For use as reference material for the module ENVS 305 only: Prepared by | Dr. V.

Basupi

BIUST
ENVS 305: MANUAL
(Week 1 – Week 6)

Introduction to GIS
What is GIS?
A Geographic Information System is a multi-component environment used to create, manage,
visualize and analyze data and its spatial counterpart. It’s important to note that most datasets you
will encounter in your lifetime can all be assigned a spatial location whether on the earth’s surface
or within some arbitrary coordinate system (such as a soccer field). So in essence, any dataset can
be represented in a GIS: the question then becomes “does it need to be analyzed in a GIS
environment?” The answer to this question depends on the purpose of the analysis.

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Components of a GIS

GIS software

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The software part of the GIS refers to the many free and commercial software packages that allow
a GIS user to perform GIS functions such as the manipulation, storage, query, and analysis of
spatial and non-spatial information. Many GIS software applications are available–both
commercial and open source. Two popular applications are ArcGIS/ArcGIS-Pro and QGIS.

ArcGIS
A popular commercial GIS software is ArcGIS developed by ESRI (ESRI, pronounced ez-
ree),was once a small land-use consulting firm which did not start developing GIS software until
the mid 1970s. The ArcGIS desktop environment encompasses a suite of applications which
include ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcScene and ArcGlobe. ArcGIS comes in three different license
levels (basic, standard and advanced) and can be purchased with additional add-on packages. As
such, a single license can range from a few thousand dollars to well over ten thousand dollars. In
addition to software licensing costs, ArcGIS is only available for Windows operating systems; so
if your workplace is a Mac only environment, the purchase of a Windows PC would add to the
expense.

ArcGIS Pro
Released version: ArcGIS Pro 2.6.2 - October 2020

ArcGIS Pro is the latest professional desktop GIS application from Esri. With ArcGIS Pro, you
can explore, visualize, and analyze data; create 2D maps and 3D scenes; and share your work to
your ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

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QGIS
A very capable open source (free) GIS software is QGIS. It encompasses most of the functionality
included in ArcGIS. If you are looking for a GIS application for your Mac or Linux environment,
QGIS is a wonderful choice given its multi-platform support. Built into the current versions of
QGIS are functions from another open source software: GRASS. GRASS has been around since
the 1980’s and has many advanced GIS data manipulation functions however, its use is not as
intuitive as that of QGIS or ArcGIS (hence the preferred QGIS alternative)

GIS hardware

Hardware is perhaps the simplest part of a GIS to explain. The hardware part of GIS refers to
powerful computers, printers, output devices, such as monitors, input devices, and large amounts
of disk space to store the, typically, large GIS data sets. A typical GIS computer workstation, has

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a powerful CPU, large amounts of RAM, large monitors, fast network connectivity, and large
amounts of disk space.

GIS data

The data part of a GIS, refers to any and all spatial and non-spatial information stored in a digital
format on the computer. A GIS can ingest any type of data in many different types of formats. The
ability for a GIS to consume such a wide range of data can often produce the effect of “data
overload”. With the wide proliferation of sensors (data collectors), there is more data available to
us today than ever before. With so much data, it is often difficult for a person to easily understand
what the data actually is (as if its useful). A GIS can visualize the data as a map, graph, or other
graphic, that helps humans understand and weed through massive amounts of data.
In fact, the problem of “too much data” does require a GIS user to spend quite a bit of time
managing the data. In general, half of all the time you spend on a GIS project, will simply be
working with and preparing the data for maintenance, storage, analysis, and output.

GIS methods

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The methods part of a GIS, refers to the formulas, statistics, analysis, and algorithms that are used
to turn data into information, so that humans can turn that information into knowledge through
interpretation.

GIS people

The people segment refers to anyone that uses a GIS. This includes the general public that may be
using a printed map, or a digital globe, all the way up to skilled GIS professionals, that build new
functionality and push the limits of what is possible in a GIS.

