivision
• Add vicinity map data frame in the map layout showing 1) DEM shaded relief of Clark County (clarkdem.tif or ccdemspcszft.tif), 2) graticules showing Latitude and Longitude, 3) extentent rectangle, and 4) streets
• Add normal marginalia, e.g. company logo, a title graphic element with your name and Class Homework, and so on

Class 7: Tuesday, 28 Feb 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

• Download the street centerline geodatabase, US Census TIGER/Line 2000 geodatabase (CensusBlocks2000spcsSF1blk) ESRI version, and Clark County version of Census data (sbg.e00), and RTC geodatabase (rtc.mdb)

ArcInfo Interchange files (.e00)

Viewing in ArcCatalog
• How to View .e00 files (ArcInfo Interchange files) in ArcCatalog
  • Main Menu toolbar: Tools -> Options... File Types tab, New Type... button
  • File extension: e00
  • Description of type: Workstation ArcInfo Interchange Format for Coverages
  • Change Icon... button, select the tree icon
  • OK button
• How to import .e00 files in ArcCatalog
  • Tools -> Customize... -> Commands tab: ArcGIS 8x Conversion Tools -> Import from Interchange File... (drag and drop onto existing toolbar in ArcCatalog)
  • Navigate in ArcCatalog to the .e00 file
  • select .e00 file in ArcCatalog, then click the newly added Import from Interchange File... button
• How to import .e00 files in ArcToolbox
  • ArcToolbox -> Coverage Tools -> Conversion -> To Coverage -> Import From Interchange File
  • can also search in ArcToolbox for "e00", then click the Locate button to find the command
  • Example: input file: c:\temp\co32_d00.e00, output file: c:\temp\co32_d00

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 6 - Classifying features and rasters

Classifying Features and Rasters

• Basically divide attribute values into groups/classes to graphically view on a map.
• Map Legends are based on classes
• Feature attributes are typically categroical (e.g. text field, such as a State name) or quantitative (e.g. numeric field, such as population of a state)
• This chapter focuses on Quantitative attributes.

Quantitative Scaled Symbology

1. Graduate Color
   • this is a color ramp, applies to polygons, won't work well with points or lines. (See ESRI Article Number 20653 on How to apply a color range to a portion of symbols in ArcMap.
   • Most effective on polygon layers because subtle color differences are easier to detect on large features (see Ormsby 04 p. 129)
2. Graduate Symbol
   • different marker size, applies to points, lines, & polygons.
   • Normally used with point layers (see Ormsby 04 p. 129)
   • Specify number of classess, minimum and maximum symbol size.
   • Example using 3 classess and min value = 1 and max value = 3, then ArcMap will symbolize the map with 3 symbols, sizes 1, 2, and 3
3. Proportional Symbol
   • vary in size proportionally to the value symbolized.
   • Example marker symbol for a city of 10,000 would be ten times larger than a marker symbol for a city of 1,000.
   • work best when the range of values for an attribute is not too wide (see Ormsby 04 p. 130)
   • Instructor recommends using Graduate Symbol over Proportional Symbol. Appears Proportional symbol crashes ArcMap, cannot specify a maximum symbol size, and unclear is units apply to the map or the symbol.
4. Dot Density
   • applies to polygons only. (see ESRI Article Number 17472 Dot density symbology previews can be incorrect. and Ormsby 04 p. 130)

Classification methods

• Allows one to see where attribute values reside in relation to one another
• Best way to lie with maps, see [Ormsby 01, p. 137]
• To use classification methods, which isn't available in Categories: In TOC, select Layer's Properties, in Symbology tab: Quantities
• Six classification methods [Ormsby 01, p. 129]. Max number of classes allowed by ArcGIS is 256.
  • Natural Breaks (Jenks)- creates classes according to clusters and gaps in the data
  • Equal Interval- creates classes of equal value ranges. If range of values is 1 to 100 and the number of classes is 4, this method will create classes with the following values: 1-25, 26-50, 51-75, and 76-100. Scheme divides the range of attribute values into equal-sized subranges.
  • Defined Interval- creates the number of classes based on the interval you choose. For example, range of values is 1 to 100 and you select 2 intervals, will have classes from 1-50, and 51-100.
  • Quantile- creates classes containing equal numbers of features. "The Quantile method places breaks so that each class contains an approximately equal count of values. (In other words, each class includes about the same number of features.)" [Ormsby 01, p. 137] If you choose 5 classes for a layer with 100 features, this method will create class breaks so that 20 features fall into each class.
  • Standard Deviation- creates classes according to a specified number of standard deviations from the mean.
  • Manual- set whatever class breaks you like.
  • See online help, under contents tab: ArcMap -> Symbolizing your data -> Standard classification schemes

Symbology Charts

• Pie - Layer Properties -> Symbology -> Charts -> Pie. Click the Properties button to alter 3D effects. Click the Size... button to alter the diameter of the pie chart.
• Bar/Column - Layer Properties -> Symbology -> Charts -> Bar/Column. Click the Properties button to change from Column to Bar.
• Stacked
• For additional info, see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Symbolizing your data -> Drawing features with charts

Understanding Classification Histogram

• ArcMap Layer Properties -> Symbology tab: Show Classified: click the Classify button under Classification, Quantile
• X-axis (horizontal) shows the range of values in the field
• Y-axis (vertical) gives the count of features (number of records in database)
• Vertical blue lines are class breaks. Value on the X-axis is shown on top of blue line.
• Value Range = Max Value - Min Value
• If you move the blue lines, changes the classification to manual. Click on the histogram to add a new class break. Right mouse click on the blue line to remove the class break.
• Value of one gray histogram column = value range / number of columns
• Gray column range: 10-100
• Data Exclusion: enter a list of values you don't want included in the map. For example: 1, 3, 5-12
• Gray columns represent percentages of the value range. One column implies all the data (100%) lies in the single column (this wouldn't be of any help in determining relationship of features since they are all the same)
• Used to determine population densities.
• In past had to create a new attribute field
• Create in Layer Properties, under Quantities (Graduate colors, Graduated symbols, or Proportional symbols), add a field to the Normalization drop down box.

US Census and TIGER/Line

• Census TIGER Overview
• TIGER/Line is the spatial lines and polygons whereas the Census 2000 population data/attributes (Redistricting Summary Files) are contained in a separate ASCII file
• Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS)FIPS=32 003 for Clark County Nevada
• TIGER/Line naming convention: TGR + 32 + 003 + .ZIP = tgr32003.zip
• List of complete datasets
• Download ASCII datasets Need 3 files to obtain a complete dataset: nv00001.upl.zip, nv00002.upl.zip, and nvgeo.upl.zip
• Contact Warren Nozick, wnozick@census.gov 301-457-1326 for questions on the Census population data sets
• TIGER related questions ask the Census Geography Division at 301-457-1128
• ASCII data File Structure
• TIGER/Line Files Technical Documentation
• TIGER/Line Files Metadata
• Street Centerline based block groups (SBG). Metadata, sbg.e00

Hierarchical Geographic Entities

• Census Block: block bounded by city streets
• Block Group (or part): generally have 600-3,000 people, optimum size of 1,500 people
• Census Tract (or part): generally have 1,500-8,000 people, optimum size of 4,000 people
• Place (or part)
• Census County Division (CCD): name of each CCD is based on a place, county, or well-known local name that identifies its location.
• County: Incorporated places are known as 'independent cities' and are treated as equivalent to counties for statistical purposes. In Louisiana this division is known as Parishes.
• State
• Division: Mountain (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada)
• Region: Nevada is in the West Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West)
• United States
• Note: doesn't apply to American Indian, Alaska Native, etc.

TIGER/Line Issues

• Uses Lat/Long coordinates and NAD83 Datum. Need to project into Stateplane coordinates to use with other local GIS data
• TIGER/Line data doesn't overlay nicely with the Assessor Parcels and Street Centerline file. This will cause problems if doing Census analysis with other datasets.

Census 2000 Redistricting Summary Issues

• Maximum number of fields a single dbf can hold is 255. So one cannot just join the nvgeo.upl, nv00001.upl, and nv00002.upl into a single table
• Single dataset for just Clark County will be ~ 150MB
• Can convert the attributes into a point shapefile. In ArcView, using the nvgeo.upl file and the Internal Point-Latitude (INTPTLAT) and Internal Point-Longitude (INTPTLON) fields can add event theme. This will help solve the problem of conflating a semi-accurate polygon shapefile (TIGER) to a more accurate polygon shapefile (Assessor Parcels), in which case one can just perform a point-in-poly overlay.
• INTPTLAT and INTPTLON fields do not store the decimal point, must be added. Also the + sign in INTPTLAT didn't cause any problems in the event theme

How to obtain TIGER/Line data

• Locally stored version of 2000 TIGER/Line data for Clark County (cctigerline.mdb)
• ESRI converted all Census 2000 TIGER/Line data to shapefiles, can be downloaded for free from under the Preview and Download link under Free Download.
• US Census gives TIGER/Line datasets for free, will need to obtain your own conversion program
  • ESRI recommends www.gistools.com for software to convert from TIGER/Line datasets to shapefiles

Census Links

• Census Sense, part 1 What Geospatial Pros Need to Know by John Kavaliunas and Leo Dougherty
• Census Sense, part 2 Geographic Products for One and All by Leo Dougherty
• Census Sense, part 3 Enabling an Annual Census by Nancy Torrieri and Jennifer Holland

Shapefiles of US Census Blocks

• Naming Convention: tgr32003blk00.zip (contains tgr32003blk00.shp, tgr32003blk00.shx, tgr32003blk00.dbf, and a readme.html file). These files have been downloaded on UNLV server to increase access time, but recommend using the ESRI GeographyNetwork site for the latest edition.
  • tgr = TIGER
  • 32 = Nevada
  • 003 = Clark County
  • blk00 = Census Blocks 2000
• All the Census TIGER/Line shapefile on the ESRI website uses Geographic Coordinate system, North American Datum 1983. Will need to define this projection using the ArcToolbox -> Data Management Tools -> Projections -> Define Projection Wizard (shapefiles, geodatabase) before you can properly use the data in ArcMap.
• Will need to project to Stateplane coordinates using ArcToolbox -> Data Management Tools -> Projections -> Project Wizard (shapefiles, geodatabase) if you want to overlay existing GIS datasets. Remember if you don't have an existing geodatabase (.mdb), will have to create a geodatabase first using ArcCatalog, then ArcToolbox will project/write the new polygon feature class in the geodatabase.

Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1)

• Provides detailed counts and information of people by age, sex, households, families, race, etc. down to the block level. For more detail see the Census 2000 Summary File 1 webpage.
• All Census 2000 Data for the State of Nevada can be downloaded from here.
• ESRI has processed the raw SF 1 to one that can easily be joined in ArcMap to the Block shapefile. Select the Census Block Demographics (SF1) for Clark County. Once you unzip the sf1blk32000.zip file, will get the dBase IV dataset, tgr32000sf1blk.dbf. This is the complete dataset for Nevada, so its rather large.
• Use the fieldname STFID has the relate item (i.e. Primary Key) to join the SF 1 file (tgr32000sf1blk.dbf) to the block polygons (tgr32003blk00.shp)
• SF1 Quick Reference Guide
• Summary File 1 Technical Documentation
• Hierarchical sequence from largest area to smallest area: State, County, County Subdivision, Place, Census Tract, Block Group, Block.
• Summary File 2 only goes down to the census tract level.
• Download "Census Blocks 2000 data layer" for "Clark County" from esri website.

Import Census 2000 Redistricting Files

• Use the Logical Record Number (LOGRECNO) to relate 3 three tables together (i.e. nvgeo.upl, nv00001.upl, and nv00002.upl)
• Unforunately the nvgeo.upl dataset is in columnar format, whereas the nv00001.upl and nv00002.upl are in comma delimited format. Must either write an awk script to convert reformat nvgeo.upl into comma delimited or using Microsoft Excel/Access to import the file. Reason is ArcView 3.2a can only read ASCII comma/tab delimited, INFO, or dbf tables.
• Will need to create a new field, STFID in the nvgeo.upl table. Calculate STFID as the concatenation of the following fields: STATE, COUNTY, TRACT, and BLOCK. In ArcView, open the nvgeo.upl table, start editing, add a new field (Edit -> Add Field...), name is stfid with size 16 and type string, with that field highlighted in the table select Field->Calculate.... with the following [State] + [County] + [Tract] + [Block]. This newly populated field will then be used to relate/join the Census 2000 Redistricting Files to the ESRI TIGER/Line shapefiles. Reason we had to make a new field is ArcView 3.2a can't do a join on multiple common fields.

How to join TIGER/Line with Census 2000 Redistricting Files

• Using ESRI convert TIGER/Line files, add the TGR32003BLK00.shp to ArcView. The relate field is STFID, which is just a concatenation the STATE, COUNTY, TRACT, and BLOCK fields
• With both tables open (attribute table of tgr32003blk00.shp and nvgeo.upl) highlight the STFID fields, have the attribute table of tgr32003blk00.shp active, then Table -> Join

Population Density

• Ratio of population to census block size. For example, if you want the number of people per acre (43,560 ft^2 = 1 acre)
• to manually calculate the area using Field -> Calculate: [Shape].ReturnArea (see HowTo: Create an area field for a polygon shapefile Note when adding a field use decimal places, e.g. Type=Number, Width=16, Decimal Places=5.
• Normalize by using Classification Field: P0010001 (total population) and the Normalize Field is area
• This is useful in determine bus route services and other social programs
• Using SBC.e00, population density = HHTOTAL / AREA
• Open the SBG attribute table in the TOC. Click the Options button, select Add Field...
• Field name: SQMile
• Use a field type Double, Precision 10 (number of digits that can be stored in the field) and Scale 4 (number of decimal places for float and double fields, more commonly known has the mantissa). Scale of 0 is the same has an integer. Rule of thumb, precision greater than 6, use a Double type, otherwise use a Float type. (See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcGIS -> Geodatabase items: Field properties)bid=20880">ESRI Article Number 20880, How to set default layer symbology in ArcMap.
• 1 Acre = 43560 square feet
• 640 acres = 1 square mile
• 1 square mile = 27878400 square feet
• Add a new field to the SBG coverage.

Class 7 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS I

• Submit: Module 5 of 8
• Assign: Module 6 of 8: Getting Started with GIS Analysis

Term/Class Project

• Submit: Brief description of Project
• Assigned: Data Needs. Identify your data needs. Does the data exist or will you need to collect it?

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapter 7 and 8
• Quiz on Chapter 7 and 8 next week

GIS Tutorial Workbook - Tutorial 5 Exercises

1. Submit: Tutorial 4 Exercise printouts
2. Assigned: Tutorial 5: Printout of the map for Exercise 5-1 and 5-2 and the 2 questions for Exercise 5-1.

Homework

• Create an 8.5" x 11" Plot
  • Download the Clark County street centerline geodatabase (streetcenterline.mdb)
  • Download the US Census Blocks for Clark County Nevada (cctigerline.mdb)
    • Add the CensusBlocks2000spcsSF1blk polygon feature class for cctigerline.mdb geodatabase. For additional info, see the following
      • From ESRI Census 2000 TIGER/Line Data choose the 'Census Blocks 2000' under the Available data layers
      • SF1 Quick Reference Guide
      • Project the dataset from Geographic Coordinate System to Stateplane Coordinate System (Nevada East Zone, Datum NAD83, Units Feet)
      • Join the SF1 table to the Census Block shapefile. Use the STFID has the relate item (i.e. Primary key)
  • Include 4 data frames, all zoomed in around the UNLV area.
    • One data frame is based on Graduate colors for the Average Family Size (AVE_FAM_SZ). Use Quantile classification (equal number of features in each class) with 4 classes.
    • Second data frame is based on population density (POP2000 field) using Dot Density. Use dot size of 4 and each dot represents 10 people
    • Third data frame uses Pie Charts to show night time population of HISPANICs , BLACKs, WHITEs and ASIANs for each cenus block. Set using the ArcMap Table of Contents, Layer Properties -> Symbology tab, Under the Show heading: Charts-Pie. Display the HISPANIC, BLACK, WHITE, and ASIAN fields.
    • Fourth data frame uses Bar/Column Charts to show properties in the year 2000 which where Owned, Rented, or Vacant. Set using the ArcMap Table of Contents, Layer Properties -> Symbology tab, Under the Show heading: Charts. Display the OWNER_OCC, RENTER_OCC, and VACANT fields. Normalize with the HSE_UNITS field
  • Add normal marginalia
    • Add a title and text with your name, homework assignment number, class number, and date assigned.
    • Add map element of north arrow and company logo.
• Homework due next week.

Class 8: Tuesday 7 Mar 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

• Download the street centerline geodatabase (StreetCenterline.mdb), AssessorParcel16319.mdb, and Street Centerline Annotation Coverage (sclan.zip)

Reference Scale for Data Frames

• Data Frame Reference Scale
  • Unless you explicitly set a reference scale, the current scale is your reference scale
  • When reference scale = map scale (default) then the text will float, so has you zoom in, text remains constant size
  • When reference scale is set, then the text is flattened on the image, so has you zoom in, text gets larger
  • Use to define the scale at which text and symbols will appear at their true size
  • If you zoom in or out, the text and symbols will change scale along with the display when reference scale is set
  • Similar to freezing the symbol and text sizes used in your data frame, the way they look at the reference scale is maintained at all scales
  • Three reference scale commands (Set Reference Scale, Clear Reference Scale, and Zoom To Reference Scale) are available from the Table of Contents, Data Frame context menu (right mouse click on data frame name)
  • Map Document Annotation has a reference scale
  • Default is labels will not scale when you zoom in/out (label font height will stay the same size on the page regardless of map scale). So labels will take up more geographic space on the map as you zoom in, less geographic space as you zoom out. Setting the data frame reference will make the label size fixed, that is as you zoom in the label font height appears bigger, zoom out the label font height appears smaller.
  • 2 ways to set a data frame reference scale:
    1. right mouse click the data frame name in the ArcMap TOC, select the Set Reference Scale option on the context menu.
    2. data frame properties -> General tab -> Reference Scale
  • Remember the reference scale is unitless, so if you want 1"=40ft you need to enter 1:480

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 7 - Labeling features

ArcGIS Options working with Text

• Question - Will the created text be used on several maps or just one map?
  • If just for one map, then use dynamic labels or map document annotation (layout view or data view)
  • If to be used on several maps, then use geodatabase annotation (standard or feature-linked)
  • If text exists in an old format, then use Pre-ArcGIS Annotation, that is coverage annotation
• Dynamic Labels - represent attribute values in a feature class, also known as Feature Dynamic Labels
• Annotation
  • Map Document Annotation (Layout View) - stored in the map document (.mxd). Also known as Page Text or Graphic Text. Text which only appears in ArcMap layout view (e.g. title of map). Cannot be turned on/off
  • Map Document Annotation (Data View) - stored in dataframes within annotation groups. Also known as Graphic Annotation. Can be turned on/off from the Data Frame Properties -> Annotation Groups tab.
  • Geodatabase Annotation - Standard
  • Geodatabase Annotation - Feature linked
• Pre-ArcGIS Annotation - coverage annotation, CAD files, and so on
• Dimension Features
• Reference: Options for storing and working with text in ArcGIS see ESRI Article ID: 24269

Dynamic Labeling

• Based on values from a feature class
• Pros: quickly label features, can be customized using classes of features
• Cons: limited control on label placement, may not label all the features due to overlap, cannot move an individual label (workaround is to convert to geodatabase annotation)
• Labeling- tend to come from values in an attribute table.
• Turn on/off from Layer properties in the Table of Contents or selecting 'Label Features' from the context sensitive menu
• "Broadly speaking, a label is any text that names or describes a feature on a map" [Ormsby 01, p. 169]
• "In ArcMap, labels specifically represent values in a layer attribute table." [Ormsby 01, p. 169]
• Labels describe features
• "Cannot be selected or individually modified" [Ormsby 01, p. 168]
• ArcMap will adjust the label placement to avoid overlaps.
• To edit the text style: in TOC, open the Layer Properties -> Labels tab: Symbol... button
• To edit which attribute field will be used by ArcMap to create the dynamic label: in TOC, open the Layer Properties -> Labels tab: Label Field drop down box.
• If the attribute value requires additional information, for example a unit of measurement: in TOC, open the Layer Properties -> Labels tab: Expression... button
  • Can use JavaScript or VBScript Parser
  • JavaScript: [AREA] + " ft<SUP>2</SUP>"
  • VBScript: [AREA] & " ft<SUP>2</SUP>"
• Can have a single label for multiple features which is helpful for Hawaii islands. Layer Properties -> Labels tab: Label Placement Options..., "Place one label per feature"
• Bug in software, labels will not recognize text symbols that are rotated. Currently being worked on by ESRI, reference CQ00096554. Work around for labeling points.
• Bug in software, Labels do not rotate when data frame is rotate. See ESRI Article ID 24811 for workaround.
• Can set to display at a certain scale in addition to layer setting. Layer Properties -> Labels tab: Scale Range... button
• Label a subset of features - using the Layer Properties dialog, can create a class representing a subset of the features, then create a SQL expression to select the features you want to be in the class. [See ESRI Virtual Campus -> Learning ArcGIS II -> Working with Labels and Annotation -> Lesson 1]
• On the Data Frame properties, choose Set Reference Scale to lock the size of labels by assigning fixed dimensions instead of units based on the map scale.
• Label Layers
  • Labels features based on their attributes
  • Labels dynamically adjust depending on map scale to fit the available space
  • Turn on/off labels from the Layer properties -> Labels tab: "Label Features in this layer" checkbox or right mouse click on layer in TOC, select "Label Features"
• References - see ESRI Article ID 24261 What are dynamic labels also ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Working with text -> About labeling

Dynamic Labeling - Placing Labels

• Layer Properties -> Labels tab: Label Placement Options... button
• Different Placement Property Options based on:
  • Polygons
    • Automatically placed at polygon centroid
  • Polylines
    • Can be placed above, centered on line or below line
    • Can be splined, checkbox "Produce labels that follow the curve of the line" under the placement properties.
    • Angle: Along the line, Horizontal, or Perpendicular
    • Bug trying to create a stacked label with spline option.
  • Points
    • 8 possible positions
    • Label can be placed at an angle. This is the work around for bug in software (unable to recognize text symbols that are rotated)
    • Priority: 0=no label, 1=highest, and 3=lowest
    • Several different Label Locations available (e.g. Top Right Only, Bottom Right Only, etc.)

Dynamic Labeling: ArcMap Formatting tags

• ArcMap text formatting tags follow XML syntax rules. Each starting tag must have a corresponding end tag
• The & and < are special characters so you might want to use the equivalent character codes &amp; and <lt;
• Where in ArcMap can I use the text formatting tags? ESRI Article ID 21192
• AutoCAD uses '%%d' to insert a degree symbol. See ESRI Article# 14454 on converting in ArcInfo
• ISO Latin-1 Charater Set, ISO Latin-1 Character Set alternate link, and additional symbols can type the Decimal Code in the text window and ArcMap will translate into the appropriate character/symbol
• Examples: Copyright symbol is &#169; the degree sign is &#176; [Musciano 00, p. 627-632]
• Specify a custom color based on RGB values or hexadecimal color code, see Color Chart
• To copy and paste special symbols in Windows XP. Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Character Map
• ArcGIS 8.3 solved the problem of using formatting tags on splined text. See Resolved Issues for ArcGIS 8.3

Dynamic Labels: Stacked Labels and more

• Layer Properties -> Labels tab: Expression... button
• Concatenate operator for JavaScript is " + " and for VBScript is " & "
• New line character for JavaScript is " \n " and for VBScript is " vbNewLine "
• Enclose text strings in double quotes
• Can easily add a unit using expressions which is better than adding the label to the attribute table. For example [Area] + " sq ft" and assume area = 20 then the label will display 20 sq ft

Dynamic Labels with VBScript Functions

• How do you format Assessor Parcel Number? Have a field with 16319301001, want dynamic label to be 163-19-301-001
  • Left ([Parcel], 3) & "-" & Mid ([Parcel], 4, 2) & "-" & Mid ([Parcel], 6, 3) & "-" & Right ([Parcel], 3)
• See Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Help

Dynamic Labels: Label Methods

• Label all the features the same way
• Define classes of features and label each class differently
  • Add a new class for different styles
  • Use SQL Query to create subset of labels

Dynamic Labels: Label Priorities

• Features in layers and classes with a higher priority will be labeled over those with a lower priority
• Because label priority setting affects multiple layers, it's a property of the data frame, not an individual layer
• Data Frame Properties -> Labels tab

Dynamic Labels: Draw Toolbar Label Options

• New Text
• New Splined Text
• Label - labels annotation based on the field value. To assign a field to table (Layer Properties -> Labels tab -> Label Field)
• Callout
• New Polygon Text - formats the text like a paragraph that flows to fill a polygon shape. Properties will show the area of the polygon which is helpful when determining watersheds.
• New Rectangle Text - formats the text like a paragraph that flows to fill a rectangle shape.
• New Circle Text - formats the text like a paragraph that flows to fill a circle shape.

