LAB 1: Introduction to ArcGIS 8 - Columbia UniversityŸ Metadata Tools ß Managing data o About ArcToolbox ß Starting ArcToolbox ß What is in ArcToolbox o About ArcMap ß

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G6020 Fundamentals of GIS 1

LAB 1: Introduction to ArcGIS 8

Outline

• Introduction• Purpose• Lab Basics

o About the Computerso About the softwareo Additional information

• Data• ArcGIS Applications

o Starting ArcGISo ArcCatalog

ß Starting ArcCatalogß What is in ArcCatalogß Connecting to dataß Working with ArcCatalog

ß Searching dataß Metadata Toolsß Managing data

o About ArcToolboxß Starting ArcToolboxß What is in ArcToolbox

o About ArcMapß Starting ArcMapß What is in ArcMapß Adding data / creating a mapß Symbology and data appearanceß Displayß Labelsß Querying dataß Cartography

• Conclusion• To turn in

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1.0 IntroductionPlease read the labs in their entirety before attending your session. Skipping sectionsmay result in you missing important explanations.

We will be using ArcGIS 8.2 for the rest of the course. The 3 basic applications you willbe using in ArcGIS are:

• ArcMap: where you can view, edit, and analyze your data and creategraphs, reports and printable maps.

• ArcCatalog: where you can preview, document, and organize yourdata.

• ArcToolbox: where you can perform, advanced data analysis andprocessing tasks.

After starting the program it may take a few moments for it to appear. Be patient and donot attempt to restart it, or else you'll end up with multiple copies running.

To find out what any button does in ArcGIS, place the cursor over it and note theexplanatory text provided at the bottom left of the screen. Play around with the variousbuttons and tools in order to discover their capabilities.

You are encouraged to use the Zip drive directory as your working workspace. To begin,copy your lab data on your zipdisk. While working on your lab, save your map documentto this directory by using the File > Save As… option from the menu bar. Once thedocument has been saved once, you can simply use the “Save” icon on the toolbar.

Note: Extra help is available at the on-line HELP with ArcGIS. The easiest way to usethe help is through the topics section (vs. keying in the word).

1.1 PurposeTo familiarize with:

• The three main applications of ESRI’s ArcGIS Software, namely ArcCatalog,ArcMap and ArcToolbox

• Basic data display, queries, and publication• How to navigate through the ArcInfo help files

1.2 Lab BasicsAbout the Computers:

• The computers are DELL with Intel Pentium Processors.• Avoid opening multiple applications was this may freeze the computer• You may experience your computer crashing without notice. Please save

regularly.• Please create your folder under the appropriate drive. This will be used as your

personal workspace in future labs. Note: No spaces in folder or filenames.ArcInfo (a component of ArcGIS) does not allow spaces in folder or filenames.

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About the softwareThroughout this lab we will be working with ESRI's ArcGIS software. We have thelatest version (ArcInfo 8.2). The software consists of two basic components, ArcGIS 8.2Desktop and ArcInfo 8.2. ArcGIS Workstation. ArcInfo 8 is structured around threeapplications- ArcCatalog, ArcMap, and ArcToolbox.

The 3 basic applications and their functionalities:

• ArcMap: Lets you display, edit, and analyze your data and create graphs, reportsand printable maps.

• ArcCatalog: Lets you preview, document, and organize your data

• ArcToolbox: Lets you can perform, advanced data analysis and processing tasks.

We also have the ArcInfo 8.2 Workstation as an add-on to the desktop. It is essentiallythe same as previous dos-based or unix ArcInfo 7. ArcInfo may be clumsy to learn butstill provides the most comprehensive suite of geoprocessing tools.

Additional informationAdditional information on the ArcGIS software can be found through ESRI'sArcGIS 8web site, and through the ESRI Virtual Campus web site, which offers several freemodules on ArcGIS and ArcInfo extensions.

1.3 DataThe data that we will be using in this lab are:Geodatabases:

• New York - New York State geodatabase - contains state boundary, counties,roads, rivers, and cities

Coverages:

• NY-lakes - Coverage New York State Lakes

Shapefiles:

• Us48states - Shapefile of lower 48

1.4 ArcGIS ApplicationsTo start any of ArcGIS application, go to Start >Programs > ArcGIS … and select theapplication.

It may take a few moments for the program to appear. Be patient and do not attempt torestart it, or else you'll end up with multiple copies running.