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GIS network

Lastly, network refers to both the computer, and social network. Both of these networks assist in
the dissemination of data. Where the dissemination of data is through transferring of data sets or
collaboration, sharing the data from a GIS is a very common and useful operation. Additionally,
these networks allow for the display of information in the form of web maps, web applications, or
even paper maps using our social network.

FUNCTIONS OF A GIS

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Functions of GIS include: data entry, data display, data management, information
retrieval and analysis.

GIS data entry

In order to conduct any analysis using GIS tools, it is necessary to prepare the database, and GIS
data entry is the first stage of database preparation. The existing data can be in digital image
format (i.e. aerial photography or satellite imagery), hardcopy maps, or plans, scanned maps, etc.

GIS data display

Spatial data in a GIS can be displayed just like a paper map with roads, rivers, vegetation and
other features represented as lines on a map complete with legend, border and titles, or it can be
represented as a set of statistical tables, which can be converted to charts and graphs.

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GIS data management

It is a system for managing information, organizing and visualizing maps and data, and analyzing
relationships and patterns over any geography. ... This promotes collaboration between distributed
systems and people, and ultimately the platform is a complete Web GIS: a system of systems

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GIS Information retrieval

Information retrieval (IR) is the activity of obtaining information system resources that are
relevant to an information need from a collection of those resources. The aim of information
retrieval is to provide the user with the “best possible'' information from a database. The problem
of information retrieval is determining what constitutes the best possible information for a
given user query. A common form of interaction for information retrieval is for the user query

GIS data analysis

Spatial analysis is a process in which you model problems geographically, derive results by
computer processing, and then explore and examine those results. Several fundamental spatial
analysis workflows form the heart of spatial analysis: spatial data exploration, modelling
with GIS tools, and spatial problem solving.

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GIS APPLICATIONS

A GIS works with many different applications: land use planning, environmental management,
sociological analysis, business marketing, mining, geological surveys and many more. Any
endeavour that uses spatial data can benefit from GIS.

What can a GIS do?

1. Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

"ArcGIS Enterprise gives us a great platform to enable everyone in the project to use and access
the geography of the project

Infrastructure

Leverage ArcGIS with ready-to-use maps to quickly deliver projects related to utilities and
infrastructure. Analyze projects, deliver essential workflows, and share asset information with
your stakeholders.

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Natural resources

Analyze, design, and build solutions to improve the natural environment in a sustainable and
responsible way by bringing geographic context into your projects

Urban design

Create and use real-world visualizations and share in 3D to make better designs and present your
work more effectively

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Streamlining the project life cycle for Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC)
firms

GIS is transforming AEC firms through improved workflows, better collaboration, and strategic
partnerships to build smart communities and assets for the future. Add location to design to
understand projects in context and deliver repeatable solutions.

Improved workflows

ArcGIS can help you improve project management and workflows and create a rich mapping
experience, changing the way the field connects with the office.
Better collaboration

ArcGIS can enable you to better collaborate with your internal project teams and provide flexible
deployments to deliver information products to your clients.
Strategic partnerships

Leverage strategic alliances that will allow you to gain new opportunities and solve complex
challenges with complete solutions.
Understand projects in context

Bring geographic context into your design workflows. Review design plans with a complete
perspective to assess the full impact of your design changes.
Succeed with repeatable solutions

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Create repeatable solutions at scale. Access preconfigured templates to create new revenue
streams for your business.

2. Health and Human Services

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Hospitals and Health Systems

Use geography to understand your community and identify the services your patients need. With
smart maps and spatial analysis, you can optimize your mix of services and find the best places
to locate health facilities. ArcGIS software will help you reach target markets to increase your
footprint

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Public Health

Tackle public health issues with smart maps and analysis. Manage pandemics, prevent chronic
disease, and monitor environmental quality to transform community health. Use ArcGIS
software to better understand areas of need, improve resource allocation, and enact policies that
improve well-being

Human Services

Use smart maps and spatial analysis to see where programs can do the most good. Fuse
demographics and location data to better understand the links between infrastructure and
challenges such as homelessness, poverty, and the needs of aging populations. Streamline
processes and better serve clients.