Map Document Annotation: Layout View

• Text added to the layout view in ArcMap
• Not assigned to an annotation group so CANNOT be turned on/off
• Layout text so it doesn't move, scale when panning/zooming the data frame
• Very limited feature, tends to just be used in Marginalia (e.g. Title of Map)
• Also known as Graphic Annotation
• Use 'Select Elements' tool to edit/move Map Document Annotation. Can also use Edit -> Select All
• Stored on the Layout View in the Map Document (.mxd)
• Use the Drawing Toolbar to add Text to the Layout
• Text cannot be shared with other maps like geodatabase annotation

Map Document Annotation: Data View

• Map Annotation/Annotation Group- set of text graphics that is stored in data frame of the map document (.mxd)
• Also known as Map Annotation
• Associated to an annotation group so it CAN be turned on/off
• Use 'Select Elements' tool to edit/move Map Document Annotation
• What is difference between map annotation or graphic annotation? See ESRI Article ID 24262
• Annotation Groups - create different containers to store data frame annotation
• Two ways to create annotation groups: 1) Data Frame Properties -> Annotation Groups -> New Group... button, or 2) Drawing -> New Annotation Target...
• "Text and graphics you draw on top of your data using the tools in the Draw toolbar are collectively known as annotation. This includes text that you draw by typing it with the Text button, Splined Text, Callout Text, or by clicking a feature with the Label Features tool;" [ArcGIS Desktop Help: ArcMap -> Labeling maps with text and graphics -> Organizing annotation into groups]
• "Annotation refers either to the process of automating text placement, or to the text itself." [ArcGIS Desktop Help: Working with geodatabases -> Managing annotation -> About managing annotation]
• Data Frame Properties -> Annotation tab
• All annotation is added to the Default Group Name. Can change the Active Annotation Target from the Drawing menu in the Draw Toolbar. Select New Annotation Target... or Active Annotation Target
• Can associate an annotation group with a layer, if the layer is turned off, so is the annotation group
• Stored in the map document (.mxd)
• Annotation groups that already exist can't be associated with a layer.
• Can turn on/off data frame annotation. Will also turn on/off any graphics drawn on that annotation group.
• Cannot turn on/off layout annotation
• Text associated with a map feature should be added to the data frame.

Map Document Annotation: Data View - Creating New

• Use the default annotation group or create a new one (e.g. Drawing -> New Annotation Target...)
• Specify the Annotation Target
• Text Element Types
  • Point Text - horizontal line text (black capital A)
  • Spline Text - draw a curved line, text is placed along it
  • Callout box Text - text with a mask and a leader
  • Label Text - interactive by pointing/clicking on a feature, label value comes from the feature attribute table
    • Use the Drawing Toolbar, Label button to selectively add a label
    • Set the Active Annotation Target using (View -> Toolbars -> Draw) Drawing -> Active Annotation Target
    • Can copy and paste annotation. Will always paste into the Active Annotation Target. See ESRI Article ID 18038
• Can add data frame annotation in layout view if the data frame has been double clicked (as the focus)
• Text representing an element on the map layout (e.g. a title) should be added to the layout.
• Text- also known as Static Text, tends to be something you type. [Ormsby 01, p. 190]
• Cannot turn text elements on/off
• ArcMap: Insert -> Text or can be inserted using the Drawing Toolbar
• Select text elements using the Select Graphic/Elements (black arrow button). Dashed blue line indicates the text element is selected.
  • Can now use the drawing toolbar to change the font and size of the selected text.
  • A single click on the text element, or right mouse click and select properties, will allow you to change the text value
• To edit the text value, double click the element with the Select Graphics button then type a new value.
• Using the Drawing Toolbar: Drawing > Default Symbol Properties... to change the text style that is used when insert new text (Insert -> Text). Changing the text style on the Drawing toolbar will not change the default symbol when inserting text. Feel this is a poor software design.

GeoDatabase Annotation: Standard Annotation

• Used to store large amounts of text
• Ability to share text between maps
• Reference scale is independent of data frame reference scale
• Reference scale is not editable after an annotation feature class is created
• Use ArcMap to edit Geodatabase annotation, Edit Annotation tool from the Advanced Editing toolbar
• Stored in a BLOB field (Binary Large OBject)
• Also known as NonFeature-linked Annotation
• To create, edit, or delete geodatabase annotation you must first start an edit session
• Use Sketch tool (from Editor Toolbar) and Construction dropdown (from the Annotation Toolbar) to create annotation. Also can use the shortcuts on Annotation Toolbar.
• Need to upgrade ArcGIS 8 annotation to ArcGIS 9 using ArcToolbox (Update Annotation Feature Class tool)
• Nonfeature-linked Annotation: geographically placed text strings that are not associated with features in the geodatabase. For example text on a map for a mountain range.
• Annotation Feature Class- set of text graphics that is stored in a geodatabase
• Use the ArcMap editing tools to create GeoDatabase Annotation instead of the Drawing Toolbar which is used to create Map Document Annotation
• Geodatabase Annotation is always stored in an annotation feature class
• ESRI Article ID 22993 How does ArcMap convert labels to annotation dialog box work when creating geodatabase annotation?

GeoDatabase Annotation: Feature Linked

• special type of geodatabase annotation
• Objective - link the feature to the label, for example using a point feature of cities and a geodatabase annotation layer of city names, feature-linked annotation has the ability to delete the annotation at the same time the point feature of the city is deleted. Ideally this will easy the maintenance of geodatabase
• Cons - more steps required to setup and slower performance than standard geodatabase annotation
• To create, edit, or delete geodatabase annotation you must first start an edit session
• ArcEditor or ArcInfo license is needed to create feature-linked annotation
• Feature-linked Annotation: associated with a specific feature in another feature class (origin class) in the geodatabase. The Text (destination) reflects the value of a field in another feature. So, moving the origin will also move the destination feature-linked annotation.
• Use the ArcMap editing tools to create GeoDatabase Annotation instead of the Drawing Toolbar which is used to create Map Document Annotation
• Annotation Feature Class- set of text graphics that is stored in a geodatabase
• ArcGIS 8 "An annotation feature class stored in a geodatabase is actually a polygon feature class that describes a path for a text string to be displayed along. Annotation feature classes have attributes that define how the text is to be displayed." [ESRI Virtual Campus -> Learning ArcGIS II -> Lesson 2 -> Storing annotation as a feature class]
• "A fast way to create textual annotation is to convert existing feature labels." [ESRI Virtual Campus -> Learning ArcGIS II -> Lesson 2 -> Summary]
• Store annotation in a map if its a one time application (known as Map Document Annotation). If it will be reused, store in a feature class in the geodatabase.
• Stacked annotation displays on one line, see ESRI Article# 21770
• Version 9 of ArcMap changes the annotation model, will make it more like coverage annotation. Also will give the ability to change text color from the TOC like you do with other layers. Should be a big improvement.
• ESRI Article ID 21409, Can I create feature linked annotation based on attributes in a joined field? Yes to can create them, No they are not linked. Any changes to the joined table doesn't propagate back to the geodatabase.
• ESRI Article ID 23578 How to convert labels to annotation and store overflow labels in a separate annotation feature class.
• Requires ArcEditor or ArcInfo license to create
• Geodatabase Annotation is always stored in an annotation feature class
• How to change the font and size of geodatabase annotation, see ESRI Article Number 15053. This global change has issues if all the text rotation isn't the same, also has problems with leaders, callouts, and spline text.
  1. Select all the annotation you want to change in ArcMap using the Select Elements button (black arrow)
  2. Start an ArcMap edit session
  3. Select desired size or font from the Draw toolbar
  4. save edits
• Annotation Toolbar: View -> Toolbars -> Annotation
• When editing annotation, the Editor toolbar, Target is ignored. All annotation is added to the target annotation layer specified in the Drawing -> Active Annotation Target.

ArcInfo Coverage Annotation

• Use the "\" backslash to make stacked text
• When converting Coverage Annotation to Feature Class Annotation, ArcMap treats a "\" as a line feed character to stack the text. See ESRI Article# 24235
• "The annotation class into which you convert your coverage annotation must exist in the geodatabase before you perform the conversion. You can create a new annotation class using ArcCatalog." [ArcGIS Desktop Help: Working with geodatabases -> Managing annotation -> Converting cover annotation to geodatabase annotation]
• (see ESRI Article #11878 to Import annotation from a coverage into a geodatabase)
• Importing coverage or CAD annotation into geodatabase annotation (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

Dimension Features

Fonts

• Font Tutorial provides pictures of font height
• Fonts are measured in Points. 72 points = 1 inch
• If you print the letter A at 72 points, will it be 1 inch tall? No. Point size is the height of the font from its lowest descender to its highest ascender plus a small buffer.
• See Xerox Font Tutorial for more info

Class 8 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS I

• Submit: Module 6 of 8
• Assigned: Module 7 of 8 - Working with Geoprocessing and Modeling Tools

Term/Class Project

• Submit: Data Needs. Identify your data needs. Does the data exist or will you need to collect it?
• Assigned: Identify Spatial Data Sources. What data is tabular and what is spatial. Provide list of the spatial data.

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapters 8 and 10
• Quiz on Chapters 8 and 10 in two weeks

GIS Tutorial Workbook

1. Submit: Tutorial 5
2. Assigned: none

Homework

• Make an 8.5" x 11" plot. Make a plot of the County Assessor Parcel Layer for Book 163 Section 19. Dynamic Label each parcel with the lot size (fieldname AREA) in square feet and the Assessor Parcel Number (APN)- the fieldname is PARCEL-(stack the dynamic label text, include units on lot size). Add the SCL coverage annotation for the street names. Include a vicinity map. Add normal marginial. Homework due in two weeks.

Class 9: Tuesday, 14 Mar 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

Enjoy your Spring Break, no class this week

Class 9 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS II

• Submit: None
• Assigned: None

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapter 10 and 11

Term/Class Project

• Nothing

Homework

• None

Class 10: Tuesday, 21 Mar 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

Data Downloads - GIS data section

• StreetCenterline.mdb
• sclmajor.e00
• sclmajor_l.shp, .shp.xml, .shx, .dbf, and .prj
• Clark County sewer lines - swsys.e00

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 8 - Querying Data

7 ways to query features

• 1. Identifying Features
• 2. Selecting Features Interactively
• 3. Selecting Features by Attributes
• 4. Selecting Features by Location (discuss later in Chapter 10 of [Ormsby 01])
• 5. Selecting Features by Graphics
• 6. Finding Features
• 7. Map Tips
• Notes, see ESRI Webhelp click ArcGIS Desktop Help, on the left side of the window, select ArcMap -> Querying maps

How to Query Graphics

• Can only select, not able to query and view attributes like one can with features
• on Menu toolbar, Edit -> Select All Elements
• on Menu toolbar, Edit -> Unselect All Elements
• on Tools toolbar, interactively select using the Select Elements tool (black pointer)

How to query Raster Surfaces

• See ESRI Webhelp click ArcGIS Desktop Help, on the left side of the window, select ArcMap -> Working with rasters in ArcMap -> Making selections using the geodatabase raster catalog
• Cannot use Find or Select By Attributes on Surfaces. See ESRI Article ID 18371

How to query TIN Surfaces

• Cannot use Find or Select By Attributes on Surfaces. See ESRI Article ID 18371

1. Identify

• use the mouse to query feature attributes
• will identify features in non-active data frames
• will not identify features on layers that have been turned off
• Not useful in comparing multiple features
• 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.
• Identify Results Window
  • Layers Drop-Down List: lets you pick the layer whose features you are identifying. All layers option results in multiple features identified
  • Left Box: shows identified layers. Select layer's feature value to flash location in map.
  • Right Scrolling Box: attribute values of the identified layers
• Can "flash" the feature in the map display by clicking the name of the feature on the left pane in the Identify Results window
• Use Selection Options to specify pixel tolerance

2. Selecting Features Interactively

• on Tools toolbar, click the Select Features tool
• Use mouse to select features one at a time or by dragging a box around/through them.
• Selecting a record in the feature's attribute table will also highlight/select the feature in the map display.
• Selection -> Interactive Selection Method
  • Create New Selection: select features
  • Add to Current Selection: aselect features (holding down shift key when clicking with mouse replicates this)
  • Remove from Current Selection: unselect features (holding down shift key when clicking with mouse replicates this)
  • Select from Current Selection: reselect features
• To view attributes of selected features, right mouse click on the layer in the TOC and Open Attribute Table. Note to change color of selected records, click Options button on lower right corner and click Appearance...

3. Selecting Features by Attribute

• used to select features that meet specified conditions
• Selection -> Select By Attributes...
• Queries written in Structured Query Language (SQL) or can use Query Wizard... button in top right corner of Select by Attributes window.
• Double click values in the Fields and Samples section to populate SQL window, single SQL operator.
• Use SQL Info... button to identify reserved words, if string comparisons are case sensitive, etc.
• Verify button will check to see if using proper syntax
• SQL expressions
  • Fields
    • "AREA" enclose in double quotes if data source is ArcInfo coverage, shapefile, INFO table, or dBASE table
    • [AREA] enclose in square brackets if data source is a personal geodatabase (Microsoft Access mdb)
    • AREA don't enclose field if using a shared geodatabase (ArcSDE)
  • Strings
    • 'Nevada' enclose strings with single quotes or double quotes, just don't mix (e.g. open statement with single quote then attempt to close with a double quote)
    • strings are case-sensitive for coverages, shapefiles, INFO tables, dBASE tables and shared geodatabases. Note: the LIKE operator is not case-sensitive, so it will find 'NEVADA' and 'nevada'
    • Wildcards: '_' and '%' works for everything but personal geodatabases (i.e. coverage, shapefile, INFO table, dBase table, or Entreprise GeoDatabase).
    • Wildcards: '?' and '*' is used by Jet SQL, namely personal geodatabases (same for Windows command prompt). Note, won't work if using the = operator on strings.
    • Wildcards: '#' will match a single digit.
    • GeoDataBase (GDB): Cannot use wildcards (e.g. %, *) with the = operator (the wildcard character will be considered part of the string)
      • Return 0 records: SELECT * FROM PavementPolygons WHERE [SECT_NO] = 'BLM*';
      • Return 392 records: SELECT * FROM PavementPolygons WHERE [SECT_NO] LIKE 'BLM*';
    • Find a Range of Characters ([Bagui 02, p. 139])
      • Use the LIKE operator
      • [STRDIR] LIKE "[E,S]" will find all records that have a street direction of East or South
      • [GRADE] LIKE "[A-C]" will find all students with an A, B, or C grade
      • [GRADE] LIKE "[!A-C]" will find all students that DO NOT have an A, B, or C grade
      • [GRADE] NOT LIKE "[A-C]" will find all students that DO NOT have an A, B, or C grade
      • [SEGNUM] LIKE "0[1-5]" will find all segment numbers 01, 02, 03, 04, and 05
      • [SEGNUM] LIKE "0#" will find all segment numbers 01, 02, ..., 08, 09.
  • Comparison Operators: <, >, <=, >=, and <>
  • IN operator is used to search for several strings in a field, e.g. STATE_NAME IN ('NEVADA', 'UTAH', 'IDAHO')
    • Cannot use wildcards with the IN operator
    • [SEGNUM] IN ('0#', '10') will only return records with a value of 10, not 01, 02, and so on
  • to exclude, use NOT operator
  • to combine, use AND operator
  • see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Querying maps -> Building an SQL expression
• See ESRI Webhelp click ArcGIS Desktop Help, on the left side of the window, select ArcMap -> Querying maps -> SQL Reference

SQL Comparsion Geodatabase, Shapefile, and Coverage

5. Selecting Features by Graphics

• selects features which are contained by or intersected by the graphic
• on Menu toolbar, click Selection -> Select By Graphics
• Note option will be grayed out if no graphic(s) are selected
• Create graphics from the Draw toolbar. Select either New Rectangle, New Polygon, New Circle, or New Ellipse
• Will not work on graphics which have been created with the TEXT, Curves, or Freehand tool
• Can use the New Marker tool from the Draw toolbar but no matter how large the marker, unable to select any features.
• Layout View graphics cannot be used to select features. Must have the data frame selected, create the graphic, then the option to Select by Graphics will be active.

6. Finding Features

• Another fast way to search
• Creates a selection set that can be used to display attributes, statistics, create reports, create graphs, or export to a new feature class.
• Use with Identify tool by right mouse clicking on the results of the find and selecting "Identify feature(s)".
• Edit -> Find: Features tab
• String is NOT case sensitive if you check "Find features that are similar to or contain the search string"
• String is case sensitive if DO NOT check "Find features that are similar to or contain the search string"
• Don't use any wildcard characters in the Find dialog box
• Can search a single feature database field or the entire feature database.
• Doesn't work on non-spatial tables

7. 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)'
• Set the primary display field from Layer Properties -> Fields tab, then select the display field from the drop down box.
• 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.
• Join Fields will display in Map Tips While Relate Fields will NOT.

Selectable Layers

• use Selection -> Set Selectable Layers... to turn on/off layers that can be selected
• use Table of Contents, Selection Tab. Benefits can turn on/off layers to select but also provides a count of features selected in the layer
• Selection Options (Selection -> Options...)
  • use to change how objects are manually selected when dragging a box, that is passthru or within. Last option is to select polygons that enclose the box

Hyperlinks

• gives ability to link documents or web pages to a feature
• must use the Hyperlink tool in the Tools toolbar
• Linked features will be outlined in blue when the Hyperlink tool is active for polygons and drawn in blue for lines and points.
• Map tip showing the link will popup when you hover the mouse over the linked feature
• 3 types of hyperlinks
  • Document- when clicked, will open a file using the application that the file type is currently associated with
  • URL- web page will be launched in the default web brower
  • Macro- ability to create customized hyperlink behavior
• If hyperlink is greyed out, try setting the Layer properties in the TOC, Display tab, check 'Support Hyperlinks using field:'
• How to define hyperlinks
  • Field-based hyperlinks- in Layer Properties -> Display tab, check the Support Hyperlinks check box. The link is just an attribute value in the table. Of course the hyperlink field must be defined as a text. Specify fieldname in the box.
    • Hyperlink Base: File -> Map Properties. "This makes it easier to manage hyperlinks because if the location of the targets changes can simply edit this one setting instead of having to edit each value of the field providing the hyperlink targets." [ArcMap online help] Basically allows relative web pages.
    • Doesn't work if field contacts photos/images, i.e. the field is defined as OLE Object/BLOB instead of text, the ArcMap hyperlink will not recognize the photos/images embedded in the record.
  • Dynamic hyperlinks
    • stores the names of the targets with the layer in the map
    • Hyperlink Base setting has no effect on dynamic hyperlinks
    • use Identify tool, then right mouse click on the feature and choose Add Hyperlink. Use same method to edit, manage, or delete links.
    • Layer must be visible in TOC
    • Benefits, associate metadata and/or company website with data
• ArcMap doesn't recognize hyperlink field type from an Access Database, so the hyperlink tool won't work. In other words, a hyperlink created in ArcMap will not work in Access and vice versa, a hyperlink created in Access will not work in ArcMap. To check the status of this bug, see Tracking ID CQ00237011

Creating Reports

• ArcMap built-in reporting tool
  • Can create a report based on select records (select some features then Tools -> Reports -> Create Report... Fields tab, check Use Selected Set)
  • Can change the Field name displayed in the Report (Tools -> Reports -> Create Report... Display tab, Settings: Fields: select a field: enter name to display in Text property)
  • Can change the width of a field in the Report (Tools -> Reports -> Create Report... Display tab, Settings: Fields: select a field: enter a numeric value in the Width property)
  • Can change report in Landscape or Portrait mode (Tools -> Reports -> Create Report... Display tab, Settings: Report: Page Setup)
  • stored with map
  • Cannot be used to report any fields that have embedded photos/images. Will need to use the Microsoft Access reporting tool instead.
  • can be added to map layout only. Copy the report to the clipboard, then Edit -> Paste.
  • Reports are divided into a series of sections. Each section represents a particular area of the report.
  • Shade the records in the report by: Report Properties -> Display tab. Under the Settings section of the window, click the + box next to Report -> Records -> Shade Records -> Every Other. For more details see (ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Creating reports -> Controlling the presentation of a report -> How to control the presentation of a report -> Shading records in the report)
  • Can add an image to the top of a report. Report Properties -> Display tab -> Elements -> Image, click Picture button. See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Creating reports -> Adding report elements for more details.
  • Add title of report under the Elements section, Title -> Text
  • Saving a report creates a static copy that can be inserted into another map document.
  • Biggest Limitation - Cannot edit a report after you close it. Even saving the report doesn't allow you to edit.
  • Biggest Advantage - Quick, can add to a map layout, easy to create alternating record colors
• Seagate's Crystal Reports 8: creates report in a separate window that cannot be added to your map layout. Can also be used to create mailing labels, see Article Number 18911
• Microsoft Access
  • Reports are broken into Sections. Also the report prints in this order.
    • Report Header - text appearing on the top of the 1st page
    • Page Header - text appearing on top of each page in a report, e.g. reports column heading
    • Group Header - text appearing at the beginning of each group in a report
    • Detail - actual text from the table/query in the database
    • Group Footer - place text or summaries at end of each group in a report
    • Page Footer - text appearing at the bottom of each page in a report, e.g. page number
    • Report Footer - text appearing on the last page of the report, e.g. grand total
  • Calculate Controls: within the footer sections, select the Text Box control properties. On the Data tab, Control Source box, type the following: =Count([Total]). You can use Sum([fieldname]), Max([fieldname]), Min([fieldname]), Avg([fieldname]), and Count([fieldname]).
  • To add a meaningful label: copy a Text Box control, in the properties, type the following in the
  • The format of a field is inherited from the underlying table or query. To change the format of a field in a query, select the field in the Query Design Model, select properties, General tab, Format.
  • In a query, can create a new field, use the following format- FieldLabel: [Fieldname] * 0.5 (best to do this in the expression builder)
  • Reports can display pictures (e.g. OLE Object fields) for each record. Need to ensure the field data type is OLE Object. I experienced trouble view TIFF and EMF images, successful on BMP and JPEG images. Remember you cannot see actual OLE objects in Datasheet View of a table or query, need to use Forms or Reports to view.
  • Reports with pictures/images stored in the records of the table. Have the option to Stretch or Clip the image when resizing the control in Report Design View (Size Mode - Clip, Stretch, or Zoom). Zoom Size Mode will maintain the aspect ratio of the image.
  • References, see [CustomGuide 01, Level 2, Chapter 3, p. 83-110, p. 162 discusses OLE Object fields]. How to Display Images from a Folder in a Form, a Report, or a Data Access Page (see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 285820). Explanation of Data Types and Field Properties in a Microsoft Access Database (see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 304269)

Review - Reports and Joins

• Download Assessor Parcel 16222 geodatabase with remap images - pl16222remap.zip
• Reports
  • Within Microsoft Access - open the pl16222.mdb geodatabase, then open the remap table. Add a new field with the name IMAGES and the data type OLE Object. Save the table.
  • In datasheet view, right mouse click on the IMAGE field and select Insert Object..., Create from File, then Browse to the images directory where you downloaded the pl16222.zip file. If you select link checkbox, then the path and filename of the image is stored in the table, not the actual image file.
  • The name of the program that has the file type associated with it will be displayed in the IMAGE field.
  • Create a report in Microsoft Access from the remap table, include the IMAGES field in the report
• Joins
  • Add the pl16222 polygon feature class and remap table within the pl16222.mdb geodatabase to ArcMap.
  • Join them together. From the ArcMap TOC, select the pl16222 polygon feature, right mouse click to bring up the context menu, select Joins and Relates -> Join...
  • The relate fields, also known as Primary Key, is PARCEL
  • Open the attribute table to ensure the join was successful.
• Hyperlinks
  • Save the map document (.mxd) with relative paths (File -> Map Properties -> Data Source Options...) Setup Field Based Hyperlinks (Layer Properties on the pl16222 feature class -> Display tab -> check Support Hyperlinks using field, drop down list box select remap.PHOTO, document radio button.
  • Select parcels in ArcMap using the hyperlink tool, see if PHOTOED.EXE opens with correct photo.