To find out what any button does in ArcGIS, place the cursor over it and note theexplanatory text provided at the bottom left of the screen. You should play around withthe programs in order to discover their capabilities.

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Data for this lab will be available for download on to your machine. While working onyour lab, save your map document to your folder by using the File > Save As… optionfrom the menu bar. Once the document has been saved once, you can simply use the“Save” icon on the toolbar.

Remember that extra help can be found on-line. Select ArcGIS Desktop Help under theHelp menu in each of the applications. You have the option to use the through the topicssection, keying in a word.

1.4.1 ArcCatalog

ArcCatalog is the ArcGIS Desktop application for organizing, browsing, and managingyour data and map files. It includes tools for browsing and finding geographicinformation, recording as well as for viewing and editing metadata. In many ways,ArcCatalog is similar to Windows Explorer. Since it is easy to delete files this way, youshould be careful to delete only when you are sure that you will not need the file anylonger.

Starting ArcCatalogNow we will start ArcCatalog and explore its contents. To start ArcCatalog, click on

the button and navigate to Programs -> ArcGIS -> ArcCatalog

Note: You can also start ArcCatalog from ArcMap application by clicking

ArcCatalog is similar in structure to Windows Explorer -- on the left hand side is a viewof the table of content or Catalog "tree" showing how the data are organized. The righthand side provides options for exploring the contents of the data shown in the Catalogtree. You will notice that there are different icons used to represent the available foldersand their contents.

When ArcCatalog is started up, it automatically looks for folders containing spatial data.

If spatial data are found somewhere in the folder the following icon is used torepresent it. If no spatial data are found, a regular folder icon is used (such as in the ESRIfolder seen on the right-hand side of the image above). Other icons that may of interestare:

for Database Connections, Geocoding Services, Internet Servers, and SearchResults. Throughout the lab, it will helpful to you if you spend a bit of time examining these onyour own as they become active. To find out what a particular button does, hold yourmouse cursor over the button for several seconds. A note will appear telling the functionassociated with the button, and a more informative description will appear on the bottom

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of the ArcCatalog window -- if you hold your cursor over the upward pointing arrow (thefirst button directly under 'File'), you will see a note reading 'Up One Level,' and thebottom of the window will read 'Go to the next level up in the catalog tree').

Some basic icons used in ArcGIS and what they represent

Folder connection containinggeographic data (Workspace) Folder containing no geographic data

Map fileFolder containing geographic data -inside a Workspace (second level)

Geodatabase Coverage - Polygon

Geodatabase feature dataset Coverage - Arc

Geodatabase feature class -Annotation Coverage - Point

Geodatabase feature class -Polygon Coverage feature class - Polygon

Geodatabase feature class - Arc Coverage feature class - Arc

Geodatabase feature class - Point Coverage feature class - Tic

Shapefile - Polygon Coverage feature class - Label

Shapefile - Arc Grid data

Shapefile - Point

Geodatabase feature class - Point

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Accessing data in ArcCatalog

You can access your data in ArcCatalog by using the following ways:

1. By navigating down the catalog tree to your data folder if there is already aconnection to the drive with your data. This is fairly straightforward if catalog treeis not extensive.

2. Another option is to create a direct connection to your data. A direct connectionwill help increase speed of accessing your data. This is procedure is also anecessary step if the drive with your data are not shown in the Catalog tree (i.e.,ifyou are using data saved on your network drive).

To connect to your data, click on the "Connect to Folder" button. Navigate to thefolder containing your data for this lab- in this example: D:\data. Select the folder (itwill be highlighted in blue), and then click "OK." A direct connection to your data folderwill now appear in the Catalog Tree.

Question 1

What is the function of each of the following buttons?

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Working with ArcCatalog

ArcCatalog is used for "organizing, browsing, and managing your data and map files. Itincludes tools for browsing, and finding geographic information, viewing and editingmetadata, and defining the schema structure for geographic data.

Data organizing in ArcCatalog is very similar to that in Windows Explorer - you can dragand drop coverages, shapefiles, or geodatabases into new workspaces, or you can use theWindows shortcut keys (CTRL-C and CTRL-V). Please note that delete, move, orotherwise alter the data using ArcCatalog is permanent. You cannot recover a Coverageor Shapefile deleted using ArcCatalog.

