GIS Data Maps Education

Introduction to GIS

A Geographic Information System (GIS for short) is a system that allows users to create digital maps, store and maintain spatial data (such as a parcels database) and solve geographical problems. The tutorial below explains how GIS users turn data into information and how a GIS models our world with points, lines, polygons and rasters. This tutorial also highlights the different components of a GIS System (Hardware, Software, Procedures, Networks, Data and People) and gives a brief overview of who is using GIS and lists tasks that are commonly accomplished with GIS.

Resources:

ArcGIS software has three main components: ArcMap for for viewing data and creating maps, ArcCatalog for organizing and previewing data and ArcToolbox to access tools and other functionality.This tutrial gives a brief tour of each of those three components as well as an overview of the differences between ArcGIS Basic, Standard and Advanced.

Resources:

  1. ArcGIS Components Tutorial and Data for the tutorial;
  2. Video: Opening a Map Document
  3. Video: Connecting to a Folder

The Layout view in ArcMap is used for composing maps, while nearly everything else from viewing data and performing GIS analyses are performed in the Data View in ArcMap. This topic shows you how to open, close and dock the Table Of Contents, ArcCatalog and Search Windows as well as how to add and remove toolbars. Finally, this tutorial gives a brief overview of the Standard and Tools toolbars.

Resources:

  1. Exploring the ArcGIS Interface Tutorial and Data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Opening a Map Document
  3. Video: Opening, Closing and Docking Windows
  4. Video: Adding and Removing Toolbars in ArcMap

This topic describes a variety of geographic data models such as shapefiles and geodatabases as well as how to add this data, along with ESRI Basemaps and data from ArcGIS online, to your map. Learn how to add a GIS Web Service (specifically an USDA web service for the 2011 NAIP imagery). This topic also includes suggestions for finding downloadable GIS data and ideas for organizing your GIS data.

Resources:

  1. Tutorial about Data and the Data for the Tutorial
  2. Suggested websites for starting a GIS Data Search
  3. Video: Adding Data to your Map
  4. Video: Adding the 2011 NAIP GIS Web Service

Bookmarks will help you to quicly navigate around your map to the spatial extents you commonly use. In this tutorial you will set up bookmarks for all the cities in a county. The tutorial will show you how to use, create and manage bookmarks.

Resources:

  1. Using and Creating Bookmarks Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Using and Creating Bookmarks

This tutorial shows you how to create a custom toolbar and add your favorite tools.

Resources:

  1. Tutorial
  2. Video: Creating a custom toolbar

This tutorial explains what a scale represents and illustrates how to set a map scale and how to make a layer visible only at predetermined scales. This subtopic also explains the difference between precision and accuracy.

Resources:

  1. Scale Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Setting the Scale and Scale Ranges for a Map

This topic highlights some of those most commonly used resources available to you inside ArcMap and online.

Resources:

  1. Help! Tutorial and Data for Tutorial
  2. Video: Help!

The tutorial in this section will show you what a data frame is and how it can be used to create inset maps, graticules and set the background colors and borders of your map.This section also shows how you can change the projection of your data frame and how you can change the rotation of your maps. Finally, this section will also show you how to create and control annotation groups.

Resources:

  1. Working with data frames tutorial and data for tutorial
  2. Video: Changing the data frame projection
  3. Video: Changing the rotation of your map
  4. Video: Adding a data frame and setting its properties
  5. Video: Working with annotation
  6. Video: Creating a graticule

Working with Tables

This tutorial will show you how to open an attribute table, sort attributes in ascending or descending order and view summary statistics for an attribute. You will also learn how to set a definition query to filter out data that you would like to make invisible.

Resources:

  1. Opening and Exploring Attribute Tables Tutorial and Data for Tutorial
  2. Video: Sorting Attribute Data and Viewing Summary Statistics

This tutorial shows you how to add a field to an attribute table and then add data to this field.

Resources:

  1. Adding and Editing Attribute Fields Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video:Adding a Field and Editing Attributes

Use the field calculator to populate attribute fields. To populate a large number of features with the same attribute data simply select those features and “field calculate” this data. You can also use the field calculator to generate new data based on existing data. For example, in one of the exercises you will calculate population growth by comparing population statistics in 2000 and 2006.

Resources:

  1. Using the Field Calculator Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Using the Field Calculator on Selected Fields
  3. Video: Using the Field Calculator to Perform Calculations

Use the Calculate Geometry tool to compute areas, perimeters, distances and centroid coordinates for the features in your GIS layers. In this tutorial you will use the Calculate Geometry tool to compute acreages for parcels in a parcels shapefile as well as compute the coordinates for parcel centroids and then use those coordinates to generate a points layer.