Class 10 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus

• Submit: Module 7 of 8 - Working with Geoprocessing and Modeling Tools
• Assigned: Module 8 of 8 - Designing Maps with ArcGIS

GIS Tutorial Workbook - Tutorial 6 Exercises

1. Assigned: Tutorial 6 Exercise printouts, turn in printout of exercise 6-1 and 6-2 next week.

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapter 10 and 11
• Quiz on Chapters 10 and 11 next week

Term/Class Project

• Submit: Identify Spatial Data Sources
• Assigned: Methodology/Process to solve the problem

Homework

• Create a report of the Clark County Sewer Lines (swsys.e00) using the following fields: Diameter, DesignLen, and SWNO. Limits of the report are Maryland Pkwy between Tropicana and Flamingo. Determine the cost of the sewer line using Clark County Bond Estimates (Off-Site Improvement Bonds). 8-inch sewer = $17.25 LF, 12-inch sewer = $30.00 LF, 15-inch sewer = $35.00 LF, and 18-inch sewer = $47.50 LF.
• Make an plot showing the location of the above sewer line, label sewer lines with SWNO, show major streets and street names.
• Fit both an 8.5"x11" plot. Add normal marginalia.

Class 11: Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

Data Downloads - GIS data section

• SelectByLocationExample.mdb
• TownshipRangeSection.mdb
• StreetCenterline.mdb

Definition Queries

• Use to display specific features in a layer without having to create a new layer.
• Efficient way to display a subset of the source data
• "A definition query resembles an attribute query in that you write an expression to find features with particular attributes. The difference is that features satisfying an attribute query are selected, while features satisfying a definition query are displayed and the rest are hidden" [Ormsby 01, p. 263]
• Within the ArcMap Table of Contents, right click on the layer and select Properties -> Definition Query tab and then add query.
• Only applies to layers, not tables. See ESRI Article Number: 21233
• Issues with definition queries set on preexisting thematic maps and join layers. See ESRI Article Number: 17725
• No easy way to identify if the layer has a definition query applied to it. This could lead one to believe your missing some data.
• Similiar concept to a database filter which is basically a quick way to search for data records. How to setup a filter in Microsoft Access

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 10 - Selecting features by location

Spatial Relationships

• Distance
  • features of one dataset are within a specified distance of the features of another dataset
• Containment
  • centers of features in one dataset fall inside the features of another dataset
  • features of one dataset fall within the selected features of another dataset
  • features of one dataset completely contain the selected features of another dataset
• Intersection
  • features of one dataset cross features of another dataset
  • shared features
• Adjacency
  • features of one dataset share either a point or a line with the selected features of another dataset

Select by Location

• Used to select features based on their location relative to other features. [See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Selecting features according to their location]
• Can select point, line, or polygon features in one layer that are near or overlap features in another layer
• I want to
  • Select features from
  • Add to the currently selected features in
  • Remove from the currently selected features in
  • Select from the currently selected features in
• that (Selection Methods)
  • Intersect
    • selects any features bordered by the reference features. Will select features alongside it.
    • "...selects any features bordered by the reference features. For example, selecting wilderness areas intersected by roads will select any wilderness area with a road running within its boundaries or alongside it." (see reference below)
  • Are within a distance of
    • selects features near or adjacent to features in the same layer or in a different layer. Use this method for the homework assignment. With the roadcasing parcel selected, to get info about the adjacent parcels, would select within a zero distance.
    • "This method selects features near or adjacent to features in the same layer or in a different layer. For example, if you have a layer of clean and polluted wells, you can find all the clean wells within 500 meters of the polluted ones. Or you could find the reservoirs and farms in other layers that are within 500 meters of the polluted wells. You can also use this option to find features adjacent to other features. For example, you may have already selected land parcels that your company might purchase, and now you want to get information about adjacent parcels. In this case, you would select the parcels within zero distance of the ones you've already selected." (ibid)
  • Completely contain
    • reverse of the previous.
    • "You can select polygons in one layer that completely contain the features in another layer. For example, select forested areas that have lakes completely within them. To select polygons that completely contain features a certain distance within them, specify a buffer distance. For example, you can select forested areas with lakes at least 500 meters within them." (ibid)
  • Are completely within
    • select features in one layer that fall completely inside the polygons of another. Can add a buffer distance to select features that are within another and a certain distance from the boundary.
    • "This method selects features in one layer that fall completely inside the polygons of another. For example, you can select lakes completely within a forested area. To select features that are a distance form the edges of the polygon they fall inside, specify a buffer distance. For example, you can select lakes that are at least 500 meters within a forested area."
  • Have their center in
    • selects the polygon features in one layer that have their centroid in the polygon features of another layer.
    • "This method selects the polygon features in one layer that have the centroid in the polygon features of another layer." (ibid)
  • Share a line segment with
    • selects line and polygon features that share line segments with other features. Cannot be used to select point features.
    • "this method selects line and polygon features that share line segments with other features. You can't use this method to select point features." (ibid)
  • Touch the boundary of
    • selects lines and polygons that share line segments, vertices or end-points with the lines in the layer. Lines and polygons will not be selected if they cross the lines in the layer.
    • "If you are selecting features using a lyaer containing lines, this method selects lines and polygons that share line segments, vertices or end-points (nodes) with the lines in the layer. The lines and polygons will not be selected if they cross the lines in the layer. If you are selecting features using a layer containing polygons, this method selects lines and polygons that share line segments or vertices with the polygon boundaries. The lines and polygons will not be selected if they cross the polygon boundaries. You can't use this method to select point features." (ibid)
  • Are identical to
    • selects any feature having the same geometry as a feature of another layer
    • "This method selects any feature having the same geometry as a feature of another layer. The feature types must be the same-for example, you use polygons to select polygons, lines to select lines, and points to select points." (ibid)
  • Are crossed by the outline of
    • selects features that are overlapped by features of another layer.
    • "This method selects the features that are overlapped by the features of another layer. For example, selecting wilderness areas crossed by the outline of roads will select any wilderness area with a road inside its boundaries." (ibid)
  • Contain
    • similar to Completely contain but allows borders to touch.
    • "This method selects features in one layer that contain the features of another. This method differs from the Completely contain method in that the boundaries of the features can touch. For example, with the Contain method, a forest will contain a lake-and thus be selected-even if the border of the lake touches the border of the forest. The forest would not be selected using Completely contain because the borders touch." (ibid)
  • Are contained by
    • reverse of contain.
    • "This method selects features in one layer that are contained by the features in another. For example, you can select those cities that are contained by a county. This method differs from Are completely within in that the edges of the features can touch." (ibid)
• From menu toolbar: Selection -> Select by Location
• Note, sample pictures for the 'Completely contain' and 'Are Completely within' methods are switched. See Article Number 20037.
• Use Selected Features checkbox: allows you to query on a subset of features.
• Apply a buffer to the features: combines two steps into one, buffer the feature then perform select by location.
• ArcGIS Desktop -> ArcMap -> Querying maps -> Selecting features according to their location

Spatial Joins

• Similar to a table join, except the relate item (Primary Key) is the distance between features.
• A spatial join appends the attributes of one layer to another.
• Can select features in one layer based on their location relative to another layer, but a spatial join provides a more permanent association between the two layers.
• Creates a new layer containing both sets of attributes. For ArcView, output layer is a shapefile. ArcEditor or ArcInfo output layer is either a shapefile or a feature class.
• 3 types of spaital joins
  • Nearest Feature
    • this is defined as the feature that is geographically closest to another one. Proximity is based on straight line distance between features. In the TOC, right click the layer you want to join attributes to. In first dropdown arrow click "Join data from another layer based on spatial location." Will create a new dataset.
    • Spatial join based on distance.[Ormsby 01, p. 268]
    • Nearest feature is defined as the feature that is geographically closest to another one. Proximity is based on straight line distance between features. (ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Arcmap -> Querying maps -> Joining the attributes of features by their location)
    • right mouse click feature in TOC you want to join attributes to. Join -> Join data from another layer based on spatial location: click option to join the attributes to the features closest to it.
  • Inside a Polygon
    • a summary of features within each polygon will be created. In the TOC, right click the layer you want to join attributes to. In first dropdown arrow click "Join data from another layer based on spatial location". When joining the polygon attributes to a point feature, ArcMap adds a Distance field to the output table which contains the distance in map units from the point to the polygon.
    • Spatial join based on containment.[Ormsby 01, p. 267]
    • right mouse click feature in TOC you want to join attributes to. Join -> Join data from another layer based on spatial location: click option to join the attributes of the features that fall inside the polygon.
  • Intersects a feature
    • a summary of features that intersect each line will be created.
    • right mouse click feature in TOC you want to join attributes to. Join -> Join data from another layer based on spatial location: click option to join the attributes of the features that intersect it.
    • Attribute Summary
      • Average
      • Sum
      • Minimum
      • Maximum
      • Standard Deviation
      • Variance
• see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Querying maps -> Joining the attributes of features by their location

Creating Point Features from Polygon Centroid Features

• ArcToolBox -> Data Management Tools -> Features -> Feature to Point

Example Spatial Join: Assign closest bus stop to each parcel

• Spatial Join the Parcel162.mdb to rtc.mdb
• Will add all the fields from rtc.mdb
• Also add a new Field called DISTANCE

Class 11 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus

• Submit: Module 8 of 8 - Designing Maps with ArcGIS
• Assigned: Any Module, from Any Virtual Campus Course of your Choice

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapters 11 and 12
• Quiz on Chapters 11 and 12 next week

GIS Tutorial Workbook

• Submit: Tutorial 6
• Assigned: Tutorial 7

Term/Class Project

• Submit: Methodology/Process to solve the problem
• Assigned: Draft GIS figures. Contact Jeff or Ching if still don't have the GIS data via email.

Homework

• None

Class 12: Tuesday 4 April 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

Data Downloads - GIS data section

• IndexGrids.mdb (using the clarktrs_p and index_p polygon feature class layers)
• NRCSsoils.mdb (using SSURGOnv788 and SSURGOnv788 polygon feature class layer)
• StreetCenterline.mdb
• AssessorParcel16319.mdb

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 11 - Preparing data for analysis

Chapter 11 Topics

• Dissolving features
• Creating graphs
• Clipping layers
• Exporting data

Dissolving Features

• Process of summarizing/creating a new polygon feature based on the joining of different polygon features, that share a boundary and have the same attribute value, together.
• Typically dissolve features based on a field value (e.g. zipcode, dissolve all parcel polygons based on zipcode)
• Can dissolve based on a features selection set. Helpful if you don't want to dissolve the entire feature class.
• Within ArcMap: ArcToolbox -> Data Management Tools -> Generalization -> Dissolve
• Output shapefile or feature class will only have the dissolve field, necessary internal fields, and any summarize attributes.
• Using the Township, Range, Section (clarktrs_p in the IndexGrids.mdb)data, can create a map display that only shows the Assessor Books (i.e. full Township and Range, no section boundaries). Note the sections have a layout of alternative lines in opposite directions (as from left to right and from right to left) which is known as boustrophedon (bou'stro'phe'don)
• Dissolve can create multipart features, e.g. several polygon features but only one record in the database. Try doing a dissolve on the Township, Range, Section layer based on Section field.
• Known issues when trying to buffer a multipart feature, see ESRI Article ID 22007

Graphs

• Used to complement a map by presenting information about the feature's attributes
• can be 2D or 3D
• Graph Types [ArcMap Desktop Help- Types of graphs]
  • Line - show trends in value along a continuous scale. Line graphs display data as lines or as a series of points connected by lines. [ESRI Virtual Campus, Learning ArcGIS, Part II, Module 5, Lesson 1 Working with graphs and images]
  • Polar - basically a line graph drawn on a circular grid. Used in mathematical and statistical applications
  • Area - like line graph but areas between X-axis and plot lines is shaded. The shading gives greater emphasis to differences in quantities. Shows the difference in quantities.
  • Bar and Column - use to compare amounts or show trends, e.g. monthly sales figures. "Real strength is displaying discrete numeric data" [ESRI Virtual Campus, Learning ArcGIS, Part II, Module 5, Lesson 1 Working with graphs and images]
  • Scatter - used to identify patterns between values
  • Bubble - similar to scattered, by addition attribute can be display via the size of the bubble
  • High-Low-Close - range of values plotted as a vertical bar, e.g. air quality readings over a period of time.
  • Pie - used to show proportions, ratios, and percentages. Can only show one attribute at a time for several records or several attributes for a single record. To show time or a series, will need to use multiple pie charts. Can highlight a pie slice by "exploding" it-moving it slightly away from the center.
• to create: Tools -> Graphs -> Create
• to add an graph to the layout, right-click the title bar of the graph window and click Show on Layout. This will create a dynamic graph that is automatically updated as the features are changed. Make sure Reload Automatically is checked.
• Use copy and paste to create a static graph on the layout
• Can insert an excel chart in ArcMap, see Article Number 20330
• Images such as logos, inset maps or background images can be added to graphs. "Inserting background images requires that you know the final production dimensions so you can place the images in the exact location on the graph or report. The background image format must be a Windows bitmap (.bmp extension) with color depth set to 256 colors. Images added to graphs are referenced and are not stored permanently with the graph. (See ESRI virtual Campus Learn ArcGIS 8, Part II, Module 5)

Exporting Data

Create a new layer based on a selection set

• Option 1: right mouse click on the layer name in the TOC, select Data -> Export Data... In the export dropdown, click Selected Features. Output data type option: Shapefile, coverage (with ArcEditor or ArcInfo), or geodatabase.
• Option 2: to create a new layer from the selected features, right-click the layer, point to Selection, and click "Create Layer From Selected Features". Note this just a virtual layer (not a permanent dataset) but can still symbolize, query and perform analysis on it.
• See ArcGIS Desktop Help: ArcMap -> Querying maps -> Exporting selected features
• Also will be covered in Chapter 11 [Ormsby 01]

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 12 - Analyzing Spatial Data

Buffer

• Used to draw boundaries at a specific distance around other features
• Can buffer points, lines, polygons, or graphics (see Discussion on Chapter 18 [Ormsby 01, p. 482] for more information on graphics)
• Buffer Types
  • Constant Distance
  • Variable Distance
  • Multiple Rings
  • Dissolve Barriers
• Need to specify distance units used by the buffer command

Buffer Tools

• Buffer Wizard (ArcMap: Tools -> Customize: Commands tab, Tools Category, drag and drop Buffer Wizard onto desired toolbar)
  • Pros: very easy to use
  • Cons: all buffers must have the same distance
• Multiple Ring Buffer Tool (ArcToolbox -> Analysis Tools -> Proximity -> Multiple Ring Buffer)
  • Pros: allows buffer ring size to vary
  • Cons: must supply a distance for each buffer, tool appears to have bugs
• Buffer (ArcToolbox -> Analysis Tools -> Proximity -> Buffer)

Buffer Applications

• Zone changes (Conforming Zone Boundary Amendment): 750 ft radius notice.
• Maps showing walking distance to bus stops
• Identify parcels adjacent to your planned project. Clark County will use Special Improvement Districts (SID) to generate revenue to pay for roadway improvements (e.g. sidewalks, storm drains, additional driving lanes, and so on). A lien is placed on the property until the improvement is paid off. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) usually picks up 90% of the bill.
• Vignettes

Vignette

• a picture that shades off gradually into the surrounding paper (see Webster Dictionary) pronounce as (Vin'yet)
• Used to accentuate a feature, for example a coastline or island. A vignette consists of a series of bands, each brighter than the next, emanating from a feature. (See ESRI Article Number: 17492)
• Vector and Raster methods to create vignette, see ESRI Whitepaper
• To make a gradient from light blue to dark blue, select the layer properties -> Symbology tab -> Color Ramp. If gradient is going in the wrong direction, just select all the symbols, right mouse click and select Flip Symbols.
• To preserve work on vignette, right mouse click on layer name in TOC of ArcMap, select option Save As Layer File... this will create a .lyr file which stores the ArcMap settings, not the actual data itself.
• Of course the best solution is to have water depth measurements (also known as bathymetry) and shade the water based on this attribute. See Dr. Mark Rudin's work on Lake Mead.

Geoprocessing Wizard

• Dissolve features based on an attribute (see notes from last week)
  • ArcToolbox -> Coverage Tools -> Data Management -> Generalization -> Dissolve
• Merge layers together
• Clipping features in a layer (see notes from last week)
  • ArcToolbox -> Analysis Tools -> Extract -> Clip
• Intersect two layers (type of Overlay)
  • ArcToolbox -> Analysis Tools -> Overlay -> Intersect (for Geodatabase)
  • ArcToolbox -> Coverage Tools -> Analysis -> Overlay -> Intersect (for Coverages)
• Union two layers (type of Overlay)
• ArcToolbox -> Analysis Tools -> Overlay -> Union Tool

Merge Adjacent Layers

• Used to combine two or more adjacent layers into one larger layer that contains all their features
• Layers must be the same type: polygon to polygon, points to points, lines to lines. Cannot merge a polygon layer with a point layer.
• Can merge layers that overlap, however features are just appended into the output layer. For example, when selecting a polygon that overlaps another and they have been merged, will select both polygons. Reason is both polygons exists separately in the layer.
• Merge is order dependent: feature on top in TOC will be drawn on bottom when merging
• "Use fields"- click the layer containing the fields you want to maintain. "If the layers merged to this layer have the same fields, the attributes will be copied to the new layer. If a merged layer contains an extra field, it will be dropped. Also, if a merged layer is missing a field, the field value for features in that layer will be null." [ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Querying maps -> Merging layers -> How to merge layers]
• Example: Merge Clark County Public Works Easement shapefile ( metadata) with the Clark County Assessor Parcel shapefile (pl16222.shp, pl16222.dbf, pl16222.shx, pe162.shp, pe162.shx, pe162.dbf, show overlapping features (should have 2 features identified, click in left pane window to flash the feature)
• With version 8.3, have the ability to select which feature will have its attributes tranferred into the newly created merge polygon. The list will show the primary display field, to help identify the desired polygon.

Clipping Layers

• Trim features in one layer at the boundaries of features in another layer
• Use a polygon feature as a 'cookie cutter' to create a smaller subset of another feature (e.g. points, polygons, or lines). The cookie cutter can be a selection set ('Use selected features only') or a separate layer.
• Attributes of the two features are not combined. The output feature will have the same fields as in the clipped (not cookie cutter) feature.
• Output is a shapefile (note new features do not have their area, perimeter, or length calculated automatically- to calculate this see Article Number 14564) or feature class (new features are automatically calculated). Use ArcToolbox if dealing with coverages.

Overlays

• Superimpose one map feature over another to create a new map feature that has the attributes of both input layers, see [Ormsby 01, p. 306]
• Intersect
  • Only Common Areas are included in output
    • The resulting output layer has the combined attribute data of the features in the two input layers, only contains features that fall within the spatial extent of the overlay polygons.
  • Think of the overlay polygon as a stamp. It stamps its attributes on the underlying line/polygon features.
  • Use Join command in ArcMap to stamp polygon attributes onto a point feature
  • Polygon layer can overlay another polygon layer or a line layer.
  • Can use a selected set in either or both layers to perform overlay analysis on
  • Output projection of the intersected feature will be the same as the data frame's projection. In efforts to reduce errors, recommend both features have the same projection.
  • Output is a geodatabase, then area and length items will automatically be updated.
  • If output is a shapefile, will need to update area and length fields (see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Working with tables -> Making field calculations). Basically you open the attribute table of the layer, right mouse click on field to update, click Calculate Values, check Advanced and add the following VBA statements:
    
    Dim dblArea as double
    Dim pArea as IArea
    Set pArea = [shape]
    dblArea = pArea.area
    
    then type variable dblArea in the text box directly under the area field name.
  • See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Querying maps -> Intersecting features from two layers
  • From the ArcMap Menu bar: Tools -> GeoProcessing Wizard: Intersect two layers
• Union
  • Both input layers must be polygons
  • Total Area of both input features are included in output
    • Extend of both map features are included/combined in output feature.
  • Resulting output layer from a union of two polygon features has the combined attribute data of the polygons in the two inputs and contains all the polygons from the inputs, whether or not they overlap (see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Querying maps -> Unioning features from two layers)
  • Can use a selected set in either or both layers to perform overlay analysis on
  • From the ArcMap Menu bar: Tools -> GeoProcessing Wizard: Union two layers.

Calculating Attribute Values

• Used to assign attribute values to a field in the feature class/shapefile/coverage or stand alone table
• Once calculated, cannot undo changes outside a ArcMap edit session
• ArcMap TOC -> right mouse click on layer and select Open Attribute Table -> right mouse click on a field and select Calculate Values...
• Will get the following warning message: "You are about to do a calculate outside of an edit session. This method is faster than calculating in an edit session, but there is no way to undo your results once the calucation begins. Do you wish to continue? click yes
• click the Advanced Checkbox
  • VBA Code
    if [score] > 90 then
    var = "A"
    else
    var = "F"
    end if
    
  • Then enter var into the bottom box. This is the value that will be assigned to field, which may vary from record to record.

Class 12 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus

• Submit: Any Module, from Any Virtual Campus Course, of your Choice
• Assigned: Any Module, from Any Virtual Campus Course, of your Choice

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapters 12 and 13

GIS Tutorial Workbook

• Turn in Tutorial 7 - Exercise 7-1 and 7-2 Map and the 6 questions from the tutorial (4 from 7-1 and 2 from 7-2)
• Assigned: Tutorial 8 due next week - Exercise 8-1 and 8-2 Map and 7 Questions (4 from 8-1 and 3 from 8-2)

Term/Class Project

• Submit: Draft GIS figure(s)
• Assigned: Conclusion

Homework

• show the road casings (i.e. public right of way, ROW) for Book 162. Use PCLSUBD=95, 96, 97, and 99 field to query the ROW. Note, all records in the AOROW table can be used to identify the Public/Private right of way.
• Vicinity map will have the index_p polygon feature class from IndexGrids.mdb geodatabase. Dissolve based on the section number, this should remove the Assessor page number boundary. Label each polygon with the Book number with a white text mask behind.
• Clip the SSURGOnv788 layer with the IndexGrids.mdb boundary for Book 162 and Section 19
• Add a Bar and Column graph which displays the dominant Hydrologic Group (hydgrp) on the X-axis and Area on the Y-axis of SSURGOnv788 from the NRCSsoils.mdb geodatabase for Book 162 Section 19.
• Add standard marginalia.

Class 13: Tuesday, 11 April 2006

Important News: Ching will be teaching the class today

Agenda:

1. Turn in Class 12 homework
   • Any Module, from Any Virtual Campus Course, of your Choice not previously turned in
   • Exercise 8-1 and 8-2 Map and 7 Questions (4 from 8-1 and 3 from 8-2)
   • In-class homework
   • Term Project: Conclusion
2. No Quiz
3. Previous homeworks turned back.
   • Grading sheet available after class to check against missing homeworks or other issues.
   • Address all GIS Tutorial workbook questions with Ching.
   • Address all other assignment questions with Jeff.
4. Class 13 Lecture available as exercise per separate link here.
5. Class 13 Homework
6. Open lab and questions

Click here to goto the class 13 page.