In ArcCatalog - the Catalog tree displays in a hierarchical fashion all of the items in theCatalog - much like how data browsing is done through programs such as "WindowsExplorer." A folder that contains files will have a box with a plus or minus sign to theleft of the file name. This indicates whether or not the folder has been expanded.

The ArcCatalog interface consists of the menu bar, table of content area and contentviewing area. The Menu bar contains the dropdown menu, windows file management andmetadata editing buttons. Please take a moment or two to explore the data in the Catalogtree. You can use the arrow buttons on your keyboard, or your mouse to navigate. Whilenavigating, pay attention to the changes that take place on the right hand side of theArcCatalog window.

The right hand side of the Catalog allows you to examine the data further with three basictabs- Contents, Preview and Metadata. The "Contents" tab will show a list of all the filesthat comprise the folder or coverage of interest. These files can also be viewed if youclick on the plus sign to the left of the folder or Coverage icon.

The "Preview" tab, will enable you to preview of the data geography or the data attributetable. You can change from geography view to table view (or vice versa) using thepreview pulldown menu at the bottom of the Window.

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Question 2:

List the new set of icons that become active in the menu bar when you selectthe Preview Tab. Why? What do they do? Are they always active whenpreviewing data?

Question 3

List the names of icons that get turn on when you select the Metadata tab.What does each do?

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Working with Data Management ToolsWithin ArcCatalog, you can create folders, geodatabases, datasets or feature classes(Shapefiles, Coverages and tables).

To Create a new folder, geodatabase or new layer, right-click on the drive you want tocreate in and select new as shown below.

To Delete dataset, folder select the item in the table of content and delete with

Quickly explore the rename, copy and paste functions work.

NOTE: NEVER use Microsoft windows file manager to manage your geographic datalike Coverages and grids. This may cause irreparable damage to your data.

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Question 4

Right-click on the ny_cities feature class and select properties. What are the fivemenu tabs that show up?

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

Searching Data in ArcCatalogYou can search geographic information locally (on your machine) or cross the network(including the Internet) using one or a combination of the following search criteria-Name & Location, Geography, Date or Metadata element.

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Metadata ToolsMetadata is the supporting descriptive information about data. Metadata includesinformation such as date, creator, geographic extent, coordinate system, and attributedomains. The ArcCatalog Metadata tab helps display metadata for a selected data. IfMetadata does not exist for a selected data ArcGIS automatically fills in some of thefields in the metadata. You can create thumbnails of your data as part of the metadata.To create thumbnail locate one of the data layers (shapefile, feature class or grid) in thetable of content. Select the Preview tab and the Thumbnail icon gets turned on. Click onthe Thumbnail icon to create the Thumbnail.

Question 5

Using the ny_cities as name search for all shapefiles, in the New YorkGeodatabase. Use Identify tool within Preview tab to locate any three towns:

a. Lat Longb Lat Longc Lat Long

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Question 6

Which of the metadata fields are automatically filled?

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1.4.2 ArcToolboxArcToolbox provides the tools for data management, analysis and conversion tools. Alsoprovides an option for the user to write scripts and create customized tools on their own.

You can start ArcToolbox, using either one of two ways: Through the start menu, youcan click on the Start button and navigate to Programs -> ArcGIS -> ArcToolbox.

From ArcCatalog, you can click on the icon.

If you click on any of the headings, a short descriptionof the tools under that heading is listed at the bottom ofthe ArcToolbox window.

You can view the tools available under each of themajor headings by clicking on the + next to a toolheading (i.e. Data Management Tools, Analysis Toolsand My Tools).

For an overview of all of the functions of a tool set,select the "About..." topic (e.g., About Analysis Tools,as seen in the image to the right).

Inside the tool folders (such as Extract, Overlay,Proximity, etc. listed under "Analysis Tools"), to selecta tool, double-click on either the specific tool you wantto use , or select the Wizard tool if you areunsure which specific tool you need to use.

Take a few minutes to explore the toolbox and the geoprocessing options provided andanswer the following question.

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Question 7

a. What does the view tab under the Tools/Options selection show?

b. What happens to the ArcToolbox interface when you turn on and off the checkmarks?