Resources:

  1. Using the Calculate Geometry Tool Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Using the Geometry Calculator to Compute Acres
  3. Video: Converting a Polygon Layer into a Point Layer

This section will show you how to set up joins and relates including how to relate GIS linkage tables to your parcels and how to fix a data type mismatch problem.

Resources:

  1. Joining and Relating Tables in ArcGIS Tutorial and Data for Tutorial
  2. Video: Setting up a simple join
  3. Video: Joinng and exporting data
  4. Video: Why is my join not working?
  5. Video: Joining GIS linkage data to your parcels
  6. Video: Setting up a relate

Displaying Data and Making Maps

This topic shows you how to symbolize points, lines and polygons either by assigning all features the same symbol, or by classifying features based on attribute category or quantity. The tutorial also includes information about importing symbology from one layer to another and creating  layer files.

Resources:

  1. Symbolizing features tutorial and data for tutorial
  2. Video: Symbolizing points
  3. Video: Symbolizing lines
  4. Video: Symbolizing polygons
  5. Video: Importing symbology and working with layer files

This topic shows you how to label points, lines and polygons in ArcMap and includes information about labeling features differently based on the value in an attribute field as well as how to create a simple annotation.

Resources:

  1. Labeling tutorial and data for tutorial
  2. Video: Labeling points
  3. Video: Labeling lines
  4. Video: Labeling polygons
  5. Video: Using different labels for different classes
  6. Video: Creating and using annotation

This tutorial shows you how to various options on the Labeling toolbar, including the Maplex Labeling Engine.

Resources:

  1. Working with the Labeling Toolbar Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Working with the Labeling Toolbar

This tutorial will show you how various ways on how you can symbolize rasters as well as how to symbolize digital elevation models and how to use a hillshade layer to give your map a “3-dimensional feel”.

Resources:

  1. Symbolizing Rasters tutorial and data for tutorial
  2. Video: Symbolizing Rasters

In this topic you will learn how to add, move and change the properties of map elements such as the map title, text boxes, north arrow, scale bars, scale texts and legends.

Resources:

  1. Working with map elements tutorial and data for tutorial
  2. Video: Working with map elements

Map books are very handy when you need to create a series of maps, for example a map showing parcels and other layers for each township or section your county. Instead of creating a multitude of map documents, you can create one and then use a map book to create all your maps. This tutorial also shows you how to add an inset map to your layout and set an extent indicator so that the extent of your main map body is outlined on your inset map.

Resources:

  1. Tutorial and data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Creating map books

You can print a map directly from ArcMap or first export it to a .pdf document and then print it. The tutorial shows you how to set up page and print size, resize a data frame and print maps. Pdf documents can be viewed with the free Adobe Reader.

Resources:

  1. Printing and Exporting Maps Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Printing a Map from ArcMap
  3. Video: Exporting a map to a PDF Document

Querying GIS Data

The identify tool allows you to click on a feature on your map and display all its attribute information. The identify tool is also very handy when you want to look at a feature along with any data in tables that are related to this feature. Use the find tool to search for features based on attribute keywords or search for any address in Unites States using a remote Address Locator Web Service.

Resources:

  1. Using the Identify and Find Tools Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Using the Identify Tool
  3. Video: Using the Find Tool, Including How to Use the Address Locator

You can create a selection by using the Select Elements tools or creating a selection based on an attribute value or spatial location. Once a selection has been created you can export the new selected features to a new shapefile or geodatabase. For example, if you want to create a shapefile that displays only one county, then you can select this county from a statewide county layer and export it into its own layer. Similarly, if you only want to show features such as roads, sections, etc. in your own county you can use “Select by Location” to select only those features inside your county and export those into their own shapefiles.

Resources:

  1. Working with selections Tutorial and Data for Tutorial
  2. Video: Selecting and Exporting Data
  3. Video: Working with Selections
  4. Video: Setting Selectable Layers
  5. Video: Select by Location

Georeferencing and Projections

This tutorial describes different methods for georeferencing data, such as addressing, PLSS, linear referencing and using latitudes and longitudes. You will learn about various common projections in Idaho, as well as how to create a grid or graticule, define a projection and project data in ArcGIS.

Resources:

  1. Georeferencing and Projections Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Creating a graticule
  3. Video: Defining a projection (Defining a projection in 10.1)
  4. Video: Projecting GIS Data
  5. Video: Help! My data does not line up

Metadata

Metadata is data about a GIS layer and includes information about who produced the GIS dataset, how it was created, the time period for which is this GIS dataset is relevant and so on. This tutorial provides information about metadata and how to view metadata in ArcGIS.