---

 

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 14 - Building geodatabases

Geodatabase

• Organize spatial data into feature classes
• Similar to Microsoft Access .mdb (one database .mdb - many tables). ESRI's geodatabase (.mdb) can have many feature classes.
• A feature class can only store one type. Can have a point feature class. Cannot have a single feature class that stores points and lines.
• Feature Dataset- use when two separate feature classes are related (spatially dependent on one another, have a topological association, share the same spatial coincidence and have a common spatial reference). For example water valves (points) are connected to water lines (arcs). Only store spatial components in a dataset, so no reason to store a non-spatial table or attribute table.
• Feature Dataset can store feature classes with different feature types.
• Cannot store a Feature Dataset within another Feature Dataset.
• Feature Datasets have only two properties - name and spatial reference. Cannot store any attributes. Attributes are a property of the feature class which is contained in the feature dataset.
• Feature class is a group of points, lines, and/or polygons representing similar geographic objects
• Feature classes cannot belong to more than one feature dataset.
• What is the difference between a table and a feature class? The feature class will have a shape field.
• Shapefile consists of a single feature class. Geodatabases, ArcInfo coverages, and AutoCAD DWGs may contain several feature classes.
• Can store point, line, and polygon feature classes in a single geodatabase (Microsoft Access database file, .mdb)
• Create geodatabases in ArcCatalog: in the ArcCatalog tree, navigate to folder where you want to store the geodatabase, then right mouse click on the folder and click New -> Personal Geodatabase.
• To add a feature classes to the geodatabase, import them.
• Personal Geodatabase Locks - only one person can edit a personal geodatabase at a time. To remove this lock either have the other person exit ArcMap or use Task Manager to delete the applockmgr.exe process then physically delete the geodatabase lock file (.ldb).
• Can batch import shapefiles, coverages, etc. into a geodatabase
• In the Geodatabase, Feature Classes store spatial objects
• In the Geodatabase, Tables store
• "File management operations, including data imports, are applied on execution and thus there is nothing to save" [Ormsby 01, p. 362]
• Geodatabase Required Fields [Ormsby 01, p. 366]
  • ObjectID- stores a unique ID number for every feature in the class
  • SHAPE- stores each feature's shape and its location in the coordinate system. The Field will reture a value such as "Polygon" instead of reporting the shape geometry coordinates (this is physically stored in a hidden geodatabase table within the Geodatabase).
  • SHAPE_Length- measurement field for line and polygon feature classes. For polygons, it is the perimeter. These fields are automatically calculated.
  • SHAPE_Area- measurement field for polygon feature classes. Automatically calculated by the Geodatabase.
  • Table with no spatial component - still requires the OBJECTID field (might need to register the table with the geodatabase using ArcCatalog, this will add the OBJECTID field)
  • Point Shape PreDefined GDB Fields
    • OBJECTID: Data Type is Object ID
    • SHAPE: Data Type is Geometry
  • MultiPoint Shape PreDefined GDB Fields
    • OBJECTID: Data Type is Object ID
    • SHAPE: Data Type is Geometry
  • Line Shape PreDefined GDB Fields
    • OBJECTID: Data Type is Object ID
    • SHAPE: Data Type is Geometry
    • SHAPE_Length: Data Type is Double
    • Multipoint feature consists of more than one point but only references one set of attributes in the database. Similar to a multipart feature.
  • Polygon Shape PreDefined GDB Fields (default geometry type when creating new feature class)
    • OBJECTID: Data Type is Object ID
    • SHAPE: Data Type is Geometry
    • SHAPE_Length: Data Type is Double
    • SHAPE_Area: Data Type is Double
• Fields store attribute information in a feature class. A field is defined by a name, data type (e.g. integer), and properties (e.g. domain). Domain is a list or range of valid values for an attribute

Geodatabase Geometry Types

• Point Feature
  • Absolute X, Y: allows one to type in the coordinates of the X,Y point. Must be in an ArcMap edit session. Press F6 or right-click anywhere on the map and click Absolute X, Y.
  • Ctrl-Z will delete last point entered, handy feature.
• Multipoint Feature
  • Add a multipoint feature to ArcMap then Start an ArcMap edit session
  • Current Task dropdown arrow -> Create New Feature
  • Target Layer dropdown arrow -> select the multipoint feature class previously created in ArcCatalog
  • Tool palette dropdown arrow -> click the Sketch tool
  • Click on map to create parts of the multipoint feature. When you have created the last point of the multipoint feature, right-click anywhere on the map and click Finish Sketch (could also double click last point or hit F2).
  • Now, when you click one part of the multipoint feature to select it, all points are automatically selected because they all belong to one multipoint feature.
  • See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Editing in ArcMap -> Creating new features -> Creating point features and vertices -> Creating a multipoint feature
• Polygon Feature
  • Click the Current Task dropdown arrow and click Create New Feature
  • Click the Target Layer dropdown arrow and click a line or polygon layer
  • Click the tool palette dropdown arrow and click the Sketch tool
  • Click on the map to digitize the feature's vertices
  • When finished, right-click anywhere on the map and click Finish Sketch. Could also double-click on the last vertex of the feature or press F2.
• Line Feature
  • Same procedure as adding a Polygon Feature
• Multipart Line and Multipart Polygon (not a separate feature type)
  • Create a line or polygon feature class in ArcCatalog
  • When finished creating first part of the feature, right-click anywhere on the map and click Finish Part. Can also Hold down the Shift key and double-click last vertex to finish part.
  • Create the next part of the feature
  • When you have finished the last part of the feature, right-click anywhere on the map and click Finish Sketch. Can also Double-click the last vertex to finish the Sketch.
  • Now, when you click one part of the feature to select it, all parts are automatically selected because they all belong to one multipart feature.
  • Can copy the shape of a feature from another layer into the current edit session feature. "You can add the shape of a line or polygon feature to the sketch by right-clicking over the feature with the Sketch tool and clicking Replace sketch. The sketch will contain the shape of the feature you clicked over."
  • See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcMap -> Editing in ArcMap -> Creating new features -> Creating lines and polygons -> Creating a multipart line or a multipart polygon
  • A multipart feature can only share vertices, not edges.

Geodatabase X/Y Domain

• Using ArcCatalog, within a geodatabase right mouse click New -> Feature Class... Specify a Name and Alias (displayed in ArcMap TOC), type point/poly/line, click Next use Default configuration keyword, click Next and click the SHAPE field name. Under the Field Properties click to the right of Spatial Reference. Coordinate System tab, use the Import... button to copy profile data from another existing coverage/shapefile/feature class.
• Have problems specifying a coordinate system, then entering the X/Y Domain. When adding data will get following error, "The Create Feature task could not be completed. The coordinates or measures are out of bounds."
• GeoDatabase stores coordinates as positive 4-byte integers that have a maximum value of 2,147,483,648. [ESRI GDB Lecture 01, p. 4-7]
• The default spatial domain is calculated to provide at least 100 percent more space on any side of the entire feature extent for expansion purposes. This is done by a buffer range of 100 percent. Basically multiply the extent range (xmax - xmin) by 3. The multiplier is 3 because you want the current range plus that amount of room on either side. [ESRI GDB Lecture 01, p. 4-19]
• The units that the 4-byte integer represents is called storage units. [ESRI GDB Lecture 01, p. 4-7]
• Enter the calculated ShiftX and ShiftY for the MinX, MinY and enter the precision setting. [ESRI GDB Lecture 01, p. 4-15]
• X/Y Domain values when Imported from an existing coverage. MinX=-262317, MinY=25576995, Precision=976, MaxX=1936706, MaxY=27776018
• MinX: -89206749, MinY: -89149212, (having problems with these values) Precision: 100 (100th of a foot), ArcCatalog will calculate MaxX and MaxY
• MaxX = MinX + 2147483648/precision = -89206749 + 2147483648/100 = -67731912.55 (calculated by ArcCatalog)
• MaxY = MinY + 2147483648/precision = -89149212 + 2147483648/100 = -67674375.55 (calculated by ArcCatalog)
• Units for MinX, MinY, MaxX, and MaxY are based on the Projection Units. For example if you setup Stateplane Coordinates, Units Feet then the MinX unit is Feet.
• Cannot edit the XY Domain once you finished creating the geodatabase. "The spatial domain for a feature class or feature dataset cannot be changed. If the required x-, y-, m- or z-value ranges for your database change, the data has to be reloaded into feature classes with a spatial reference that accommodates the new value range." (see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Geodatabases -> Creating new items in a geodatabase -> Geodatabase items)
• Tip from Margaret Maher (mmaher@esri.com) use the usstpln83.shp as the extent template. Procedure, add to a new dataframe, change the dataframe coordinate system to Nevada East zone, Stateplane, Nad83, feet. Then select the East zone polygon, and export the data. This will create a permentant projection. Then in the new geodatabase, import this shapefile, will automatically update the X/Y Domain to the correct values.

 

ArcMap Editing

• Deleting Features
  • Must be in an ArcMap edit session
  • Deleting a feature is independent of the task that is set. For example, if the task is "Create New Features", a selected feature can still be deleted
  • Use either the "Edit Tool" on the Editor toolbar or the "Select Features" Tool on the Tools toolbar to select features interactively.
  • To delete a selected feature, click the "Delete" button on the Standard toolbar or press the Delete key on the keyboard.
• Moving Entire Feature
  • Option 1: Dragging
    • Use the Edit tool to select the feature, then when the pointer turns into a four directional arrow, then can move the feature.
    • Hold down the ctrl key to move the selection anchor. This is only a temporary move, once you unselect the feature, the selection anchor will go back to the default location.
  • Option 2: Specifying delta/change in x,y coordinates
    • Editor Toolbar -> Editor drop down menu -> Move (one or more feature(s) must be selected else the option will be dimmed/greyed out). Type in the X,Y coordinates you want the feature shifted.
    • Coordinates are measured in map units.
    • Positive coordinates moves the feature north and east direction
    • Negative coordinates moves the feature south and west direction
    • Feature will snap to the selection anchor
  • Option 3: Rotating
    • Editor Toolbar -> Rotate Tool (circular arrow with a point in the center)
    • Rotates around the selection anchor (small blue x in the center of the selected feature) [Ormsby 00, p. 406]
    • Can move the selection anchor, just place the mouse over the anchor, then mouse icon will change into four small arrows surrounding a circle.
    • Hit "S" on the keyboard to add an Auxiliary/Second anchor point. Use to snap the rotating feature.
    • Hit "A" on the keyboard to specify an exact rotation in degrees. Positive number rotates the feature to the right, a negative number rotates the feature to the left.
    • Can rotate annotation - use the "Edit Annotation" tool on the Advanced Editing toolbar. Once the feature is selected, use the rotate handles on the bottom corners of the annotation.
• Copy and Paste Features
  • Use the copy and paste buttons from the Standard toolbar. (shortcut keys Ctrl-c and ctrl-v work, note feature might be copied on top of the other feature)
  • All features will be pasted into the Target Layer
  • The copy feature must be same type as in the target/paste layer. For example copy points to point, lines to lines, and polygons to polygons. Exception, can copy polygon features into a line layer.
  • Attributes of the feature are not copied over, unless you are copying and pasting in the same layer.
• Modify a Feature
  • Just like you need to create a sketch to create a feature, to modify a feature you must modify its sketch [Shaner 00, p. 21]
  • To view the sketch of a feature, click the "Edit Tool" then double click the feature. Alternate way, is to change the Task to "Modify Feature" then using the "Edit Tool", select the feature.
  • Sketch is composed of vertices (where the sketch changes direction) and segments (lines that connect the vertices) [Shaner 00, p. 20].
  • Vertices are marked in green, with the last vertex added marked in red [Shaner 00, 21]
  • View Vertices
    • Currently ArcGIS doesn't have a feature to view vertices of all line segments. So you can snap to a vertice of an existing feature, just cannot see the vertice.
    • Can only see the vertices of the sketch you are editing.
    • Enhancement Request CQ00118609: Request option to display vertices of non-selected features
  • Right mouse on the sketch to bring up the Sketch Context Menu.
  • Sketch Context Menu
    • Insert a vertex
    • Delete a vertex
    • Move (relative, origin is the coordinate of the vertex)
    • Move To (absolute, origin is 0,0)
    • Sketch Properties - modify the coordinate values of a vertex. Open box symbol on the vertex implies it is selected in the sketch properties. Use to delete several vertices at once. Can also alter the m- and z-values of the vertices [Shaner 00, p. 234]. When inserting vertices, added at the midpoint of the segment. Hit the "F" key on the keyboard to enter a scale factor.
  • Scale - need to add the scale tool (Tools -> Customize -> Commands tab, Editor category, then drag the Scale command onto the Editor Toolbar. Feature is scaled based on selection anchor (small black x near the selected feature).
• Fillet
  • Part of the ArcMap Advanced Editing Tools: Editor -> More Editing Tools -> Advanced Editing: then click the Fillet Tool button on this tool bar.
  • To use the tool: 1) click one line, then 2) click the other line, 3) drag the mouse to change the size of the fillet radius and click to finalize.
  • Press the R key to set the fillet options. For example Trim existing segments, specify a fixed radius.
  • Use the Data Frame coordinate system units for the fillet radius. If want to use another unit, just add the abbreviation, for example 1 ft or 1 mi
  • km=Kilometer, m=meter, mm=millimeter, ft=international foot, ftUS=Survey foot, mi=mile, nm=nautical mile, ch=chain, yd=yard, rd=rod, lk=link, in=inch, miUS=Survey mile, chUS=Survey chain, rdUS=Survey rod, lkUS=Survey link, ydUS=Survey yard
  • Not as robust as AutoCAD fillet: 1) cannot create a 0 "zero" radius fillet. 2) cannot create a fillet with a fixed radius on lines that don't intersect, 3) problems trying to create fillet all four corners of a square.
  • See [ESRI Edit ArcMap 02, p. 84] or ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Editing in ArcMap -> Editing existing features -> Changing the properties of a sketch
• Tangent Tool: available in version 8.3 or later. Can only use if you have a sketch selected. Will create a tangent arc based on the sketch selected. Found on the sketch tool palette. Creates circular or true curves. Can right mouse click while creating a line to select the Tangent Tool option on the context sensitive menu.
• Midpoint Tool: available in version 8.3 or later. Finds the midpoint between two existing features. Often used to create a centerline between a road casing (ROW). Found on the sketch tool palette.
• Endpoint Arc Tool: click two endpoints, then hit R to specify a radius or use the mouse to adjust the radius manually. Available in version 8.3 or later.
• Extend Tool: Within an ArcMap edit session, select the feature you want your line to be extended to, click the Extend tool button on the Advanced editing options, then click the feature you want extend. Available in version 8.3 or later.

---

         

Class 13 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus

• Submit: Any Module, from Any Virtual Campus Course, of your Choice
• Assigned: Any Module, from Any Virtual Campus Course, of your Choice

Reading Assignment

• none

Homework

• Create a sewer line using the Clark County Water Reclamation District Sewer System Pipes and Manholes. Metadata, swsys.e00, swanno.e00 Use the any of the aerial photos that includes UNLV, f0016222.ecw, f0162222.ecw, f0216222.ecw, f0216222.tfw Create a personel geodatabase from swsys.e00. Add an attribute domain for the Pipe Type (e.g. 1=Gravity Line, 2=Lateral Service, and so on). Create a new sewer line to service the Engineering parking garage at UNLV. Using the ArcMap label features, label the new sewer line with the TYPE field in the swsys geodatabase. Remember, you should have already assigned an attribute domain to the TYPE field. Turn in a plot with the UNLV parking garage aerial photo in the background and the new sewer line feature on top. Add normal marginalia.

Class Project

• Submit a draft next week

• Make an 8.5" x 11" plot.
  • For the main data frame, use the Assessor Parcel data for Book 163 section 19 (i.e. AssessorParcel16319.mdb). Join the AOEXTRACT table in the geodatabase to the book162 polygon feature class. Perform a Definition Query on the AOEXTRACT database, query out all records in Book 162 by TOWNSHIP = '21' AND RANGE = '61' Create a thematic map showing landuse, that is vacant land (LANDUSE LIKE '0*'), residential (LANDUSE LIKE '1*') and commercial (LANDUSE LIKE '3*') parcels. Export the vacant, residential, and commercial as 3 different features/layers.
  • Create a report showing a few records with the parcel address fields (STRNO, STRDIR, STRNAME, and STRTYPE) and last sales price field (SALEPRICE) and date sold (SALEDATE). Report should have a title. Remember the report is treated as a graphic element in the map layout.
  • Include a vicinity map using the street centerline geodatabase (streetcenterline.mdb) with the sclcity polygon feature class.
  • Marginalia: Add a map title and text with your name, homework assignment number, and date assigned. Add map element of north arrow. Add a Legend map element. Create or copy a company logo, add it to the layout as a picture.
• Create a report using the ArcMap Report Tool of all the racquetball courts in Southern Nevada. Print the report in Landscape mode, alternate record colors from white to gray. Display the following fields: Owner, StreetAddress, City, Voice, and NoCourts.
• Create a report using Microsoft Access Report of all the racquetball courts in Southern Nevada. Include your logo, name, and class number in the page header. Display the following fields: Owner, StreetAddress, City, Voice, and NoCourts. Total the number of locations and number of courts in Southern Nevada, include in the Report Footer.
• Create a map of the racquetball locations. Use graduated symbol - big symbol implies several courts (6-8), medium symbol (3-5 courts), and small symbol (1-2 courts). Add the standard geodatabase annotation layer in the lvrl.mdb geodatabase to label all locations. Include a vicinity map, streets, city boundaries and Lake Mead. Include standard marginalia (e.g. title, north arrow, scalebar, legend, and so on).

• Create a plot with 2 data frames. One data frame contains the sewer lines and aerial photo of UNLV. The other data frame has the 9 points showing section corners. Add your name, date, and this class number. Turn in next week.
• Import the Clark County Water Reclamation District Sewer lines .e00 file
• Download the Fall 2003 aerial photo for the UNLV area.
• Create a point shapefile from the following table (copy and paste into NotePad, save as section.csv):
  ID,EastingX,NorthingY,Name,Descript
  1,1000,2000,NW Section Corner,Set by Govt Surveyor
  2,1500,2000,Northern Quarter Corner,Set by Govt Surveyor
  3,2000,2000,NE Section Corner,Set by Govt Surveyor
  4,2000,1500,Eastern Quarter Corner,Set by Govt Surveyor
  5,1500,1500,Center of Section,,
  6,1000,1500,Western Quarter Corner,Set by Govt Surveyor
  7,1000,1000,SW Section Corner,Set by Govt Surveyor
  8,1500,1000,Southern Quarter Corner,,Set by Govt Surveyor
  9,2000,1000,SE Section Corner,,Set by Govt Surveyor
  

• Using the metadata and cities feature for Clark County, create a lookup table in Access with the following fields: PK (define as autonumber, and primary key), CODE (define as number, long integer), and CITYNAME (define as text, length 50)
• Use the SCL City Metadata to populate the lookup table.
• Join the lookup table to the city feature in ArcMap to create a thematic map based on city name.

Homework

• Create 8.5x11 Plot with a single dataframe and the following layers
  • Layer 1 - USA county boundaries (download directly from Census or use local copy co99_d00_shp.zip). Project from Lat/Long to Stateplane coordinates. Label each county.
  • Layer 2 - Isopluvials
    • Download precipitation depth from NOAA for the 100 year, 6 hour storm
    • Import the ArcInfo GRID file, convert to TIFF and project to Stateplane coordinates (NV East zone, NAD83, Units Feet)
    • Create isopluvials (e.g. rain contours) at 0.1 inch intervals
  • Layer 3 - rainfall shaded relief
    • Create a shaded relief based of the TIFF image using the NA14.style color ramp
    • Set transparency to 60%
  • Layer 4 - add the USGS DEMS for the southern Nevada (local copy is CCdemMosaicSPCS.zip)
  • Add normal marinalia, including lat/long gradicules
• Create a geodatabase with 4 feature classes. One feature class for each Geometry Type (point, multipoint, line and polygon). Use the spatial domain from United States Stateplane Nevada East Zone 1983 shapefile ( usstpln83.shp, usstpln83.shx, usstpln83.prj, usstpln83.dbf, ). Remember this shapefile is in Geographic Coordinate system, can easily project to Stateplane by changing the coordinate system in the ArcMap dataframe then exporting out the selected feature (Nevada East Zone 1983). Also note, this doesn't creat a perfect X/Y Domain for a Clark County dataset, problem is precision could be improved. Ensure the newly created feature classes overlay the Nevada East Zone. Add normal marginalia.

• Create a data frame that has a vignette of Lake Las Vegas. Use 10 rings, 50 feet apart. Dissolve barriers and inside rings only. Create a color ramp from "White" at the shore line to "Sodalite Blue" for the center of the lake.
• Create a 300ft buffer around all RTC bus stops near UNLV. Add the bus routes and symbolize the bus stops by its amenities (e.g. S=Shelter, B=Bench, and so on). Include a legend for the bus stop amenity.
• Create 2 data frames side by side. Both contain the Census county boundaries for NV, but one has Geographic Coordinates (lat/long) and the other State Plane Coordinates (Nevada East Zone Feet, NAD83). Label the data frame with Geographic Coordinates or State Plane Coordinates.
• Add normal marginalia.

---

           

Class 14: Tuesday, 18 April 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

Data Downloads - GIS data Section

• Class14.mdb - blank geodatabase with blank point, polygon, and line feature classes. Will be used to create new features in class.
• AutoCAD sample from Ferrin Affleck (near Lake Mead and Martin L. King) StonebrookHeights.dwg, StonebrookHeights.wld
• Aerial photo for Book 179 section 32, (f0417932.tif, f0417932.tfw, and f0417932.aux)
• Assessor Parcel geodatabase for Book 179 section 32 (AssessorParcel17932.mdb) Parcel Map (PM 101-0100) File 101, Page 0100, LanceBurtonPM101-0100.pdf research on KOVIS under Maps of Records)

 

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 13 - Projecting data in ArcMap

When adding data to ArcMap, will sometimes get a warning message "One or more layers is missing spatial reference information, Data from those layers cannot be projected"

• "If you add a layer that is in a projected coordinate system to ArcMap, and the coordinate system information is missing" will get that message. Much of the time this is not a problem. You can still display and work with this data as long as ArcMap does not need to project it on the fly. ArcMap will not be able, however, to align this data with data in a different coordinate system." [Ormsby 01, p. 340]

Map Projections

• Mathematical transformation of a model of the earth's shape (i.e. Oblate Spheroid) to a flat surface (grid). [Ormsby 01, p. 324]
• Can distort shape, area, distance, and direction
• Geographic Coordinates System (GCS)
  • based on a curved surface
  • a measurement of a location on the earth's surface expressed in degrees of latitude and longitude. Tend to have a "taffy-pull appearance" when displaying [Ormsby 01, p. 331]
  • GCS includes: angular unit of measure (e.g. degrees), prime meridian (i.e. line of zero longitude which passes through Greenwich England), and a datum (e.g. position of spheroid relative to the center of earth, typically use North American Datum of 1983 a.k.a. NAD83)
  • Latitude: horizontal lines (e.g. equator) and also known as parallels. Measurement values range from -90 to 90 degrees
  • Longitude: vertical lines, also known as merdians. Measurement values range from -180 to 180 degrees.
  • Degrees - 1/360th of a cirle
  • Minutes - 1/60th of a degree, or 60 minutes = 1 degree
  • Seconds - 1/60th of a minute, or 60 seconds = 1 minute
  • See ESRI Virutal Campus - Learning ArcGIS 9, Module 3 for more details
• Projected Coordinates
  • based on a flat surface
  • a measurement of a location on the earth's surface expressed in a two-dimensional system that locates features based on their distance from an origin (0,0) along two axes.
• Map projections transform latitude and longitude to x,y coordinates in a projected coordinate system.
• Latitude and Longitude can located exact locations on the earth, but no uniform units of measurement (see figure on [Ormsby 01, p. 326])
• If all your GIS data is using the same coordinate system, don't have to worry about projections
• Empty data frames inherit the projection of the first layer added to it. [Ormsby 01, p. 333]
• On-the-fly Projections, [Ormsby 01, p. 328, 336]
• ArcMap determines if the coordinate system is geographic or projected by comparing the coordinates. Lat/Long values will be in the tens (Lat=36 degrees) and hundreds (Long=-115 degrees), where as Stateplane coordinates hundred thousand (e.g. x=800,000) and tens of million (y=26,750,000)[Ormsby 01, p. 340]
  • On-the-fly projections are less mathematically rigorous than permanent projections done using the ArcToolbox Projection Wizard. [Ormsby 01, p. 330]
  • On-the-fly projections are defined by the Layer Properties. Note this doesn't change the actual file. Projection only applied to data frame. [Ormsby 01, p. 330]
  • "... a coordinate system is a framework for locating features on the earth's surface using either latitude-longitude or x,y values."
  • Works well when the data has the same geographic coordinate system (GCS). [Ormsby 01, p. 329]
  • To transform the coordinate location of a CAD file using coordinate values in ArcMap, see ESRI Article Number 20860
• Projection info is assigned to the feature dataset, not the geodatabase. Note all feature classes in a feature dataset must have the same projection. Doesn't appear that all feature datasets need to have the same projection in a geodatabase. Remember a feature class can be contained in a feature dataset, which will ensure it has the same projection info, or can be a standalone feature class.
• ESRI software does not support vertical datums. Only reads the z-value as is, you must perform any pre-processing/corrections to the vertical data before entering into ArcGIS. Appears the projection metadata doesn't allow you to enter any additional z-value related data (for example NAVD88 datum, elevation units of feet, and so on).fs

How to Project Geodatabases and Shapefiles

• Projections in ArcMap
  • Can project the data frame, not the actual feature class, shapefile, or coverage.
  • Can export the layer with the same projection as the data frame, so in a sense your actually reprojecting the layer.
  • ArcMap will not project data on the fly if the coordinate system for the data set has not been defined.
  • Additional info, see ESRI Article ID 24893, How to identify an unknown coordinate system using ArcMap.
  • ESRI Article ID 20837, how to align vector data in ArcMap
• Projections in ArcCatalog
  • Can only define a projection for a layer, not reproject it.
  • Data frame will inherit the projection of the first layer added to it.
  • ArcCatalog: select a geodatabase feature, right mouse click to bring up the context menu, Properties -> Fields tab, select Shape, then at the bottom of that window, click the ellispe (...) and either Select or Import.
• Projections in ArcToolbox
  • Will reproject the layer permentently
  • ArcToolbox: Data Management -> Projections -> Project Wizard (shapefiles, geodatabase)
• Reference: see ESRI Article ID 21447 how to project shapefiles or geodatabase feature classes with the ArcToolbox Project wizard

Define a Shapefile's Projection

• Using ArcCatalog
  • Problem: metadata, spatial reference property says "unknown" or "assumed geographic" projection.
  • File -> Properties -> Fields tab: click Shape column. In Properties list below, select ellipses button to open the Spatial Reference Properties window. Click Select... button. Browse through Projected Coordinate Systems folder -> State Plane folder -> NAD 1983 (Feet) folder -> NAD 1983 StatePlane Nevada East FIPS 2701 (Feet).prj
  • Metadata should now say the projected coordinate system name.
  • Shapefile's coordinate system parameters are stored in the same location and name as the shapefile but with a .prj extension
  • see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> ArcCatalog -> Working with shapefiles -> Defining a shapefile's coordinate system
• Using ArcToolbox
  • ArcToolbox -> Data Management Tools -> Projections -> Define Projection Wizard (shapefiles, geodatabase). Then give same inputs as the "Using ArcCatalog" solution above.
  • see [Ormsby 01, p. 341-346]

Define a ArcInfo Coverage's Projection

Define a GeoDatabase feature class Projection

Common Coordinate Systems used in Clark County NV

• StatePlane Coordinate System (SPCS)
  • Projection used by local agencies (e.g. Clark County, City of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and so on)
  • Map of all Stateplane coordinate zones is included with ArcMap, depending upon where you installed the program, c:\arcgis\arcexe83\Reference Systems\usstpln83.shp
• Universal Transverse Mercator, UTM
  • Earth is divided into 60 zones (each zone 6 degrees of longitude)
  • Origin for each zone is the Equator and its central meridian (3 degrees west and 3 degrees east). To eliminate negative coordinates, a false easting of 500,000 is applied
  • Typically used for statewide datasets
  • Map of all UTM zones is included with ArcMap, depending upon where you installed the program, c:\arcgis\arcexe83\Reference Systems\utm.shp
  • Best way to show two datasets that are in different UTM zones, is to project one into the other zone.
• Local/Surface Coordinates
  • Used extensively for small development projects by surveyors
  • referred to as ground distances by surveyors
  • different origin for each design project
  • To project into another coordinate system, need 2 points and have coordinate values in both systems.