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3. Natural Resources

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Agriculture

Integrate high-resolution imagery, field observations, and real-time data feeds to understand how
to make the most of your limited resources. Esri technology allows you to collect, maintain, and
analyze all your agriculture field data in one centralized system.

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Forestry

Maximize the value of timber assets, reduce costs, and improve forest management with
solutions for data collection, map analytics, and remote sensing. With ArcGIS software,
empower decision-makers, fieldworkers, and consultants to strengthen timber investment and
natural resource management

Mining

From mineral exploration to mine remediation, Esri ArcGIS software supports decision-making
throughout the entire mining life cycle. Everyone in your company can access data and smart
maps for project planning, mine operations, transportation management, and risk analysis

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Renewables

To produce cleaner and smarter energy, we look to renewable natural resources. Relationships
between these resources and the energy they can produce are inherently geographic. Use spatial
analysis to improve energy production, transmission, and delivery and change the way we view
natural resources.

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4. State and Local Government

Planning and Community Development

• Track and evaluate current planning projects

Instilling confidence in decision makers, developers, and citizens is imperative. Do planners

have the technical expertise and tools to perform their jobs in today’s climate? Whether you are
reviewing improvements, checking a proposed subdivision for environmental impacts, or
analyzing a petition for rezoning, the Current Planning preconfigured solution enables you to
confidently communicate recommendations while integrating results into your permitting
system. Your community will acknowledge your attention to collaboration and improved civic
outreach.

• Support long-range comprehensive planning initiatives

Planners are under pressure to set policies for a sustainable future. The pressures are growing to
better understand current development, balance infrastructure and nature, sustain safe and
healthy communities, and prioritize issues related to social equity. The Advanced Planning
preconfigured solution helps planners model multiple land-use scenarios, modernize approaches
to general plan and zoning ordinances, and communicate impacts to design communities that
thrive.

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• Develop partnerships with the community

Participation helps citizens feel a sense of connection and belonging. Engaged citizens feel proud
of their community and in turn contribute even more. Today’s community development
professionals need to follow a path of constant outreach, communication, and requests for
feedback. The Citizen Engagement solution encourages public input through the same means

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they use in their personal lives. It expands to include planning charrettes, crowdsourcing and
feedback, improved notification, and public outreach tools.

• Prioritize resilience planning

The current trends towards resilience planning suggest we analyze past policies and address larger
social concerns as well as chronic stresses on our natural resources and the environment. The
Resiliency preconfigured solution seeks to empower organizations with the analytics tools to
mitigate against known factors and to more accurately analyze, model, and forecast policies
throughout the comprehensive planning process. The outcome is a policy approach embraced by
citizens and decision makers alike

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5. Emergency Management

Understand your risk and respond in real time

• Understanding threats in the modern world

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Creating safer, less vulnerable communities in "the new normal" requires a modern approach to
understanding threats and hazards that are more complex, costly, and devastating than ever before.
Agencies around the world rely on geographic information every day to plan for and mitigate
complex threats and hazards and coordinate response and recovery efforts when disasters and
emergencies occur. With location intelligence and emergency management solutions from Esri,
you'll develop a deeper understanding of risk in the new normal and maintain real-time data
insights to help you anticipate your next move.

• Prepare

The frequency and intensity of emergencies today are unlike anything seen before. Historic data
alone won't shed light on how to prepare for future events. To effectively plan, mitigate, and reduce
risks, emergency management professionals must incorporate real-time data, big data, and other
critical data feeds into their analysis. Data-driven insights help communities effectively prepare
for worst-case scenarios. Explore emergency management operations tools for visualizing and
analyzing risk, performing real-time analytics, managing mitigation projects, and communicating
with the public.