Resources:

  1. Metadata Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Viewing Metadata in ArcGIS

This tutorial shows you how you can edit your own metadata in ArcCatalog or import (or copy) metadata from one GIS layer to another.

Resources:

  1. Editing and Importing Metadata Tutorial and Data for Tutorial
  2. Video: Editing Metadata in ArcGIS
  3. Video: Importing Metadata

Editing

The tutorial and videos in this section will show you how to create a new shapefile, use the snapping toolbar, create new features and how to edit existing features.

Resources:

  1. Introduction to editing tutorial and data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Adding features to an existing shapefile
  3. Video: Creating and editing a new shapefile
  4. Video: Editing point features
  5. Video: Using the snapping toolbar
  6. Video: Editing line features
  7. Video: Editing parcels

This tutorial will show you how to use the End Point Arc Segment Tool, how to trace with an offset as well as how to use the Right Angle, Midpoint, Copy Features, Fillet, Extend, Trim, Explode Multipart, Generalize and Smooth tools.

Resources:

  1. Advanced Editing Tools tutorial and data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Advanced Editing Tools

A common workflow for parcel editing is to first draw out the legal description of a new parcel in a construction database, and then use this construction database to edit the parcel layer. This tutorial will show you how to set up a construction geodatabase and then show you how to use it to process a parcel split.

Resouces:

  1. Editing pacels using a “construction database” tutorial and data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Editing parcels using a construction database

COGO, which is short for Coordinate Geometry, allows ArcGIS users to enter legal descriptions directly into ArcMap. The tutorial in this topic explains how to enter degrees-minutes-seconds quadrant bearings along with distances expressed in feet. Note that the “Traverse Tool” which is used to “COGO” does not work  when using ArcGIS ArcView or ArcGIS Basic licensing level.

Resources:

  1. Tutorial and data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Using COGO to create parcels
  3. Video: Using COGO to split a parcel
  4. Video: Using COGO to draw curves

This tutorial will show you how to add coordinates to a Greenbrier Net Deed Plotter and PC Traverse drawings so that when you bring this drawing in to ArcMap it automatically appears in the correct location and at the correct scale.

Resources:

  1. Georeferencing your Net Deed Plotter Drawing Tutorial and Data for Tutorial
  2. Video: Adding Coordinates to a Net Deed Plotter Drawing
  3. Georeferencing your PC Traverse Drawing Tutorial and Data for Tutorial
  4. Video: Adding Coordinates to a PC Traverse Drawing

In this tutorial you will learn: (1) how to bring in a CAD drawing into ArcMap and then select and export features from this CAD drawing to a new temporary construction shapefile; (2) how to use the editing and spatial adjustment tools to clean up this temporary construction shapefile and make it fit with an existing GIS parcels layer and (3) how to trace lines along the temporary construction shapefile to create new parcels in an existing GIS parcels layer. Additionally, you will learn how to move and rotate a group of parcels.

Resources:

  1. Editing a subdivision using a CAD drawing Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Editing a Subdivision using a CAD drawing
  3. Video: Moving and Rotating a group of parcels

The Spatial Adjustment Tools allows you to align an entire parcels dataset, or a portion of a parcels dataset,  to other base layers such as a PLSS layer or NAIP Imagery.

Resources:

  1. Aligning Parcels Using the Spatial Adjustment Toolbar Tutorial and Data for the Tutorial
  2. Video: Aligning Parcels Using the Spatial Adjustment Toolbar
  3. Video (for ArcGIS 9.3, but still relevant for ArcGIS 10): Moving and Rotating Parcels

GIS Analyses

This topic explains how to use geoprocessing tools to merge two datasets as well as how to intersect and union two datasets.

Resources:

  1. Tutorial and data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Merge, intersect and union

This tutorial will show you how to create buffers around points, lines and polygons including multiple ring buffers and buffers where the size of the buffer depends on an attribute value.

Resources:

  1. Tutorial and data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Creating buffers

GPS and GPS Coordinates

This tutorial will show you how to display XY coordinates listed in a spreadsheet on your map. It also shows you how to convert degrees-minutes-seconds into decimal degrees and what to do when you are unsure about the coordinate system of a set of coordinates.

Resources:

  1. Importing GPS Coordinates tutorial and data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Importing XY Coordinates

Automating GIS

Modelbuilder allows you to quickly and visually automate GIS processes. This tutorial will show you how to create a new toolbox and how to set up, edit and run a modelbuilder model.

Resources:

  1. Introduction to ModelBuilder tutorial and data for the tutorial
  2. Video: Create a model to select features
  3. Video: Using ModelBuilder to create a parcel extract