Define Local/Surface Coordinate Projection in ArcMap

• Objective is to create a projection file so ArcMap can project on the fly from local/surface coordinates to stateplance coordinates. The projection file (.prj) will be similar to a shapefile file .prj file but for the AutoCAD .dwg, example anyfilename.dwg and anyfilename.prj (note cannot have any spaces in the filename for the .dwg and .prj files). Then ArcMap will automatically project the dwg.
• Most difficult step is determining the local/surface coordinate parameters
• ArcMap Data Frame Properties -> New -> Projected Coordinate System
• Projection name cannot contain spaces
• Custom Projection File options for 7 local/surface projections
  • Local
    • Parameters
      • False_Easting
      • False_Northing
      • Scale_Factor
      • Azimuth
      • Longitude_Of_Center
      • Latitude_Of_Center
    • Linear Unit = Foot_US
    • Datum is defined by Select... button under Geographic Coordinate System, select North America folder
      • North American Datum 1983.prj
      • North American 1983 HARN.prj (use if survey done to HARN accuracy)
      • North American 1983 (CSRS98).prj is for Canada
  • Hotine_Oblique_Mercator_Azimuth_Center
  • Hotine_Oblique_Mercator_Azimuth_Natural
  • Hotine_Oblique_Mercator_Two_Point_Center
  • Hotine_Oblique_Mercator_Two_Point_Natural
  • Rectified_Skew_Orthomorphic_Center
  • Rectified_Skew_Orthomorphic_Natural_O (has a rotation parameter)

Alternative method is to Define a Projection using ArcToolbox

Transformation

• Often used to convert Survey surface/local/project coordinates to Stateplane grid coordinates.
• Must create a world file (.wld)
  • Format of World file, see ESRI Article ID 20837
  • 1st Coordinate pair format: CAD-X,CAD-Y REF-X,REF-Y
  • 2nd Coordinate pair format: CAD-X,CAD-Y REF-X,REF-Y
• ArcMap will use this to project/transform local coordinates to Stateplane.
• Requires 2 points to transform. Points must represent the same location in both layers. Best to have points at opposite ends of the map extent.
• Current experience: will use water valve Stateplane coordinates to transformation.
• ESRI Article ID 20837, how to align vector data in ArcMap.

Indepth Discussion on Projections

• USGS Map Projections Poster
• Map Projection Overview
• Map Projections and Distortion
• Welcome to the Map Projection Home Page
• State Plane Coordinates vs. Surface Coordinates, Part 1
• State Plane Coordinates..., PDF version
• Understanding Map Projects by Melita Kennedy and Steve Kopp with ESRI.
• Online conversion between geographic coordinates to stateplane coordinates, NGS Geodetic to SPC. Input Lat/Long in Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS). Use Zone 2701 for Clark County Nevada, also known as the Nevada East Zone. The output distance is in meters, to convert to U.S. Survey Foot use the ratio 1200m/3937ft.
• USGS Monument Data sheets use to find the lat/long, utm, and stateplane coordinate for monuments show on the USGS Quad maps. Obtain the quad names from c:\arcgis\arcexe82\Reference Systems\usgs24q.shp

Export Geodatabase to AutoCAD drawing file (.dwg)

ArcGIS 9.1 CAD Field Definitions

ArcMap Field Name	CAD Staging GDB Table	Field Type	Field Length	CAD Applications(s)	Short Description	Effect on 'Export To CAD' tool
EntID	Attrib	Long	4	Both	ArcGIS created unique entity identifier and foreign key	Not Used
OwnerID	Attrib	Long	4	Both	ArcGIS created parent entity key	Not Used
AttrFlag	Attrib	Long	4	Both	Tag and Attribute visibility flag	Not Used
SetName	Attrib	String	255	Both	AutoCAD Blockname, Microstation Set Name	Not Used
AttrTag	Attrib	String	64	Both	Tag or Attribute name	Not Used, but if a valid tag value is a field name then that field's value will be inserted into the block attribute of an inserted block that has a matching tag name
AttrHndl	Attrib	String	17	Both	AutoCAD internal identifer	Not Used
AttrType	Attrib	Long	4	Both	Microstation Tag field type, AutoCAD is always a string	Not Used
AttrStr	Attrib	String	255	Both	An Attribute's value converted to a string	Not Used
AttrLong	Attrib	Long	4	Both	An Attribute's value converted to a long integer	Not Used
AttrDbl	Attrib	Double	8	Both	An Attribute's value converted to a real number	Not Used
DocID	CADLayer	Long	4	Both	ArcGIS identifier for CAD file in the CAD Staging GDB CADDoc table	Not Used
LyrName	CADLayer	String	255	Both	CAD Layer name	A valid value will control the CAD layer of the output feature
LyrNum	CADLayer	Long	4	Both	The Microstation V7 or previous level number	Not Used
LvlDesc	CADLayer	String	255	Both	The Microstation V7 or previous level description	Not Used
LyrColor	CADLayer	Short	2	Both	CAD Layer default color	A valid value used in conjunction with the 'LyrName' field will set the layer color of a CAD layer not already defined in the output CAD file
LyrLineWt	CADLayer	Short	2	Both	CAD layer default line weight	A valid value used in conjunction with the 'LyrName' field will set the layer line weight of a CAD layer not already defined in the output CAD
LyrLnType	CADLayer	String	255	Both	CAD layer default line type	A valid value used in conjunction with the 'LyrName' field will set the layer line type of a CAD layer not already defined in the output CAD file
LyrFrzn	CADLayer	Short	2	AutoCAD Only	CAD layer freeze/thaw value for visibility	A valid value used in conjunction with the 'LyrName' field will set the layer line type of a CAD layer not already defined in the output CAD file
LyrLock	CADLayer	Short	2	AutoCAD Only	CAD layer freeze/thaw value for visibility	A valid value used in conjunction with the 'LyrName' field will set the layer line type of a CAD layer not already defined in the output CAD file
LyrOn	CADLayer	Short	2	Both	CAD layer On/Off value for selectability	A valid value used in conjunction with the 'LyrName' field will set the layer line type of a CAD layer not already defined in the output CAD file
LyrVPFrzn	CADLayer	Short	2	AutoCAD Only	CAD layer default viewport freeze/thaw parameter	Not Used
LvlPlot	CADLayer	Short	2	Both	CAD layer plotting order	A valid value used in conjunction with the 'LyrName'field will set the layer line type of a CAD layer not already defined in the output CAD file
LyrHandle	CADLayer	String	16	Both	CAD maintained internal identifier for the CAD layer	Not Used
EntID	Entity	Long	4	Both	ArcGIS created unique entity identifier and foreign key	Not Used
DocID	Entity	Long	4	Both	ArcGIS created identifier for CAD file in the CAD staging GDB CADDoc table	Not Used
OwnerID	Entity	Long	4	Both	ArcGIS created parent entity key	Not Used
CadType Calculate = "Text" for converting annotation to output TEXT entities. Calculate = "Polyline" to convert polylines. Calculate to "3D Polyline" to create Z-aware output	Entity	String	32	Both	CAD element/entity type	A valid value overrides the default output entity type with a valid alternative
NumLevel	Entity	Long	4	MicroStation Only	V7 or prior level number	Not Used
Color Use CAD color numbers	Entity	Short	2	Both	CAD color number	A valid value will override the default entity color of the output feature
LineWt Has no effect on Export to CAD, either to AutoCAD or Microstation	Entity	Short	2	Both	CAD Line weight value	A valid value will control the line weight of the output feature
Layer Calculate records with suitable values in this field for Layer Names in the output CAD file	Entity	String	255	Both	CAD entity layer name	A valid value will override the default entity layer name of the output feature
Handle	Entity	String	16	Both	CAD created entity internal identifier	Not Used
RefName If Elevation attribute exists in the data, assign RefName as the Alias for the attribute. The Z-aware output polylines will store the Z-values.	Entity	String	255	Both	CAD entity Block name/Hatch name/Cell Name/Tag name or Text Value	A valid value will override the default entity name of the output feature
Class	Entity	String	255	MicroStation Only	CAD element class designation	A valid value will override the default class designation of the output feature
Linetype calc to "3D Polyline" for Z-aware output	Entity	String	255	Both	CAD entity line type	A valid value will override the default entity line type of the output feature
LTScale calc to the line weight value desired in the output DGN file	Entity	Double	8	Both	CAD entity line type scale	A valid value will control the line type scale of the output feature
Width	Entity	Double	8	Both	CAD entity line width	A valid value will override the default entity line width of the output feature
Thickness Calculating this value passes the line thickness to the output AutoCAD file	Entity	Double	8	Both	CAD entity thickness	A valid value overrides the default entity thickness of the output feature
Rotation	Entity	Double	8	Both	CAD entity rotation	A valid value override the default entity rotation of the outpu "point-type" features
CadModel	Entity	String	255	MicroStation Only	CAD Model Name	A valid value override the default entity model in which the output feature is created
ExtX	Entity	Double	8	AutoCAD Only	CAD entity extrusion vector component in the X coordinate	Not Used
ExtY	Entity	Double	8	AutoCAD Only	CAD entity extrusion vector component in the Y coordinate	Not Used
ExtZ	Entity	Double	8	AutoCAD Only	CAD entity extrusion vector component in the Z coordinate	Not Used
ScaleX	Entity	Double	8	AutoCAD Only	CAD entity X component of scale value	A valid value overrides the default entity scale X component of block inserts for an output feature
ScaleY	Entity	Double	8	AutoCAD Only	CAD entity Y component of scale value
ScaleZ	Entity	Double	8	AutoCAD Only	CAD entity Z component of scale value	A valid value overrides the default entity scale Z component of block inserts for an output feature
QrotX	Entity	Double	8	MicroStation Only	CAD X component of the quaterian rotation value	A valid value overrides the default X component of the quaterian rotation value for an output feature
QrotY	Entity	Double	8	MicroStation Only	CAD Y component of the quaterian rotation value	A valid value overrides the default Y component of the quaterian rotation value for an output features
QrotZ	Entity	Double	8	MicroStation Only	CAD Z component of the quaterian rotation value	A valid value overrides the default Z component of the quaterian rotation value for an output feature
EntID	Mslink	Long	4	MicroStation Only	ArcGIS created unique entity identifier and foreign key	Not Used
Linktype	Mslink	Long	4	MicroStation Only	MSLink type value	Not Used
DBType	Mslink	String	128	MicroStation Only	MSLink database type	Not Used
MSCatID	Mslink	Long	4	MicroStation Only	Microstation Catalog table record number that contains the name of the table that the MSLink value points to	Not Used
MSLink	Mslink	Long	4	MicroStation Only	Microstation record number of attached data or other coded value	Not Used
MSLink2	Mslink	Long	4	MicroStation Only	Microstation Catalog table record number that contains the name of the table that the MSLink value points to	Not Used
MSValue	Mslink	String	255	MicroStation Only	Microstation record number of attached data or other coded value as a string	Not Used
EntID	CADText	Long	4	Both	ArcGIS created unique entity identifier and foreign key	Not Used
TxtValue	CADText	String	255	Both	First 255 Characters of a text entity string	A valid value overrides the default height of an output text feature
TxtMemo Calculate = "TextString" value in the geodatabase annotation feature class	CADText	String	2147483647	Both	Entire CAD text string
TxtHt	CADText	Double	8	Both	CAD text entity height	A valid value defines the value of an output text feature
TxtRotate	CADText	Double	8	Both	CAD text entity rotation	A valid value overrides the default rotation of an output text feature
TxtWidth	CADText	Double	8	Both	CAD text entity width factor	Not Used
TxtOblique	CADText	Double	8	Both	CAD text entity oblique angle	Not Used
TxtGenType	CADText	String	32	Both	CAD text entity ???	Not Used
TxtJust	CADText	String	32	Both	CAD text entity justification parameter	Not Used
VertAlign	CADText	String	32	Both	CAD text entity vertical alignment parameter	Not Used
TxtStyle	CADText	String	255	Both	CAD text entity style	A valid value overrides the default text style of an output text feature
TxtFont	CADText	String	255	Both	CAD text entity font	Not Used
TxtBoxHt	CADText	Double	8	Both	CAD text entity bounding box height	Not Used
TxtBoxWd	CADText	Double	8	Both	CAD text entity bounding box width	Not Used
TxtRefWd	CADText	Double	8	Both	CAD Multi-text width factor	Not Used
TxtAttach	CADText	Long	4	Both	CAD Multi-text Attachment parameter	Not Used
TxtDir	CADText	Long	4	Both	CAD Multi-text entity line spacing type	Not Used
LnSpace	CADText	Long	4	Both	CAD Multi-text entity line spacing type	Not Used
SpaceFact	CADText	Double	8	Both	CAD Multi-text entity spacing factor	Not Used
EntID	XTRProps	Long	4	AutoCAD Only	ArcGIS created unique entity identifier and foreign key	Not Used
XDList	XTRProps	String	2147483647	AutoCAD Only	XML string of coded Xdata values and their types	A properly formated XML string will create coded Xdata on output features (see the create CAD Xdata tool)
DocName	CADDoc	String	255	Both	CAD file name without full path	Not Used
DocPath	CADDoc	String	2147483647	Both	CAD file name with full path	A valid value overrides the default output CAD file of an output feature, unless the IGNORE PATHS IN TABLE parameter is set
DocType	CADDoc	String	255	Both	CAD file type: (AutoCAD, Microstation, DXF)	A valid value overrides the default CAD file type of an output feature if the output CAD file in the included 'DocPath' field does not exist.
DocVer	CADDoc	String	16	Both	CAD file version	A valid value overrides the default CAD file version of an output feature if the output CAD file in the included 'DocPath' field does not exist.
Using the Set CAD Alias Tool: When converting annotation feature classes to CAD set the alias for TEXTSTRING to RefName. This converts the annotation to TEXT entities in the output CAD file. Set the Alias for the field containing suitable layer names to "Layer"

 

Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Chapter 15 - Creating Features

ArcMap Edit Session

• Method to create or edit point, polygon, or line features
• Use the Editor Toolbar "Start Editing" and "Stop Editing" to begin and end an editing session
• Create an Edit Sketch, upon saving becomes a normal feature (e.g. point, polygon, arc)
• To create a line or polygon, you must first create a sketch
• "For every feature on the map, there is an alternate form, a sketch. In the same way that you must create a sketch to create a feature, to modify a feature you must modify its sketch." [Shaner 00, p.57]
• Three Steps to edit/create features in ArcMap
  • 1. Tool - used to draw edit sketches
    • Create New Feature (also known as the Sketch Tool). Double click the mouse to create the last vertex and finish the sketch. Context sensitive menu exists for the Sketch Tool, just right mouse and will get options on placing vertices/segments specifically where you want them using x,y coordinates, length, and angle.
    • Arc - used to draw true curves as opposed to curves that are a collection of very short line segments. [Ormsby 01, p. 381]
    • Distance-Distance - place a point at either of the two locations made by the intersection of two circles. "Suppose you want to create a pole feature. If you don't have the exact coordinate location but know that it is at the intersection of 50 map units from the corner of one building and 70 map units from the corner of another, you can use this tool to place the pointl" [ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Editing in ArcMap -> Creating new features -> Creating point features and vertices]
    • Intersection - places a point at the location where two lines would cross if they extended far enough.
    • Trace - create features that follow the contours of selected lines or polygons
  • 2. Task - what is the purpose of the edit sketch, is it to "Create New Feature", "Extend/Trim Features", "Reshape Feature", etc.
  • 3. Target - what layer will the edit sketch apply to, in other words the target layer determines in which layer a new feature will belong.
• Have the ability to undo mistakes using the Undo button on the Standard toolbar
• Additional info, see ESRI Virtual Campus - Learning ArcGIS 9 module 5 of 8

Improve Speed of Editing

• When working with large amounts of data, create an edit cache
• ArcView can only edit personal geodatabases. If Edit Cache toolbar is dimmed out, problem might be your attempting to edit a non-geodatabase feature.
• Creates a spatial bookmark automatically called Edit Cache
• Zoom into area you want to edit, click the Build Edit Cache button on the Edit Cache toolbar. Features visible in current extent are held in memory locally.

Snapping Environment

• Help establish exact locations in relation to other features
• Editor Toolbar -> Editor menu -> Snapping
• Snapping Tolerance- distance within which the pointer or a feature is snapped to another location
• Snapping Properties- choose part of the feature, vertex, edge, or endpoint to which you want your new feature to snap to
• Snapping Priority- snapping occurs first in the layer at the top of the list and then in each consecutive layer down the list
• Snapping Rules- "lower portion of the dialog sets snapping rules that an edit sketch uses on itself. For example, to make sure that you completely close new polygons you digitize, you would check the Edit sketch vertices check box." [Ormsby 01, p. 384]
• From the ArcMap Editor toolbar: Editor -> Options -> General tab: check Show snap tips. Once done, ArcMap will display the layer name or target in a tooltip that it is being snapped to.
• To see the current snapping tolerance area, hold down the T key while using the Sketch Tool. A Green circle the size of your snapping tolerance will appear around your mouse cursor. Helpful to hold down the T key and move your mouse around features you plan to snap to. See [ESRI Edit ArcMap 02, p. 107]
• See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Editing in ArcMap -> Creating new features -> Using the snapping environment

Creating Features from other Features

• Copy Parallel Line Features
• Creating Buffers
• Mirroring Features
• Merging Features from the same layer- only applies to lines or polygons. Merging nonadjacent features creates a multipart feature
• Combining Features from different layers- features must be the same type. The new feature created in the current layer will have no attribute values.
• Intersecting Features- creates a new feature from the area where features overlap. Layers must be the same type.
• See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Editing in ArcMap -> Creating features from other features

Creating Features using ArcMap

• Make sure the Editor toolbar is on (View -> Toolbars -> Editor)
• Traverse (open or closed). Assumptions - the ground is flat so all boundary measurements don't have an elevation.
  • Editor -> Options -> Units tab: Direction Type- Quadrant Bearing; Direction Units- Degrees Minutes Seconds
  • Editor -> More Editing Tools -> Advanced Editing then click the Traverse button
  • Start- either enter a coordinate for a starting point or select the point interactively on the map
  • Use Direction-Distance
  • Valid direction input formats for Bearing and degrees/minutes/seconds: 1) N dd-mm-ss.ss E, 2) N dd.mmssss E, or 3) N dd^mm'ss.ss" E
  • See Editing in ArcMap p. 91, 113 for diagram of Quadrant Bearing system and valid input formats for degrees/minutes/seconds
  • Undo - Ctrl Z to remove the last part of the sketch (not the entire sketch). To delete the sketch and start over, right mouse click for the Context Menu, select Delete Sketch.