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1.4.3 ArcMapArcMap is the ArcGIS application for displaing, querying, editing, creating andanalyzing data. ArcMap makes it easy to layout your maps for printing, embedding inother documents, or electronic publishing. When you save a map, all your layout work,symbols, text and graphics are automatically preserved.

Starting ArcMapArcMap can be opened via the Start menu (Start -> Programs -> ArcGIS -> ArcMap)

or from ArcCatalog (click on the ArcMap icon). In addition, you can open ArcMapby double clicking on a map file in ArcCatalog. When you first start ArcMap, you may see the"Welcome to ArcMap" window. Thiswindow will provide the options to:

1.) Create a new map,2.) Open the last map you were using,3.) Open an existing map, or4.) Create a new map using a map template.

The ArcMap Window

The top portion of the ArcMap window contains the menu and toolbars. You can changewhich toolbars are displayed by right-clicking on the top portion of the window (the graypart) and selecting which menu you need or don't need (below).

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The left portion of ArcMap shows the table of content. This displays the layers (the"layer tree") added to the map (and whether or not they are currently displayed). Thereare two ways to explore included data - by "Display" or "Source." You can togglebetween the two by selecting the appropriate tab on the bottom of the layer

tree: The Display tab shows the layer name, whether or not the layer is displayed. A checkmark in the box next to the name indicates the layer is being displayed. A “+” or “-“ signagainst the name indicates how the layer is displayed.

The Source tab shows the appropriate layer icon (same as seen in ArcCatalog), as wellas the location (or "source") of the data.

The right portion of ArcMap provides a view of the data. This is very much like the viewwindow in ArcView 3.x GIS. The icon allows you to toggle between "data view"(the globe) or "layout view" (the paper icon) mode.

Data view mode enables you to zoom in and out, pan, identify, select, etc. the data in thisportion by using the following tools:

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The Layout view is similar to the layout in ArcView. A new set of tools are provided forexploration of the layout:

In layout view, you also may use the tools to zoom in / out / pan, etc. that are available inthe data view.

Go examine how zoom in /zoom out tools in both the layout and data view affect yourmap and map elements.

Working with data in ArcMap

Unlike ArcView 3.x GIS ArcMap do not allow you to open more than one view at thesame time. To open a new map file we either need to open a new ArcMap window orclose the existing map file.

Several options to add data to a map file:

1. Use the "Add data" button on the ArcMap toolbar 2. Navigate to File -> Add data3. Drag and drop data from ArcCatalog.

With both ArcCatalog andArcMap open, left click on the data that you want toadd to your map file- hold the mouse button down, do not release the button yet. If you can see both the Catalog tree in ArcCatalog and the view windowinArcMap, drag the data straight from ArcCatalog to the view window inArcMap. Release the mouse button and drop the data in ArcMap.

Try each of these methods, and add the data layers from the New York geodatabase.

Order of data layers ArcMap automatically organizes data layers as they are added. From top to bottom, Pointlayer is placed on top followed by lines, polygons and grid data. Layers added last areplaced on top of their counterparts. For instance rail layer would be placed on top of linelayers below points.

The order in which layers appear in the table of content can be changed re-organized byclicking on a layer and dragging to the desired location.

Data properties: You can view the properties of a data layer by either double click onthe data layer's name or right-click on the data layer’s name and selecting propertiesoption. The Data Properties window has several tabs through which you can view andmodify the display properties of the data layer. Spend the rest of this lab exploring thevarious tabs and functions within the Data Properties window.

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Question 8What do the options under the scale range in the General Tab do?

Question 9.Under which tab can you view the spatial extent of your data set?

Question 10In the Display Tab what does changing the transparency value do to your map?

1.5 ConclusionIn this lab, we have explored the three basic applications of ArcGIS, namely ArcCatalog,ArcToolbox, and ArcMap have been covered. Please note that one lab session would notbe enough to completely master the various functions of the ArcGIS. In the comingweeks we will work on specific applications of the software.

Please turn in your answer sheets

Please check your answers before turning them in. You must turn in all your answersbefore the start of next week’s lab.

Documents

LAB 1: Introduction to ArcGIS 8 - Columbia UniversityŸ Metadata Tools ß Managing data o About ArcToolbox ß Starting ArcToolbox ß What is in ArcToolbox o About ArcMap ß