Traverse - Quadrant Bearing Measurements

• 
  
• Valid input formats
  • [NS] dd.dddd [EW] where the first letter is North or South (indicating meridian of origin), dd.dddd is the direction/angle (e.g. Quadrant Bearing), last letter is East or West indicating the direction of the angle.
  • dd.dddd-[1234] where quadrants are number 1-NE, 2-SE, 3-SW, 4-NW
  • Additional help, see Setting direction measuring systems and units

Traverse Tool (ArcEditor and ArcInfo only)

• "One common coordinate geometry editing task is to create a line or polygon edge using a set of survey measurements collected in the field. The data may be in the form of directions and distances, angles and distances, curves, or tangent curves measured from a known point. These are collectively known as a traverse." (see Creating edit sketch geometry with the Traverse tool)
• To Save a traverse to a text file
  • Start an ArcMap edit session
  • set units (Editor -> Options... -> Units:
    • Direction Type: Quadrant Bearing
    • Direction Units: Degrees Minutes Seconds
  • click the Traverse icon from the Advanced Editing Toolbar (from Editor -> More Editing Tools)
  • enter traverse
  • right mouse click on Traverse window, select "Save Traverse..."
  • output is a traverse text file (.txt) which consists of several header lines describing the direction type and units, the start and end coordinates, and then subsequent lines describe each course of the traverse
• To Load a traverse from a text file
  • Start an ArcMap edit session
  • ensure the Advanced Editing toolbar is displayed (from Editor -> More Editing Tools)
  • click the Traverse icon
  • right mouse click on Traverse window, select "Load Traverse..."
• To view the traverse coordinates of a sketch
  • Start an ArcMap edit session
  • ensure the Advanced Editing toolbar is displayed (from Editor -> More Editing Tools)
  • click the Traverse icon
  • select a sketch by using the Edit Tool (black arrow head on the Editor Toolbar) and double click the sketch (vertices must be shown)
  • right mouse click on Traverse window (should be white, not gray), select "Load Traverse from Sketch"
• Can create a traverse using a text editor, see ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Editing in ArcMap -> Creating new features -> Traverse file format. Example traverse text file (.txt) (note - must not be spaces in the direction)

  DT QB
  DU DMS
  SP 840919.158 26696264.918
  DD N0-8-36.0039E 659.02
  DD N0-7-42.1997E 660.791
  DD N0-8-3.7346E 659.319
  DD N0-8-14.3889E 660.49
  DD S89-48-13.0445W 2640.51
  DD S0-7-33.0111E 2638.029
  DD N89-50-17.0840E 2640.03
  

• Notes: DT = Direction Type, QB = Quadrant Bearing, DU = Direction Units, DMS = Degrees Minutes Seconds, SP = Starting Point, DD = Direction-Distance

Attribute Domains

• "Attribute domains are a rule that describes the legal values of a field type." [MacDonald 01, p. 130]
• Only apply to Geodatabases, not Shapefiles or Coverages
• Domains are defined in the Geodatabase, then assigned to a field in the feature class
• GDB_Domains is the name of the table in the geodatabase. Table contains ID number for each domain in the geodatabase, its name, the type of domain it is (range or coded), description, field type it applies to, and if split and merge rules have been defined.
• Define Domain: ArcCatalog -> right mouse click on geodatabase -> Properties: Domains tab
• Add attribute values to the fields in ArcMap.
• Attribute domains can be associated with multiple fields of the same table, feature class, or subtype, and can be associated with multiple fields in multiple tables and feature classes.
• Each domain has a name, description and specific attribute type which it can apply to.
• Edit attributes from the Layer Attribute Table or from the Editor Toolbar -> Attributes button
• Cannot change the domain assigned to the feature class field
• Don't recommend doing a domain on street names, to big
• You can modify the values for a coded value domain and the valid range for a range domain while that domain is referenced by a table or feature class in the geodatabase. ESRI Article ID 18459
• Cannot rename a domain once assigned to a feature class, see ESRI Article ID 18459
• Two types of Attribute Domains
  • Range Domains
    • Specifies valid range of values for a numeric attribute
  • Coded Value Domains
    • Specifies a coded value that can be applied to any type of attribute-text, numeric, date, and so on.
    • Includes both the actual value that is stored in the database (for example, 1 for pavement) and a more user- friendly description of what that value actually means. See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Geodatabases -> Subtypes and attribute domains -> Attribute domains
    • Provide quick attribute editing
    • ArcMap gives a dropdown list of permissible values to choose from
    • Editor -> Validate Features... to ensure attributes are correctly added in field. Validating features also validates any geometric network connectivity rules or relationship rules that may be defined for the feature class. See [ESRI Edit ArcMap 02, p. 294]
• See [ESRI Edit ArcMap 02, p. 293]
• Procedure to import domain values from a stand alone Microsoft Access table into a geodatabase. See ESRI Article ID 21215
  To Research
  • Unknown how to copy an attribute domain from one geodatabase to another
  • How do you import a list into the attribute domain

Subtypes

• Applied to the feature class, not the geodatabase
• Create subtypes in ArcCatalog, geodatabase properties, subtypes tab
• Subtype field must be a long or short integer
• Balance between creating another feature class or use subtypes
• Use Subtypes when you want features to have different domains, default values, connectivity rules and relationship rules
• Create another feature class when you want to distingush the features by different behaviors, attributes, fields, access privileges, or whether the features are multiversioned
• See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Geodatabases -> Subtypes and attribute domains -> Creating subtypes

---

         

Class 14 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus

• Submit: Any Module, from Any Virtual Campus Course, of your Choice
• Assigned: Any Module, from Any Virtual Campus Course, of your Choice

Reading Assignment

• Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop: Chapter 16 and 17

GIS Tutorial Workbook

• Submit: Tutorial 9 - Exercise 9-1 and 9-2 Map and 4 Questions (3 from 9-1 and 1 from 9-2)
• Assigned: none

Term/Class Project

• Submit: draft report
• Assigned: powerpoint presentation slides

Homework

• None - ArcGIS license server crashed

---

         

Class 15: Tuesday, 25 April 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

Data Downloads - GIS data Section

• Class14.mdb - geodatabase containing the following feature classes (FIRMpanels, FloodZonesCurrent, LOMR, LanceBurtonExampleLine, LanceBurtonExamplePoint, LanceBurtonExamplePolygon). Will be used to create new features in class.
• Aerial photo for Book 179 section 32, (f0417932.tif, f0417932.tfw, and f0417932.aux)
• Assessor Parcel geodatabase for Book 179 section 32 (AssessorParcel17932.mdb) Parcel Map (PM 101-0100) File 101, Page 0100, LanceBurtonPM101-0100.pdf research on KOVIS under Maps of Records)
• IndexGrids.mdb (ao_gps points feature class)

 

Geocoding

• Process of assigning coordinates to a point the represents a mailing address
• Geocoding (also known as address matching) is the process of creating geometric representations for descriptions of locations. A geocoding service defines a process for converting nonspatial descriptions of places into spatial descriptions. See ArcGIS Desktop Help -> Geocoding addresses -> About geocoding services
• Requires Primary Table such as SCL. For Geodatabase use US Streets with Zone (GDB). For Shapefile or Coverage format use US Streets with Zone (File-based)
• Can use TIGER/Line as the reference theme, but in Las Vegas typically, use the Street Centerline (scl_l.shp, scl_l.shx, scl_l.dbf)
• Matchable theme can be any table that has addresses. This is the table that coordinates will be created for.
• Before Yahoo Maps, this was a very important feature
• Standardization rules breaks an address into seven components. Note all seven components don't have to exist for an address and the seven components doesn't consider apartment/unit numbers.
  1. Address (house of building) number (123 N MAIN ST)
  2. Prefix direction (123 N MAIN ST)
  3. Prefix type - a street type that preceds the street name (700 Avenue A in Boulder City)
  4. Street name (123 N MAIN ST)
  5. Street type (123 N MAIN ST)(a.k.a. street segment's address start and end points.
  6. Next, ArcGIS determines whether the address is an even or odd number
  7. Even/Odd Address range is determined
  8. Location of the address within the address range is calculated be linear interpolation between the address range
  9. Offset is applied if specified
  10. Coordinates of the address are calculated using the coordinate system of the reference data source
  11. New point feature is created at the derived coordinates
• Name of geocoding service is prefixed by your computer's current user login
• Official USPS Abbreviations
• Use the crscl.mdb geodatabase to create a geocoding service
• Error message when creating a new geocoding service, "Unable to store the geocoding service. Cannot access index file" Get this error when trying to use Coverages. Not a problem when I convert the SCL coverage into a Geodatabase.

Geocoding Applications

• 911 Service: Clark County maintains the street centerline coverage for 911 service. Route emergency vehicles to the proper destination. Streets added to SCL at the permitting stage, that is 911 service is available to the subdivision before any construction work as started.
• Clark County School District: address match all students for attendence zone boundaries and bus routes. See Ted Carrasco, Geographic Information System Manager. Facilities Division. Demographics, Zoning and Realty. 4212 Eucalytpus Annex. Las Vegas NV 89121. (702) 799-6410x217. Fax (702) 799-5436. Email: carrata@interact.ccsd.net
• Identify customers spatially
• Membership mailings, determine a meeting place that is closest to a majority of members.

Geocoding Service

• ArcGIS uses geocoding services to perform the task of finding the locations of addresses.
• Create in ArcCatalog, use in ArcMap
• Steps taken by the Geocoding Service to find a match for an address
  • Step 1: Standardize the address
  • Step 2: Searching the geocoding reference data to find suitable candidates
  • Step 3: Assigning scores to potential candidates
  • Step 4: Matching the address to the candidate with the best score
• Creating a new geocoding service
  • ArcCatalog, click a Geocoding Services folder
  • Double-click the Create New Geocoding Service item
  • Click the US Streets with Zone (GDB) style, click OK
  • Click Primary Table tab and click Browse button
  • Navigate to the SCL feature class and click Add
  • Choose the column name from each dropdown list that contains the specified address information. The names of the required address attributes are shown in bold.
    • US Streets with Zone (GDB) using Clark County Street Centerline (SCL)
    • House From Left: LFADD
    • House To Left: LTADD
    • House From Right: RFADD
    • House To Right: RTADD
    • Prefix Direction: STRDIR
    • Prefix Type: None
    • Street Name: STRNAME
    • Street Type: STRTYPE
    • Suffix Direction: STRSUF
    • Left Zone: LZIP
    • Right Zone: RZIP
    • See ArcGIS Desktop Help: Geocoding addresses -> Preparing reference data for a geocoding service -> Geocoding service styles
  • Click OK to create the new geocoding service (default name is username.New Address Locator)
• Using a geocoding service in ArcMap
  • Add the service: Tools -> Geocoding -> Address Locator Manager... Look in: Address Locations -> username.New Address Locator
  • Use the Interactive or Batch Geocoding as discussed below

Interactive Geocoding

• ArcMap: Edit -> Find: Addresses tab
• Doesn't create a shapefile, feature, or coverage, only have the option to create a graphic.
• View Match Results: right-click on a row in the Find window to see context menu
  • Flash Candidate Location(s)
  • Zoom to Candidate(s) and Flash
  • Add as Graphic(s) to Map
  • Set Bookmark
• Default Intersection Separators: "&", "|", or "@" but can add several other characters in the Geocoding Service Properties, e.g. Flamingo & Maryland. Use Geocoding Options to add more Intersection Connectors.
• Cannot offset an intersection address match
• Interactive geocoding will display point using a specified offset distance.
• Output Options
  • Side Offset: Geocoding services based on the US Streets or StreetMap styles can determine on which side of a street an address is located. When you specify a side offset, the geocoding service locates geocoded features at the specified distance from the street centerline on the correct side of the street.
  • End Offset: basically a squeeze factor that is used when geocoding services are based on US One Range, US Streets, or StreetMap geocoding service styles. In order to prevent features that are located at the end of a reference feature from falling on top of other features such as a cross street, the end offset is used to move the point in from the end of street. End Offset is expressed as a percentage of the length of the reference feature (that is street). End Offsets will have value between 0 and 50. An end offset setting of 0 percent will not offset features from the end. An End Offset of 50 percent will locate all features at the middle of the reference feature.
  • Match if Candidates Tie: If you have 2 or more addresses that are awarded the same score, this setting will specify whether to arbitrarily match an address or leave them unmatched.
  • See ArcGIS Desktop Help: Geocoding Addresses -> Geocoding Service Settings: Output Options

Batch Geocoding - Shapefile (dbf)

• Create a dBase file with 3 fields: oid (automatically created), address (data type TEXT and length 50), and zipcode (data type LONG INTEGER, will work fine on west coast). Name it address.dbf Use ArcCatalog -> New -> dBASE Table then right mouse to select properties. Can now add fields.
• Add the blank dBASE table to ArcMap, start an editing session.

  ID,Address,Zipcode
  1,"4505 S Maryland Pky",89119 (UNLV zipcode is really 89154)
  2,"Flamingo & Maryland",89119 (having troubles matching if I include the street type, such as Rd, Pkwy, and so on)
  3,"4632 S Maryland Pkwy",89119
  

• ArcMap: Tools -> Geocoding -> Geocoding Services Manager...
• ArcMap: Tools -> Geocoding -> Geocode Addresses...

Batch Geocoding - Geodatabase (mdb)

• Copy the following three records into a text editor (e.g. Notepad). Save with .txt or .csv extension.

  ID,Address,Zipcode
  1,"4505 S Maryland Pky",89119
  2,"Flamingo & Maryland",89119
  3,"4632 S Maryland Pkwy",89119
  

• Using ArcCatalog, within a geodatabase, Import -> Table (single)... (the import should automatically register the table with the geodatabase by adding the OBJECTID field)
• Add the table to ArcMap
• ArcMap: Tools -> Geocoding -> Geocoding Services Manager...
• ArcMap: Tools -> Geocoding -> Geocode Addresses...
• should create a point feature class which contains 3 records (might need to interactively match an address)

ZIP codes

• ZIP = zone improvement plan
• 5-digit code that identifies a specific geographic delivery area
• Define as a string, instead of a number. NorthEast part of USA begins with a zero (e.g. 01234)
• Delivery point barcode - 11-digit zipcode, ZIP+4 with the addition of the last 2 digits of your street number.
• ZIP Code FAQ

Microsoft Access Database Review 2

Simple Access Database Queries Using Filters

• Open a table in Microsoft Access Datasheet View. Right mouse click on a cell value to bring up the the contect menu, select Filter By Selection.
• Apply Filter/Remove Filter button toogles the filter on/off
• Select Filter by Form when you want to use more than one field to query. A blank table is shown, just select drop down item for the field value desired. Then finally, click the Apply filter button.
• See [CustomGuide 01, p. 108-111]

Access Tables and Fields

• "A property is an attribute that defines an object's appearance, behavior, or characteristics." [CustomGuide 01, p. 128]
• Field Properties
  • Indexed - will speed up searches and sorts performed on a field. Within Design View of Microsoft Access, click the field name and then in the field properties select the index option- Yes (Duplicates OK).
  • Caption - an alternate heading name for a field, for example field name=SSN can have caption=Social Security Number
  • Field Size - for text its the maximum number of characters the field can accept. For numbers its defines the type of number (e.g. Integer, byte).
• Lookup Fields - from table or query
  • LookUp Wizard field Data Type that creates a lookup list of values from a table or query
  • Key field is the actual value that will be stored in the field, not the field that is being displayed.
• Lookup Fields - from values typed in a list
  • LookUp Wizard field Data Type that displays a list of values in a drop-down list you manually entered.
  • Useful if entering the same data in a field repeatly.
• See [CustomGuide 01, p. 127-159]

Elevation Contours

• 2D lines of equal elevation drawn on a map
• Best example of a physical contour line would be the shore of a lake. The water level represents one contour line because the level of the lake is the same in all places. (see Civil Drafting Technology, 4th Edition, by David A. Madsen and Terence M. Shumaker, p. 170)
• An example a messy bachelor might experience is the ring around their bathtub.
• Contours are used to represent a surface on a map
• Space between a contour is known as the contour interval.
• Contours should never touch. Only exception would be mountain cliff or other type of overhang.
• Contours that form a "V" are most likely a stream. The bottom of the "V" points upstream.
• Closer the contours are to one another, the steep the surface. Tends to be mountainous areas
• Further the spacing between the contours, implies a flat surface. Tends to be plains/fields
• Contours are usually created from a surface, such as the USGS Digital Elevation Models (DEM)

Creating Contours

• Requires 3D Analyst Extension
• Contours can be created from from two types of surfaces: GRID or TIN
• GRID Surfaces: Contouring function interpolates lines between the cell centers. The contours seldom pass through the cell centers and do not follow the cell boundaries.
• TIN Surfaces: Contouring function interpolates straight lines across each triangle that spans the contour value, using linear interpolation between the edge endpoints to determine where the countour crosses the face.
• Step 1: Obtain or download a surface. Use AREA31.zip USGS 24,000 scale DEM
• Step 2:
  • Tools -> Extension -> check the 3D Analyst box
  • View -> Toolbars -> 3D Analyst
  • 3D Analyst Menu Bar: 3D Analyst -> Surface Analysis -> Contour...
• Contour Output Format: shapefile only
• Use standard Auto-Label features in ArcMap to display the elevation for each contour.
• See [ESRI 3D Analyst, p. 119]
• Create a single contour: click the Create Contours button on the 3D Analyst menubar, then click on the surface where you want the contour created. Output is a 3D polyline graphic. Height of the contour is written to the status bar. (ArcGIS Desktop Help -> 3D Analyst -> Analyzing surfaces -> Deriving contour lines from a surface). See ESRI Article ID 18417 about single contour created by the Contours button being graphics and cannot be saved to a geodatabase dataset.

Symbolize Contours

• See ESRI Article ID 20973 to learn how to create contours and symbolize the result using index contours
• For example, display 100 foot interval contours with a light gray, then display all 500 foot interval contours with solid black
• See ESRI Article ID 15470 to learn how to create labels on contour lines using Mask and Halo
• AutoCAD Land Development Desktop (LDD) refers to Major and Minor contours, minor will be light gray, major will be solid black.

Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) Surface

• TINs are made from mass points, breaklines, and polygons
  • Mass Points: Elevation Points that become the nodes in the TIN network. Most important input, determines the overall shape of the surface. Increase the number of mass points increases the accuracy of your surface. Recommend more mass points around areas that have highly variable elevations, less mass points around areas that are relatively flat.
  • Breaklines: used to represent areas of abrupt elevation change. For example, Retaining wall, street curb, and so on. Objective of breakline is to keep the TIN crossing the line, just want the TIN to share line. Not the same as drafting breaklines which indicate a break in the drawing of an entire object by means of shortening the drawing or by cutting off a part of the drawing." (Survey Drafting by Gurdon H. Wattles, p. 4.15, ISBN 0-9606962-0-2). See ESRI Article ID 15375 for a discussion on the difference between hard and soft breaklines.
    • No triangle in a TIN may cross a breakline, in other words breaklines are enforced as triangle edges
    • Soft Breaklines
    • Hard Breaklines
  • Polygons: also known as hulls, represent surface features with area, such as lakes or project limit boundaries.
  • "Including breaklines and polygons in a TIN gives you more control over the shape of the TIN surface." (see [ESRI 3D Analyst, p. 72]
• Also known as a Digital Terrain Model (DTM)
• Companies like Kenney Aerial Mapping use aerial photos and a sterographic plotter to create surfaces.
• To create a TIN
  • Add a point layer that has an elevation field
  • 3D Analyst toolbar -> Create/Modify TIN -> Create TIN From Features
  • Check the features that will be used in creating the TIN, namely the masspoints
  • Choose the Height Source field or choose shape geometry if the features have 3D geometry.
  • Enter a name for the TIN, then click OK

TIN Attributes

• Planimetric Area: two-dimensional only, no elevation/relief. Land is sold and surveyed by planimetric area.
• Surface Area
• Volume
• Slope: given as a percentage, ratio of (rise/run) x 100. Output field name is Slope_Pct.
• Aspect: defines the direction of the TIN face/3D polygon. Always reported in degrees. Zero is north, and values increase clockwise like a compass. Flat triangles will be assigned an aspect value of -1. Output field name is Aspect. (see ArcGIS online help, How TIN Triangle (3D Analyst) works)
• Notes:
  • Cannot view the TIN attributes like one can with point, polygon, line attributes by opening the table.
  • Query the TIN using MapTips/Tooltips or Identify Tool.

Create a TIN from sample point feature/mass points/survey shots

• Step 1: create a geodatabase, then add a new table with the following fields: x, y, and z. Data type will be short integer
• Step 2: add the table structure to ArcMap, start an edit session, populate 9 records with some values. Recommend adding points around the a rectangular boundary.
• Step 3: convert the table to XY Events using the Tools -> Add XY Data...
• Step 4: recommend converting the XY Events to either a point feature class in a geodatabase or a point shapefile. Do this by right mouse clicking on the Table of Contents XY Event layer and select the Data -> Export Data option. Save with the filename masspts
• Step 5: From the 3D Analyst Toolbar: Select 3D Analyst -> Create/Modify TIN -> Create TIN From Features...
• Step 6: check the masspts feature class/shapefile under the Layers box. Ensure the height source is using the Z field. Output TIN name should be in a directory that has no spaces in the path or filename.

Creating TIN surfaces from vector data

• Begin with the same steps used as creating a TIN from points
• Step 6: select a breakline and/or polygon layer to modify the TIN.
• TINs are created from mass points, breaklines, and polygons
  • Mass Points: spot elevation shots having x,y,Z coordinates. Become nodes in the TIN. The primary input to create a TIN. Lines and polygons can be added as mass points, where the vertices of the lines and polygons are treated as mass points (no line or boundary enforcement).
  • Soft Breaklines: create TIN edges along the boundary of the line. Soft implies no adjustment to the elevation, z value. In other words, no height measurements
  • Hard Breaklines: Create TIN edges along the boundary of the line. Hard implies adjustment to the elevation, z values. In other words, lines with height. Hard breaklines capture abrupt changes in a surface and improve the display and analysis of the TIN. Physical features such as street curb face, streams and road cuts could be included in a TIN as hard breaklines. [Using ArcGIS 3D Analyst, p. 71]
  • Clip Polygons
  • Erase Polygons
  • Replace Polygons
    • set the polygon boundary and interior heights to the same value.
    • Example, house/building footprint. Elevation would be the pad height.
    • Example, lake or body of water. Elevation would be the same along the shoreline.
  • Tag Value Fill Polygons
    • Assign integer values to the 3D triangles
    • Can symbolize the 3D triangles based on the tag values
    • Identify tool will report the tag values.

Edit a TIN

• See ESRI Article ID 22452 about editing a TIN in ArcMap
• Must use 3D Analyst Extension
• 3D Analyst -> Create/Modify TIN -> Add Features to TIN...

Cut/Fill Analysis using a TIN

• 3D Analyst Menu -> Surface Analysis -> Cut/Fill...
• Very difficult to create a TIN based on the developed condition, that is finish grade. This is needed to compare difference between the existing/undeveloped/before condition and the proposed/developed/after condition.
• Input: two TIN surfaces. Can GRID surfaces or a combination of TIN GRID surfaces be inputed? Unknown, ArcGIS 9.1 gives and error message when processing.
• Output: single GRID/Raster surface. Also have the option to output as a TIFF image or ERDAS IMAGINE file format.

Compare TIN surface to GRID surface

• Create TINs from points. GRIDs can be created from points but the problem is the point is converted into a cell value and all surrounding cells are are left blank/null.
• TINs use only linear interpolation to predict values between points. GRIDs have several interpolation methods to choose from (e.g. Spline, Kriging, Inverse Distance Weighted, and so on). Note Spline interpolation is most similar to the TIN linear interpolation.
• TINs and GRIDs do not have an attribute table to view. Need to query using MapTips or Identify.

Cut-and-Fill Analysis

• Cut is a positive value, that is removing material from the site. Also known as Net Loss, Loss, and Excavation
• Fill is a negative value, that is bringing/adding material to the site. Also known as Net Gain, Gain, and Embankment.
• Example: if Existing Grid - Developed Grid < 0 then net gain (that is need to add fill to the site)
• Example: if Existing Grid - Developed Grid > 0 then net loss (that is need to cut or remove material from site)
• Example: if Existing Grid - Developed Grid = 0 then the site is balanced
  • Must account for losses (i.e. Shrinkage, swell, loss during transport, and subsidence). Typically the soils report will provide these values. Rule of thumb is 15% loss. Lindeburg recommends 5-15% (Civil Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam, 8th Edition).
• Cut + (1.15 x Fill) = 0 then the site is balanced between existing/natural grade and the final/proposed/developed grade
• Economic Fudge Factor, better to have extra cut material
• Long Haul Calculations, typically required for distances greater than 2000 feet.
• Procedure
  • Create Existing/Natural topo/TIN layer
  • Create Final/Proposed/Improved/Developed topo/TIN layer
    • ArcGIS doesn't have the necessary tools to create this layer
    • AutoCAD Land Development Desktop uses grading objects and alignments to assist in creating this layer
  • As a rule of thumb, use ArcToolbox geoprocessing environment rather than the 3D analyst toolbar in ArcMap. ArcToolbox is constantly being developed whereas the 3D analyst toolbar is just in maintenance mode (i.e. just fix bugs).
  • ArcGIS 9.1 Cut/Fill will convert TINs into grids then perform the analysis
  • ArcGIS 9.2 new command TIN difference is used compare two TINs, will not convert the TINs to GRIDs in the background.
• Reference: Survey Drafting by Wattles, Chapter 10

---

         

Class 15 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus

• none

Reading Assignment

• none

GIS Tutorial Workbook

• None

Term/Class Project

• Submit: powerpoint presentation slides (hardcopy or email electronic file)
• Assigned: final term project paper and presentation

Homework

• Create an 8.5x11 map
  • Download the IndexGrids.mdb geodatabase, add the aogps point feature class. Create points at all the section corners. Use a black square for section corners (POINT_TYPE=1), green circle for section centers (POINT_TYPE=2), and red diamond for quarter section corners (POINT_TYPE=3).
    • For your info, CCAUSD Dwg No 239 and 240 provide additional details about these monuments.
  • Download and Add the fall 2005, 5ft pixel aerial photo for Book 179 section 32 (f0417932.tif, f0417932.tfw, and f0417932.aux)
  • Download and Add the Assessor Parcel Layer for Book 179 Section 32 (stored in aogps.mdb)
  • Create a geodatabase with 3 feature classes (point, line, and annotation).
  • Create the boundary for the Lance Burton Reversionary Map given in class (Assessor Parcel Number, APN 17932803010, Section 32 of Township 22 south Range 63 east, Parcel Map (PM 101-0100) File 101, Page 0100, LanceBurtonPM101-0100.pdf research on KOVIS under Maps of Records) .
  • Add annotation for the direction and distance and the boundary lines (e.g. N00°08'36"E 659.02').
  • Add vicinity map and normal marginalia.

---

         

Class 16: Tuesday, 2 May 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

Extra Credit

• Submit Report and PowerPoint slide presentation in Adobe PDF format
• Allow future CEG 468/668 students to use your project as a guide. Link will be posted on this website.

Spring 2005 Term Project Presentations

Presentation Time and Date	Team Members	Term Project Title	Term Project Description
6:40pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Medhanie Tecle & Xiaohui Jin	Runoff Flows
7:00pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Student evaluations
7:20pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Darren Groth, Lexido del los Santos & Bisrat Alemayehu
7:40pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Ferrin Affleck & Pak Ho Cheung
8:00pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Madalena Choi, John McAvoy & Doug Terrill
8:20pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Nathan Hall, Jacelin Rice, & Raul Valdez
8:40pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Christopher Gonzales, Kevie Remynse & Jennifer Nuesca
9:00pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Jon Seeley, Keith Letus, Holly McNaught & Christina Astarita
9:20pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Brian Kalina, Todd Gardner, Brian Wasserman, Jarah Parke
9:40pm, Tuesday 2 May 2006	Gang Xie, Peris Nyagah & Yanjie Chen

---

Class 16 Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS 3D Analyst, or Learning ArcGIS Spatial Analyst or Introduction to Visual Basic for ESRI Software

• none

Reading Assignment

• none

Homework

• none

---

         

Class 16b: Thursday, 4 May 2006

Guest Speakers(s)

none

Extra Credit

• Submit Report and PowerPoint slide presentation in Adobe PDF format
• Allow future CEG 468/668 students to use your project as a guide. Link will be posted on this website.

Spring 2005 Term Project Presentations

Presentation Time and Date	Team Members	Term Project Title	Term Project Description

---

         

Class 16b Homework

ESRI Virtual Campus: Learning ArcGIS 3D Analyst, or Learning ArcGIS Spatial Analyst or Introduction to Visual Basic for ESRI Software

• none

Reading Assignment

• none

Homework

• none

---

         

Class 17: Tuesday, 9 May 2006, 8:10PM

Final Exam must be submitted to both Jeff and Ching via email

Spring 2006 Final Exam is ready as of 5:30pm on Wed, 3 May 2006

1. Given this traverse text file (FinalExamTraverse.txt), create a line feature class by loading this traverse into ArcMap (hint: ArcMap Advanced Editing -> Traverse option). The traverse will draw a CEE468/CEG668 student's first name. What is the student's name?
• Learning Objective: Students can create accurate features using coordinate geometry (COGO) editing tools
• Notes: start an edit session on arc feature class, recommend using street centerline. If using a blank feature class, make sure to import the project parameters of the street centerline layer.
2. Create a point feature class or Add X/Y Event layer from this dBase IV file (FinalExamXY.dbf). What letter(s) do these points form?
   • Learning Objective: Students can create point features from a database using geocoding and the Add X/Y method
3. Create elevation contours from the following digital elevation model (DEM) finaldemunlv.img, finaldemunlv.img.xml, finaldemunlv.rrd. This DEM has elevation units of meters. Using either the 3D Analyst or Spatial Analyst extensions, generate elevation contours with an interval of 50 meters, base contour of 500 meters and z factor of 1. How many 50 meter elevation contours are created?
   • Learning Objective: Students can create surfaces/digital terrain models (DTM) and contours
4. Determine which FEMA LOMR revised the FEMA FIRM panel which contains UNLV?
   • Background: The Clark County Regional Flood Control District (CCRFCD) maintains a GIS layer of all the current Flood Zones in Clark County Nevada. The flood zone boundaries are often revised by Civil Engineers to increase the amount of usable land for development by the construction of detention basins and/or concrete channels to contain the flooding. FEMA requires a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) to be submitted by the Civil Engineer once the flood control structures are constructed. Then FEMA will reduce the width of the flood zone and revise the FIRM panel.
   • All FEMA published FIRM panel maps and LOMRs can be downloaded in pdf format from CCRFCD, under District Documents then select 'Flood Insurance Rate Maps' or 'Letter of Map Revision' folders.
   • All FEMA FIRM panels for Clark County can be downloaded from CCRFCD in shapefile or coverage format. For this problem download the following: panel.shp panel.dbf panel.prj panel.sbn panel.sbx panel.shp.xml panel.shx
   • All the LOMR revised areas have been converted to shapefiles and can also be downloaded from CCRFCD. For this problem download the following: lomr.shp lomr.dbf lomr.prj lomr.sbn lomr.sbx lomr.shp.xml lomr.shx
   • Using the panel and lomr shapefiles, which FIRM panels (field name is PANEL in panel.shp) have been revised by LOMR Case Number 02-09-718P (field name is CASE_NO in lomr.shp)?
5. Determine the number of points selected within a buffer/selecting by location/selecting by attribute/exporting data.
   • Given this shapefile ( FinalExamGISpts.shp, FinalExamGISpts.dbf, FinalExamGISpts.shx, FinalExamGISpts.sbn, FinalExamGISpts.prj, FinalExamGISpts.sbx) Select the point feature class which ID = 0 (ID is the field name). Should have 2 points selected. Select all points within an 8 mile buffer of these 2 selected points.
   • Part 1 - How many points are selected?
   • Part 2 - Export the selected points from Part 1. Select points with an attribute value, ID = 18. Should have just 1 point selected. Then select all points within an 8 mile buffer of this single point. How many points are selected?
   • Learning Objective: Students can perform spatial analysis/buffers/overlays/spatial joins within ArcMap
6. Give the URL of 3 agencies (e.g. Federal, State, or Local Govt) where you can obtain GIS data? (5 pts)
   • Learning Objective: Students know the various agencies where they can obtain GIS related data
7. Create an ArcMap layout with only the following:
   • Map Page Size: 1) ensure Use Printer Paper Settings is unchecked, 2) width = 36 inches, 3) height = 24 inches, Orientation = Landscape
   • Data Frame Size: 1) position data frame x=1" and y=1" from the lower left corner, 2) width = 34 inches, 3) height = 22 inches
   • Add the DEM image from the previous question, finaldemunlv.img, finaldemunlv.img.xml, finaldemunlv.rrd.
   • Set the data frame scale in layout view to 1:20,000. Manually center the image within the data frame.
   • Do NOT add any marginalia
   • Export the map to PDF. Set resolution to 300 dpi, output image quality to Normal (ratio 1:3).
   • What is the file size of this PDF, in KB? Note if you add any other features, the filesize will be off.
     • Learning Objective: Students can create plots in ArcMap and know how to add layers, text labels and symbolize features
8. Metadata is data about/beyond data. One piece of the metadata is the projection. What is the projection and datum for the US Census Cartographic Boundary Files -> Traffic Analysis Zones (TAZ)?
   • Learning Objective: Students know what metadata is and how to use it
9. From the lecture, 5 methods or ways where discussed to perform queries in ArcMap. What are 4 or them? (5 pts)
   • Learning Objective: Students can query and join tables in a tabular database
10. Marginalia (e.g. north arrow, legend, scale bar, and so on) is added to the Data View (a.k.a. ModelSpace) or the Layout View (a.k.a. PaperSpace)?
    • Learning Objective: Students can create plots in ArcMap and know how to add layers, label and symbolize features
11. A blank data frame inherits the projection parameters of the first feature added to it? True or False.
12. Convert this ArcInfo Interchange file (e00example.e00) to a coverage. Display the arc feature (not tic feature) in ArcMap. Using the LINEWIDTH field, symbolize the feature. LINEWIDTH=0 color=white. LINEWIDTH=1 color=red, width=3. What word does the red lines spell?

Thanks for your patience and all the best in your Civil Engineering Careers.

Jeff & Ching
       

---

         

References

[ArcGIS White Paper] - ArcGIS 8.1 An ESRI White Paper. January 2001.

[Bagui 02] - Learning SQL A Step-by-Step Guide Using Access by Sikha Bagui & Richard Earp. ISBN: 0-321-11904-5. Access the latest information about Addison-Wesley titles

[Flynn 97] - INSIDE ArcInfo, 2nd Edition by Jay Flynn & Teresa Pitts. ISBN: 1-56690-194-4

[Madsen 95] - Civil Drafting Technology, 4th Edition by David A. Madsen and Terence M. Shumaker. ISBN: 0-13-087155-9

[MapGuide R5] - Autodesk MapGuide Release 5 User's Guide

[Ormsby 01] - Getting to Know ArcGIS desktop by Tim Ormsby, Eileen Napoleon, Robert Burke, Carolyn Groess, and Laura Feaster. ISBN 1-879102-89-7

[Shaner 00] - Editing in ArcMap by Jeff Shaner and Jennifer Wrightsell. ISBN 1-879102-97-8

[Vance 00] - INSIDE AutoCAD Map 2000, 3rd Edition by Dylan Vance, Ray Eisenberg and David Walsh. ISBN: 1-56690-193-6

[Frerichs 98] - Roadway Design: Using GIS to streamline and improve highway planning and design. Wade N. Frerichs and James R. West.

[Cuomo 99] - A Topography Review: Surveying Principles for Civil Engineers by Paul A. Cuomo, P.L.S. February 1999 issue of CE News

[Dewberry 98] - The practice of land development: Planning, engineering, surveying, and more by Sidney O. Dewberry, P.E., L.L.S., and John Hummel, P.E.

[TCRP Report #60] - Using Geographic Information Systems for Welfare to Work Transportation Planning and Service Delivery: A Handbook (TCRP Report #60) (2000) Part A, Part B,Case Studies

[Quickzone] - Quick Zone - A New Work Zone Delay Estimation Tool. Contact Deborah Curtis, FHWA Office of Operations Research & Development, (202) 493-3267, Deborah.Curtis@fhwa.dot.gov

[Crook 92] - How to Remember Names by Dr. Thomas Crook. ISBN 0-06-016628-2. First Edition, 1992.

[MUTCD] - Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

[ESRI GDB Lecture 01] - Creating and Managing Geodatabases (for ArcEditor 8 and ArcInfo 8), Course Lectures. GIS Education Solutions from ESRI. June 2001.

[ESRI GDB Exercises 01] - Creating and Managing Geodatabases (for ArcEditor 8 and ArcInfo 8), Course Exercises. GIS Education Solutions from ESRI. June 2001.

[ESRI Edit ArcMap 02] - Editing in ArcMap. ArcGIS 8.3 Version Documentation. Contributing Writers: Bob Booth, Jeff Shaner, Scott Crosier, Phil Sanchez, and Andy MacDonald. ISBN 1-58948-062-7

[ESRI 3D Analyst] - Using ArcGIS 3D Analyst. Contributing Writers: Bob Booth. ISBN 1-58948-004-X

[Musciano 00] - HTML & XHTML The Definitive Guide, 4th Edition by Chuck Musciano & Bill Kennedy

[Hutchinson 04] - Inside ArcView GIS 8.3 by Scott Hutchinson. ISBN: 0-7668-3475-1

[CustomGuide 01] - Microsoft Access 2002: Level 1 and Level 2. CustomGuide.com, 2001. 1502 Nicollet Ave. Minneapolis MN 55403. 888-903-2432.

[CCPW Survey] - Clark County Surveyor's Benchmark Book. Provides Elevation Data in the Las Vegas Valley, units meters, North American Vertical Datum 1988 (NAVD88). Can download the complete Benchmark Book in PDF. Summary "Because of localized subsidence in the Las Vegas Valley, the benchmark elevations from the 1992 County Vertical Control Network, together with elevations published by the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson are no longer completely reliable. Accordingly, the County Surveyor sought to standarize and coordinate the upgrading of this critical design criteria. The County Surveyor's work involved re-running the primary Clark County Vertical Control Circuits from the latest National Geodetic Survey (NGS) control, adjusting the remaining circuits and tying them to each of the cities' data, which was also adjusted based on the North American Vertical Datum of 1998." (Clark County General Information Report, GIR No. 0380)

---

         

Sources of GIS data

Bureau of Land Management

Robert "Bob" Taylor, GIS Coordinator (also on the GPS Lead team for Las Vegas)
Bureau of Land Management, Las Vegas Field Office
4701 N Torrey Pines Dr
Las Vegas NV 89130
Voice: 702-515-5051
Fax: 702-515-5023
Email: robert_taylor@nv.blm.gov
Comments: has a staff of 3 people. GIS data uses UTM Zone 11, Units Meters, Datum NAD27 projection. Maps based on BLM survey records, USGS DLG, and a Section Township Range coverage.

United States Federal Forests

Toiyabe National Forest Spring Mountain National Recreation Area
4701 N Torrey Pines Dr
Las Vegas NV 89130-2301
Contacts: Scott Ewers, Lands & Special Uses. Voice: (702)515-5440, Fax: (702)515-5499, Email: mewers@fs.fed.us
Lance Dutton, Engineer, Email: ldutton@fs.fed.us, Voice: (702)515-5419

GIS people in Ogden UT. Roberta Quigley (801)625-5188, GIS Coordinator

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest GIS Contacts: Dave McMorran 1200 Franklin Way
Sparks NV 89431
Voice Direct: (775)355-5388, Voice main: 775-355-5301, Email: dmcmorran@fs.fed.us

Pacific West Region (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, and Nevada)
National Forest Boundaries, metadata, ArcInfo e00. Projection: Geographic, Units: Decimal Degrees, Datum: NAD27 (according to Dan Thompson 801-975-3441).

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Boundary created by Clark County Comprehensive Planning staff:
Ron Gregory-Federal Lands Coordinator (702-455-3121, rgy@co.clark.nv.us) and
Ralph Spear-GIS Analyst (702-455-4181, res@co.clark.nv.us)
ESRI Shapefiles (redrockbnd.shp, redrockbnd.dbf, redrockbnd.shx, redrockbnd.prj). Stateplane Coordinates, Nevada East Zone, Units Feet, NAD83.

---

         

Download GIS data

• Clark County GIS Management Office
  • Street Centerline Geodatabase: crscl.mdb or StreetCenterline.mdb
  • Street Centerline Annotation Coverage (e00 format and zipped): sclan.zip
  • Street Centerline Major Street, ArcInfo Coverage - Interchange file: sclmajor.e00
  • Street Centerline ArcView Shapefile: scl_l.shp, scl_l.shx, scl_l.dbf, & scl_l.prj
  • Street Centerline Major Streets, ArcView Shapefile: sclmajor_l.shp, sclmajor_l.shp.xml, sclmajor_l.shx, sclmajor_l.dbf, & sclmajor_l.prj
  • Street Centerline nodes (with XY coordinates) in shapfefile format: sclnode.zip
  • Cities in Clark County: sclcity_p.shp, sclcity_p.dbf, sclcity_p.prj, sclcity_p.shx,
  • Lake Mead and Lake Las Vegas geodatabase: LakeMead.mdb
  • Metadata: Street Centerline Metadata & Colorado River and Lake Mead
• Clark County Regional Flood Control District
• District GIS data: shapefiles, ARC/INFO coverages .e00
• GIS Layers
  • Firm Panels (panel.shp, .dbf, .shx, .prj, .sbn, .sbx)
  • Updated Flood Zones by Letter of Map Revision (lomr.shp)
  • Current Flood Zones (fzcur.shp)
  • Flood Zone in Shaded Zone X (shadex.shp)
• Geodatabase: CCRFCD-LVMPU2002.mdb
• Layer File: Typical Land Use (MPUTypicalLandUse.lyr)
• Metadata
  • Watersheds in southern Nevada
  • Master Plan Update sheet index: panels.e00
• H Maps for 2002 Las Vegas Valley Master Plan Update
  • H-17.pdf (Color from UNLV)
  • RFCD District Documents -> Master Plans -> Las Vegas Valley -> 2002 -> Las Vegas Valley 2002 Master Plan Update - VolumeII.pdf (Black and White from RFCD)
• RFCD logo (rfcdlogo.bmp)
• ArcMap Template of Master Plan Update (rfcdmpu.mxd)
• Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
  • Bus Routes, Bus Stops, Bus Stops with Attributes, Posted Speed Limits, Monorail, & Monorail Stations
    • Geodatabase: rtc.mdb
    • Metadata: RTC Metadata
  • Bus Routes: busroute_l.shp, busroute_l.dbf, busroute_l.prj, busroute_l.shx, metadata
  • Bus Stops: stops_x.shp, stops_x.dbf, stops_x.prj, stops_x.shx, metadata
  • Bus Stops with all Attributes: stops.shp, stops.dbf, stops.shx, stops.prj metadata
• Clark County Water Reclamation District
  • Coverage: Sewer Lines and manholes - swsys.e00
  • Coverage: Sewer Annotation - swanno.e00
  • Metadata
• Clark County Aerial Photos
  • TIFF/TFW images, 5ft Pixel Fall 2003: f0316222.tif, f0316222.tfw
  • ECW images, Fall 2000: f0016222.ecw
  • ECW images, Fall 2001: f0016222.ecw
  • ECW images, Fall 2002: f0016222.ecw
  • TIFF/TFW images, 5ft Pixel Fall 2004: f0417932.TIF, f0417932.tfw, f0417932.aux,
• Clark County Assessor
  • Assessor Book 163 Section 19 geodatabase AssessorParcel16319.mdb
  • Assessor Book 179 Section 32 geodatabase AssessorParcel17932.mdb
  • UNLV Parcel: pl16222.shp, pl16222.dbf, pl16222.shx, metadata
  • Geodatabase of UNLV parcel: ccAssessor.mdb
  • Pictures of UNLV parcels and Geodatabase zip file: pl16222remap.zip
  • Clark County Assessor Parcel coverage for Book 163 Section 19
    • Geodatabase for Parcel, AOExtract, and AOSubd: AssessorParcel16319.mdb
  • Assessor Parcel Layer: Book 177 Section 25 (pl17725.e00)
  • Book 177 Section 35 (pl17735.e00)
  • Book 177 Section 36 (pl17736.e00)
  • Clark County Assessor's AOEXTRACT file for Book 163 Section 19
    • Geodatabase of Parcel, AOExtract, and AOSubd AssessorParcel16319.mdb
    • Secured Tax Roll Extract: AOEXTRACT metadata under Browse tab, Assessor's Secured Tax Roll Extract, View Details, View Attributes
  • Notes
    • To identify vacant land, LANDUSE = 0 (technically LUUSE=0). If using a Select by Attributes query in ArcMap, to help find the LANDUSE field in the many fields included in the AOEXTRACT file, scroll toward the middle.
    • LANDUSE code is a 6 digit number.
      • Field 1: Source Code (1=Residential, 2=Industrial, 3=Commercial, and so on)
      • Fields 2 & 3: Use Code (10=Single Family Resident, 20=Duplex, 30=Triplex, 40=Fourplex, 50=Apartments, and so on for Residential Source code only). Fieldname in database is LUUSE
      • Field 4: Auxiliary Code
      • Field 5: Secondary Auxiliary Code
      • Field 6: Pool Count
    • Relate Field (Primary Key) is the PARCEL number
  • Shapefiles: pl16222.shp, pl16222.shx, and pl16222.dbf.
  • Assessor's AOROW table for Book 162 Section 22 rw16222.dbf.
  • Use Parcel Subdivision Number (PCLSUBD) to dissolve lines within the right of way to create a road casing or right of way boundaries. For example 99=dedicated and fee owned roads, 97=non-assessed common areas and planting strips, 96=dedicated and fee owned flood channels, and 95=private roads. Example SQL query, Note PCLSUBD field is a string type instead of an integer type, so need to enclose query in quotes.
    • [PCLSUBD] LIKE '9*' (matches an unlimited characters)
    • [PCLSUBD] LIKE '9?' (matches a single character)
    • [PCLSUBD] LIKE '9#' (matches a single digit) >LI>See ArcGIS Desktop Online help (ArcMap -> Query Maps -> SQL Reference)
  • Assessor's AOEXTRACT table for book 162 section 22 ao16222.dbf
  • If PCLSUBD redefined item (only used in coverages) is missing, do the following: Add a new field and using the Field Calculator string function, Mid ( [PARCEL], 7, 2) to extract the 7th and 8th fields from the parcel number string. For help on VBA functions see, Tools -> Macros -> Visual Basic Editor: Help -> Visual Basic Reference.
  • Road Casing Issues: if the parcel owner didn't dedicate portions of their land to the County, then you won't be able to create a road casing there. This dedication is typically done when you proceed to develope the parcel.
  • Assessor GPS Control Points (aogps)
    • From the Clark County Metadata homepage: select the Browse tab, under categories select Assessors Office, scroll down to GPS Control Points, click View Details, click View Attributes. Direct link to aogps metadata
    • POINT_TYPE = 1, Section Corner
    • POINT_TYPE = 2, Section Center
    • POINT_TYPE = 3, Quarter Section Corner
    • aogps geodatabase: aogps.mdb
  • Assessor Record Searches
    • Recorded Maps - Book/File/Page Number link
    • Example of Lance Burton Reversionary Map (PM 101-0100) query, LanceBurtonPM101-0100.pdf
      • Map Type = PM
      • Map File# = 101
      • Map Page# = 0100
• Clark County Public Works
  • Subset of sidewalk ramps in clark county: swramps.dbf
  • Geodatabase of some sidewalk ramps: SidewalkRamps2003.mdb
• US Census
  • Official US Census data
    • Census Cartographic Boundary Files has county boundaries (i.e. County and County Equivalent Areas) for 2000 and 1990. Metadata for "County and County Equivalent Areas" projection is geographic (lat/long) and datum is NAD83.
    • County and County Equivalent Areas - geodatabase
    • Census Cartographic Boundary Files
      • 2000 USA County Areas, in Coverage and Shapefile format
      • All 50 States, D.C., and Puerto Rice (locally stored co99_d00_shp.zip)
      • USA Census Metadata, Summary: Projection - Geographic (Lat/Long), Datum NAD83
  • ESRI conversion of Census Data
    • Locally stored version of 2000 TIGER/Line data for Clark County (cctigerline.mdb all shapefiles available for Clark County from www.esri.com have been imported into this geodatabase)
    • SF1 Quick Reference Guide
    • ESRI converted all Census 2000 TIGER/Line data to shapefiles, can be downloaded for free from under the Preview and Download link under Free Download.
  • Clark County conversion of Census Data
    • Street Centerline Based Block Groups (SBG) coverage sbg.e00
    • Metadata Browse for Census Data
• NOAA's National Weather Service
  • NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 1 (Semiarid Southwest) - Precipitation Frequency Estimates ( GIS)
    • Average recurrence interval 100 yr, duration 6 hour, format ArcInfo ASCII grid ( NOAA website, locally)
      • PDF Map of Isopluvials 100 year (NOAA website)
    • Average recurrence interval 10 yr, duration 6 hour, format ArcInfo ASCII grid ( NOAA website, locally)
    • how to download via anonymous ftp
      • PDF Map of Isopluvials 10 year, paper size 15.5in x 21.5in ( NOAA website). Note the nearest standard paper size is ANSI C, which is 17inch x 22inch.
    • Metadata for NOAA Atlas 14
  • NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 1 (Semiarid Southwest) - Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF)
  • As discussed in Sections 4.8.4 and 4.8.5, the color cartographic maps and ESRI shapefiles were created to serve as visual aids and, unlike NOAA Atlas 2, are not recommended for interpolating final point or area precipitation frequency estimates for design criteria. Users are urged to take advantage of the Precipitation Frequency Data Server user interface or the underlying ArcInfo ASCII grids for accessing estimates. (see NOAA Atlas documentation Vol 1, section 1-3, p. 8)
  • Importing ASCII grid with ArcCatalog 9
    • Download zip file
    • unzip and rename with a .txt or .csv extension (remove the .ver3.copy extension from the filename)
    • ArcToolBox 9 (Conversion Tools -> To Raster -> ASCII to Raster). Use the Float option (this is helpful when converting the grid from 1000ths of an inch to inches).
    • Define Coordinate System (right mouse click on grid, select properties, under Spatial Reference select Edit... button
    • Define coordinate system interactively, Geographic Projection, Units DD, Datum WGS 1972
    • Add this ArcInfo GRID to ArcMap with the Spatial Analyst extension on
    • Convert cell values to inches (Float) instead of 1000ths of inch (Integer).
    • Setup the Spatial Analyst -> Options (set the working directory and Extent to Union of Inputs
    • Spatial Analyst -> Raster Calculator Enter this sa100yr06hf = sa100yr06h / 1000
    • Project the grid from Lat/Long to Stateplane Coordinate System. ArcMap -> Define projection of data frame to StatePlane Coordinates, Nevada East Zone, Datum NAD83, Units feet.
    • Make the projection permenant and convert from ArcInfo GRID to TIFF format (Data - Export Data. Use the coordinate system of the data frame, check the raster size option, and output TIFF)
    • Create Isopluvials (Spatial Analyst -> Surface Analysis -> Contour...). Contour Interval 0.1 inches, set base contour near the Z min, Z factor of 1. Output is a shapefile.
    • Each cell value (units inches) represents the point rainfall (precipitation frequency). Overlay this with your drainage basin maps. This data is typically used as input into HEC-1 model.
  • Creating NOAA Atlas 14 shaded relief
    • Download the NA14.style from Tye Parzybok (tye.parzybok@noaa.gov)
    • Add the style to ArcMap (Tools -> Styles -> Style Manager, Styles Buttons, then select Add on the bottom)
    • Change the shading of the isopluvials to NA14_color_ramp style
    • Set the transparency of the isopluvial layer to 60% (layer properties -> Display tab)
    • Add the USGS Seamless DEM for Nevada, place layer below the isopluvial layer. Should have a shaded relief similar to the PDF Map of Isopluvials from the NOAA website.
• Township, Range, Section
  • clarktrs shapefiles (clarktrs_p.shp, clarktrs_p.dbf, clarktrs_p.shx, clarktrs_p.prj), or the clarkbk
  • geodatabase - (IndexGrids.mdb use in replace of TownshipRangeSection.mdb), clarktrs_p layer. The Assessor page number is shown on index_p layer. Clarktrs Metadata
  • IndexGrids Geodatabase - Feature Classes
    • ao_gps_p = Assessor GPS Control Points
    • clarkbk_p
    • clarktrs_p
    • index_p
    • secindex_p
    • uac_p
• Custom ArcMap Symbols
  • Color Ramp used in Shaded Reliefs: jjensen.style
• Las Vegas Racquetball League
  • Geodatabase: lvrl.mdb
• Bureau of Transportation Statistics - GIS
  • Can download county boundaries and railway network.
• Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
  • DEM for Clark County, ccdemspcszft.tif, ccdemspcszft.aux, ccdemspcszft.rrd, ccdemspcszft.tif.xml in StatePlane Coordinates, Nevada East Zone, Units Feet, Datum NAD83, Elevation Z-Units Feet.
  • Shaded Relief of Clark County - clarkdem.tif, clarkdem.tfw, clarkdem.aux
  • Clark County National Elevation Dataset (NED) - NED.zip (4 individual DEMGRIDs, still needs to be mosaicked together and projected from Lat/Long geographic coordinates)
  • Online help: Spatial Analyst Functional Reference -> Geometric Transformation -> Mosaic. Example is Using the Raster Calculator: mosaic(Area30/DEMGRID, Area31/DEMGRID, Area34/DEMGRID, Area35/DEMGRID) to merge all the images into a single image.
  • To purchase National Elevation Dataset (NED)
  • National Elevation Dataset Homepage
  • National Map Seamless Data Distribution System. Click on the "View and Order Data Sets - United States Viewer". Default download format is ArcGrid.
  • NED Data Dictionary can be found at ftp://edcftp.cr.usgs.gov/pub/data/ned
  • Seamless National Elevation Dataset (NED)
  • National Elevation Dataset Fact Sheet 148-99
    • 1/9 arc second NED, 3 meters
    • 1/3 arc second NED, 10 meters
    • 1 arc second NED, 30 meters
    • 3 arc second NED, 90 meters
    • Elevation, Z value is in Meters, not Feet for the seamless dataset (see FAQ on seamless.usgs.gov website)
  • How to mosaic/merge adjacent DEMs into a single DEM
    • Download 1 arc second NED from http://seamless.usgs.gov/
      • SDDS Downloads -> Define Area by Coordinates (lower right corner of window)
      • Coordinates for Clark County Nevada and portions of surrounding Counties (i.e. Mohave County AZ, Lincoln County NV, Nye County NV, Inyo County CA, San Bernardino County CA, and Washington County UT)
      • Northern Lat = 38 00 00 N
      • Southern Lat = 34 00 00 N
      • Western Long = 117 00 00 W
      • Eastern Long = 112 00 00 W
    • Using ArcMap -> Spatial Analyst
    • Step 1. Spatial Analyst -> Options: Extent tab, Analysis extent: Union of Inputs, Also set the Working Directory.
    • Step 2. Spatial Analyst -> Raster Calculator...
    • Step 3. output TIFF = mosaic(input TIFF 1, input TIFF 2, ...)
    • If you get error messages, see ESRI Article ID 18406, Error: Failed to evaluate the calculator expression
    • Step 4. Project TIFF image from Lat/Long to Stateplane Coordinate System (SPCS). Define a data frame with SPCS, add the Lat/Long TIFF image, then export the TIFF using the data frame coordinate system.
  • USGS NED Shaded Relief available from ESRI Data
• USGS Digital Raster Graphics (DRG)
  • 24,000 Scale DRG (Topographic Maps) have the most details
  • Use 24K Quad index grid to determine Quad name. Download from Geo Community for free, in shapefile format,
  • Obtaining DRG Image Data
  • Can obtain the 100,000 Scale (30x60) minute DRGs for the state of Nevada from UNR,
• Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD)
  • NV NRCS HUC Contacts: Bill Brookes, 775-861-6485, bbrookes@nv.blm.gov and Dave Pickel, 775-784-5863, dave.pickel@nv.usda.gov with NRCS. See state-huc-contacts.xls Dave Pickel doesn't know the current progress of the HU development in Nevada and recommends contacting Mark O'Brien at the Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office in Reno at 775-861-6440, mobrien@nv.blm.gov. Mark O'Brien, to his knowledge (7 Feb 2006) a complete set of 6 field, 12-digit hydrologic unit delineations for Nevada does not exist. Ryan Cooper, Soils GIS Administrator, 775-857-8500 x121, ryan.copper@nv.usda.gov
  • NRCS Las Vegas Soil Survey Office: Doug Merkler, 702-262-9047 x106
  • Classification divides nation into 21 major geographic areas (i.e. regions)
  • 1st Level Hydrologic Units: Regions - approximately 21 polygons, 2 digit hydrologic unit delineation
  • 2nd Level Hydrologic Units: Subregions - approximately 222 polygons, 4 digit hydrologic unit delineation
  • 3rd Level Hydrologic Units: Basins - approximately 352 polygons, 6 digit hydrologic unit delineation
  • 4th Level Hydrologic Units: Subbasins - approximately 2,149 polygons, 8 digit hydrologic unit delineation
  • 5th Level Hydrologic Units: Watershed - approximately 22,000 polygons, 10 digit hydrologic unit delineation
  • 6th Level Hydrologic Units: Subwatershed - approximately 160,000 polygons, 12 digit hydrologic unit delineation
  • Can obtain the certified 5th and 6th level hydrologic units by state (limited coverage, only about 7 areas in the US, doesn't include Nevada) from Watershed Boundary Dataset or via anonymous login to ftp.ftw.nrcs.usda/gov/pub/wbd/hu. Also known as the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) HUC12.
  • Note: 5th and 6th level does not exist for Nevada
  • Venue to ask questions, National Geospatial Development Center or use the NHD Help desk at NHD@usgs.gov, NHDGeo website
  • ftp://nhdftp.usgs.gov/SubRegions/High/
  • ftp://nhdftp.usgs.gov/SubRegions/Local/
  • ftp://nhdftp.usgs.gov/SubRegions/Medium/NHDM1501.zip and NHDM1606.zip for Clark County Nevada (contains Regions and Subregions geodatabases)
  • Subbasin level (HUC Level 4) for entire USA, in shapefile format ftp://nhdftp.usgs.gov/NHD_HUC/huc8.tar.gz projection info: geographic coordinate system, horizontal units decimal degrees, NAD83, NAVD29 vertical units meters
    • Shapefiles have been placed in a folder and packed (tar) together then compressed (gzip). Can use WinZip to uncompress and extract from the tar.
    • Download GNU zip: ftp://prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/gzip/gzip-1.2.4.msdos.exe (example: gzip-1.2.4.msdos.exe -d huc8.tar.gz) from the windows command prompt
    • Download GNU tar: ftp://prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/tar/tar-1.12.msdos.exe (example: tar-1.12.msdos.exe -xvf huc8.tar) from the windows command prompt
  • National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)
    • The surface water feature data component of The National Map, see Fact Sheet June 2002
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
  • Geodatabase of SSURGO and STATSGO for Clark County NV, NRCSsoils.mdb
    • Polygon feature classes: SSURGOnv608, SSURGOnv788, and STATSGOnv
    • Projection: stateplane coordinates, Nevada East zone, units feet, datum NAD83
  • Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database
    • Clark County has 4 soil survey areas (survey area symbol = NV788, NV608, NV786, and NV755)
    • NV788 = Las Vegas Valley Area, Nevada, Part of Clark County
      • Download from Soil Data Mart
    • NV608 = Virgin River Area, Nevada and Arizona
      • Download from Soil Data Mart
    • NV786 is test site area (Northwest corner of Clark County, no plans for a soil survey
    • NV755 is the Laughlin area, should be available Oct 2006
    • Status Maps
    • SSURGO metadata
    • Notes
      • Fundamental graphic feature in SSURGO is the map unit. Each map unit is designated as a separate polygon.
      • Each map unit represents an area dominated by one to three kinds of soil
      • Primary Key (Relate item) for the map units is the map unit identifier (muid)
      • The mapunit table is related to the spatial data by muid
      • Hierarchy - largest to smallest, Mapunit, Comp (component), Layer
      • SSURGO map units have up to three named components, and each component has up to six layers (soil horizons)
      • Hydrologic Group
        • Class A = high infiltration rates. Soils are deep, well drained to excessively drained sands and gravels. Similar to a garden
        • Class B = moderate infiltration rates. Deep and moderately deep, moderately well and well drained soils that have moderately coarse textures
        • Class C = Slow infiltration rates. Soils with layers impeding downward movement of water, or soils that have moderately fine or fine textures
        • Class D = very slow infiltration rates. Soils are clayey, have a high water table, or are shallow to an impervious layer
  • Soil Data Mart
    • distributes electronic versions of Soil Survey
    • Spatial Formats: ArcView Shapefiles, ArcInfo Coverage, and ArcInfo Interchange
    • Spatial projections: UTM Zone 11 meters and Stateplane Nevada East Zone meters. Still need to project to units of feet
  • Doug Merkle, Resource Soil Scientist
    United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
    2357A Renaissance Drive
    Las Vegas NV 89119
    Voice: 702-262-9047x106
    Fax: 702-736-7415
    Email: doug.merkler@nv.usda.gov
    (located near Pecos & Russell)
  • State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) Database
    • renamed to Digital General Soil Map of the United States
    • Download Nevada STATSGO Database
    • "Soil maps for STATSGO are compiled by generalizing more detailed (SSURGO) soil survey maps. Where more detailed soil survey maps are not available, data on geology, topography, vegetation, and climate are assembled with Land Remote Sensing Satellite (LANDSAT) images. Soils of like areas are studied, and the probable classification and extent of the soils are determined." (SSURGO Data Base Data Use Information p. 2)

Example Datasets

• Select by Location example geodatabaseSelectByLocationExample.mdb

Sample Data

• Clark County Assessor Parcel coverage for Book 163 Section 02
  • cd16302.e00
  • ll16302.e00
  • pl16302.e00
  • re16302.e00
• Incorporated Cities in Clark County, sclcity.e00 and metadata

---

         

---

Miscellaneous Materials

Class Objective:

discuss how to create point features from a text file or a table

Handout

• Map Projections Used for Large-Scale Quadrangles by the U.S. Geological Survey. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 982. Map Projection Publications

Questions and Answers from last week

• Grouping Layers
  • Ability to combine several layers in the TOC into one. Benefits, provides order to layers, can turn off several layers with one click.
  • The Visible Scale Range set on the Group layer overrides the settings of the individual layers
  • 3 ways to create group layers: 1) select several layers in TOC, then right mouse click and clicking Group. 2) Right-click the data frame you want to create a group layer in, then click New Group Layer. 3) Use ArcCatalog.
  • Ways to add layers to a group layer: 1) drag and drop layers in the TOC into the group layer. 2) double-click the group layer in the TOC to open the Group Layer Properties window. Click Group tab, Add... button, then navigate to data layer you want to add.
  • Can easily rearrange order of layers in the group by dragging and droping.
  • To remove a layer from the group, just drag out.
  • see ArcGIS Desktop Help, Contents Tab: ArcMap -> Managing layers -> Grouping layers
• Creating Symbols
  • In the Symbol Property Editor, locking a property on the symbol layer controls whether or not the color option can be modified. A locked layer cannot be modified
  • See ArcGIS Desktop Help, ArcMap -> Working with styles and symbols -> Creating new symbols and map elements.
  • Currently can only create marker symbols one at a time. Would have to use VBA and ArcObjects to write code that would automated this process. [email response from Derek Weatherbe (dweatherbe@esri.com) and Dave Wilcox]
  • Multilevel Fill Symbol- under the Symbol Property Editor, have the option to add layers to a symbol. For example, see the Radiation Overlay Fill Symbol in the ESRI.style
• Symbology
  • Placed an enhancement request (CQ00161288) asking to be able to edit the label heading under "Qunatities" for the Layer Properties Symbology. Currently can edit the label heading for "Categories". For the time being, can change this in the TOC by selecting the field name twice with your mouse (not a double-click), then type in a new label. [email response from Robert Nicholas, rnicholas@esri.com]
  • On different layers, have been able to change label under the Quantities, so not sure what the problem is we had in class.
  • In the Layer Properties window, under Symbology tab, if I click Categories in the "Show: " window, I can change the label heading. Problem is when I select Quantities in the "Show: " window, I cannot find a way to change the label of the field name.

Tables

• Use Tools -> Add X,Y to view the spatial events in ArcMap.
• Can directly create an output shapefile or feature class of this table by using ArcCatalog. Right on the table name -> Create Feature Class -> From XY Table...
• Cannot add or delete a field in ArcMap during an edit session. To delete a field, open the table then right mouse click field name and select Delete Field. To add a field, open the table attributes and select the Options button on the lower right corner of the window and select Add Field... (see ESRI Article Number 17596)
• ArcUSER January-March 2002 article Working with Tables in ArcMap is a good article showing how to perform common tasks with tables.

Questions and Answers from last week

Can we get access codes for the Programming with Avenue virtual campus course?

• Added virtual campus codes for Programming with Avenue and What's New in ArcInfo 8 (7.x to 8.1)

Create List of Styles

• ArcInfo known as SymbolDump, ArcMap is called StyleDump
• Print the symbol and palattes that are associated with ArcMap, Article Number 21180.
• Beneficial when comparing with required symbols by different agencies. See RTC Uniform Standard Drawings, Symbols or with the US National CAD Standard.

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

• contains a list of Federally recognized names for features within the United States of America.
• Helpful in labeling aerial photos, mountain ranges, lakes, etc.
• GNIS database is organized by individual State and Territory files and available via anonymous ftp (geonames.usgs.gov/gnisftp.html)
• The quoted and comma delimited format Nevada dataset is called NV_deci.txt note deci stands for Decimal Degrees
• Columnar record format of the Nevada GNIS dataset is called nevada.txt
• The other data sets (hist_feature.gz, us_concise.gz, and pop_places_deci.gz) are just an extraction from the original nv_deci.gz data set. In other words, you get all the data when you download nv_deci.gz
• Accuracy within +/- 5 seconds
• Projection info: Lat/Long with NAD27 datum. According to the GNIS Manager (gnis_manager@usgs.gov) won't be an issue to transform from NAD27 to NAD83 for continental USA.
• GNIS Data Users Guide (pdf version)
• Roger L. Payne-GNIS Manager, email: gnis_manager@usgs.gov voice: 703-648-4544
• Robin D. Worcester, tech support, email: rworces@usgs.gov voice: 703-648-4551
• Will notice some point features lie outside of NV. This is not an error. For example, the coordinate for the mouth of the Colorado River is used for the entire line feature. According to Roger the secondary coordinates will be added to the downloadable data set at the end of summer, 2001. This should solve the issue of points lying outside the state boundary.
• Coordinates are in both Lat/Long Decimal Degrees (DD) and Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS). Uses NAD27 datum.

Conversion of GNIS text file to ArcView shapefile

1. In the past file was zipped/compressed, so download nv_deci.gz, use WinZip to unzip (gunzip) file, rename file-give .txt extension
2. Open nv_deci.txt in a text editor, add the following as the first record (this will be the field names) "STATE","FEATURENAME","FEATURETYPE","COUNTY","STATECODE","COUNTYCODE","LATYDMS",
   "LONGXDMS","LATYDD","LONGXDD","SRCLATYDMS","SRCLONGXDMS","SRCLATYDD","SRCLONGXDD","ELEV",
   "POP","FEDSTATUS","CELLNAME" (see the Readme file for complete names)
   • Use the FeatureName field as an Auto-Label
   • Cell Name is the 7.5min quad map name
3. From ArcView Project Menu, select Table icon, then Add button. Browse to the nv_deci.txt
4. In ArcView View window, View -> Add Event Theme... Table=nv_deci.txt X field=longxdd Y field=latydd
5. Query Builder, select County="Clark"
6. Save the selected GNIS points for Clark County as a new shapefile, Theme -> Convert to Shapefile... gniscc.shp, click Yes to add shapefile to the view
7. Project GNIS points from Lat/Long NAD27 to Stateplane Nevada East zone NAD83 feet. Might have to load the File -> Extensions -> Projection Utility Wizard, then File -> ArcView Projection Utility...
8. All done, just use Theme -> Auto-label... to display the Feature Name attributes, insert an aerial photo or Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and you have successfully labelled the mountains, rivers, etc.

Misc Data

• A Primer on Working with DOQs
• National Atlas Map Layers Warehouse

• Create a text file that has 5 fields (ID, Easting-x, Northing-y, name, and URL). Using your the aerial photo of UNLV, obtain the coordinate for the location of the UNLV College of Civil Engineering, Desert Research Institute (DRI), and the Harry Reid Center. Import the text file into ArcMap. Add the aerial photo f0116222.ecw as a backdrop. Label the 3 locations. Add title, north arrow, scale bar, name, and street network. Add a title and text with your name, homework assignment number (i.e. #9), class number (i.e. #13), and date assigned.
• Create a plot of showing the bus lines & stops around UNLV. Create 3 buffer rings around each bus stop at 50', 100', and 150'. From the bus stop metadata, symbolize the bus stops using the Stop amenities, SB field, that is a point symbol for Shelter=s, another for Benches=B, another for Pole Only=P, etc. Add another data frame showing the Inset/Overview/Index/Vicinity/Key map of UNLV. Include graticules every 7.5 minutes. Add title, legend, logo, etc. Legend only needs to show the type of bus stop, don't add a legend on the multiple ring buffer. Add a title and text with your name, homework assignment number (i.e. #7), class number (i.e. #11), and date assigned (i.e. 11 April 2002)
• Using the Clark County Centerline shapefiles (sclmajor.shp, sclmajor.shx, sclmajor.dbf) identify adjacent parcels along Maryland Pkwy for Assessor Book 162 and sections 22 & 23 (pl16222.shp, pl16222.shx, pl16222.dbf, ao16222.dbf, pl16223.shp, pl16223.shx, pl16223.dbf, ao16223.dbf). Make a new layer based on these selected polygons. Make an 8.5" x 11" plot. Data frame will display only adjacent parcels (i.e. polygons which touch) Maryland Pkwy. Add a title and text with your name, homework assignment number (i.e. #6), class number (i.e. #10), and date assigned (i.e. 4 April 2002). Add map element of north arrow. Add a Legend map element. Create or copy a company logo, add it to the layout as a picture. Homework due next week.

Viewing CAD files in ArcMap

• 2 articles in the January-March 2002 edition of ArcUser. Modeling CAD Data in ArcGIS and Uncovering CAD Data Issues in ArcMap

Parks, Forests and Trails within Clark County, NV

• National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior
  • Lake Mead National Recreation Area
  • small-scale base GIS metadata. Projection Info: UTM Zone 12 Zone 11, Units Meters, NAD27. Metadata says Zone 12 but this is wrong. Sent an email to Dean Tucker, dean_tucker@nps.gov and he verified the error as of 29 May 2002.
  • Lake Mead Boundary in Stateplane Coordinate, Nevada East Zone, NAD 83, units Feet: lamebnd.shp, lamebnd.dbf, lamebnd.shx, lamebnd.prj
  • Lake Mead Boundary in UTM Zone 11 ArcView Shapefiles
  • GIS Region Contact, Craig Dalby, craig_dalby@nps.gov, Voice: 206-220-4261. Spoke with his assistant Emily McLuen 206-220-4260, emily_mcluen@nps.gov she will place the gis coverage in ftp.nps.gov/incoming/lame/boundary or email a zip file.
  • For road project coordination, contact Dale Melville, Park Engineer, Voice: 702-293-8987, email: dale_melville@nps.gov, Fax: 702-293-8967. Other contacts Jim Vanderford, Chief of Maintenance, Voice: 702-293-8916, email: James_D_Vanderford@nps.gov and Bill Dickinson, william_k_dickinson@nps.gov, Voice: 702-293-8920, Fax: 702-293-8936, 601 Nevada Hwy Boulder City NV 89005. Recommend no longer than 15 minute delay, one lane must remain open, and must stay on the road or shoulder (no driving on the native ground).
• Nevada Division of State Parks
  • According to Steve Weaver - Chief of Planning Development, jsweaver@parks.state.nv.us, Voice: 775-687-1693, Fax: 775-687-4117, 1300 S Curry St, Carson City NV 89703-5202 no GIS staff in the entire division, the Division of State Lands might have some GIS datasets. Also said that NDOT maintains all roads in the state parks.
  • Valley of Fire
    • Ralph Spear of Clark County Comprehensive Planning has an ArcInfo coverage called natlparks. I extracted the Valley of Fire boundary from it and to create the following shapefiles: valleyfirebnd.shp, valleyfirebnd.dbf, valleyfirebnd.shx, valleyfirebnd.prj. These shapefiles use Stateplane Coordinates, Nevada East Zone, Units Feet, NAD83.
  • Floyd Lamb
    • Using the Clark County Assessor Parcels, created a boundary of the Floyd Lamb State Park. Owner of the parcels was 'STATE OF NEVADA' and 'STATE OF NEVADA DIV LANDS'. Following shapefiles use Stateplane Coordinates, Nevada East Zone, Units Feet, NAD83. FloydLambbnd.shp, FloydLambbnd.dbf, FloydLambbnd.shx, FloydLambbnd.prj
  • Spring Mountain Ranch
  • Big Bend of the Colorado
  • Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort
• Trails
  • River Mountains Trail

---

Contacts

• Federal - United States of America
  • Doug Merkle, Resource Soil Scientist
    United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
    2357A Renaissance Drive
    Las Vegas NV 89119
    Voice: 702-262-9047x106
    Fax: 702-736-7415
    Email: doug.merkler@nv.usda.gov
    
• State - Nevada
• County - Clark
• City

---

   

Show/Hide Un-Revised

 

• none
• Using the USGS DEM for part of Clark County (AREA31.zip), generate elevation contours every 100 feet. Research how to change the linetype for all 500 foot contours. Add normal marginalia. Turn in next week.
• Download a DEM in the Las Vegas Valley from National Map Seamless Data Distribution System. Click on the "View and Order Data Sets - United States Viewer". Default download is a winzip file of the ArcGrid format. Zoom into southern Nevada on the map, then once you have the desired area, use the Download tool on the bottom left side of the webpage. If having problems downloading, use this NEDlasvegas.zip. If you need to project the ArcGrid, use ArcToolbox -> Data Management Tools -> Projections -> Projection Wizard (coverages, grids)
• Generate elevation contours every 100 feet. Label the contours. Add normal marginalia.

• Create an 8.5x11 plot
  • Geocode the business locations
    • www.kimley-horn.com 1050 E Flamingo Rd
    • www.lochsa.com 6345 S Jones Blvd
    • www.pbsj.com 2270 Corporate Cir
  • Obtain address information from their website.
  • Add a text field called website (if importing text ensure its enclosed with double quotes) and populate with the companies homepage. After the file has been converted to point feature class, ensure the hyperlinks work within ArcMap (Layer properties -> display tab -> check support hyperlinks using field, and select URL. Then select the yellow lightning bolt over the point and double click, should open Internet Explorer).
  • Use the Street Centerline geodatabase for the geocoding service. Label each location with its name. Add typical marginalia and vicinity map

  Microsoft Access Database Review 1

  • Creating an Access Database
  • Use the write once principal - Works in plans, documents, and databases. Use multiple tables, and several fields.
  • Each field should only store one type of data. For example, store the city and state of an address in 2 fields instead of one. Provides more flexiability when doing queries, database design, and reports.
  • Primary Key - recommend using an autonumber instead of an intelligent number (e.g. ZIPcode, Assessor Parcel Number)
  • Access Menu: File -> New -> Blank Database
  • For more information, see Chapter 2 - Creating and Working with a Database of Custom Guides Access 2002 Level 1
  • See [Ormsby 00, Chapter 14] for discussion on creating a GeoDatabase
  • Creating an Access Table within a Database
  • Access Window, click the New button -> Design View
  • See Custom Guides Access 2002 Level 1 p. 75 Table 2-3 for a listing of data types