6. Land Administration and Land Records

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GIS—Essential infrastructure for effective land administration and land records

A modern, configurable, secure, scalable solution

Land is an essential resource that supports nearly every aspect of our social and economic well-
being. As a finite resource, it is necessary to govern and manage land effectively for social stability,
sustainable economic development, and equitable taxation. GIS technology helps in managing all
aspects of land information and land records including land tenure, value, management, and use.
With all land information in a GIS-based comprehensive land administration system, governments
are able to improve land information management, property valuation and analysis, and
communication with the public.

Deliver necessary systems on a single platform

The three necessary systems in land administration are the system of record (land parcels), the
system of insight (valuation), and the system of engagement (stakeholder and public engagement).
GIS efficiently delivers all three on a single platform. Having these systems on a single platform
allows governments to accurately represent and understand property value as well as provide
secure and authoritative land records and parcel data for widespread government and public use.

7. Transportation

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Roads and Highways

Departments of transportation need cost-effective tools to manage assets, human resources, and
office and field operations. Use GIS to plan, monitor, and manage infrastructure more
effectively. Determine capacity enhancements, improve operations, and identify the most
strategic investments.

Public Transport and Rail

Esri's ArcGIS software lets you understand assets in real time, whether they're moving or
stationary. Gain full visibility of your operations to improve service, safety, and reliability

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Airports and Aviation

Managing an airport has never been more challenging. With ArcGIS software, you can bring
together information from across your organization to streamline operations. Use smart maps and
spatial analysis to elevate the bottom line.

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Ports and Maritime

Port operators and maritime administrators face increased demand for efficient operations. With
Esri location-aware solutions, you can improve decision-making and keep the bottom line afloat

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8. Sustainable Development

SustainableDevelopment

Better understand the earth’s complex systems with location intelligence

Esri’s ArcGIS platform equips you to better plan, execute, and report on sustainable
development in any situation. Achieve goals faster with scientifically grounded system that
precisely measures growth and provides the tools to share progress with the community.

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Plan effectively

ArcGIS workflows maximize the impact of projects by optimizing the distribution of resources.
Get insight about where activities can be focused to best reach targets outlined in global
Sustainable Development Goals.

Measure impact

A location intelligence platform precisely measures results so you can justify expenditures and
secure future funding. Take advantage of analytics that precisely assess program effectiveness and
enable you to share it with all stakeholders via dashboards and map-based reports.

9. Conservation

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Respond to ecological crises and restore biodiversity faster

Collect data

ArcGIS apps help you gather environmental data and respond more quickly to areas in need of
remediation. Leverage the ability to observe, measure, and monitor your area of study with more
detail and greater precision than you ever thought possible

Predict the future

ArcGIS provides the modeling tools to analyze data, visualize patterns, and better understand
complex systems. Compare present conditions with the past to make authoritative predictions

Plan to protect

ArcGIS empowers stakeholders with decision support tools to visualize possible outcomes and
share information with all stakeholders. Create a strategic plan to meet your conservation goals
faster.

Advocate

With visual platforms like Story Maps, you can tell your conservation story in context with maps
and media that describe your cause. Inspire others to understand your cause and take action.

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10. Humanitarian Assistance

Prepare, manage and deliver effective programs using location intelligence

Analyze and Plan

Understanding the scope, scale, and impact of an emergency is critical to determining the priority
humanitarian needs. Esri provides tools to integrate and analyze existing data, mobilize the
community to help fill data gaps, and a collaborative way to establish response options and
objectives for your plan. Set your mission up for success before you even mobilize resources to
the field.

Mobilize and Implement

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Responding to emergencies in today’s world requires agencies to become more agile and informed,
and the tools you rely on need to work in austere environments. Esri provides solutions that allow
you to manage and track field teams in real-time, collect and exploit drone imagery to refine your
plan, and technology that works at the edge with or without communications bandwidth. Mobilize
your team and implement the plan while adjusting as needed to rapidly changing conditions.

Monitor and Evaluate

Ensuring that your programs and missions are making a difference is critical to the immediate
response and short-term recovery, as well as long-term sustainability of your efforts. Esri provides
tools that help you monitor performance and accountability indicators, share information with
partners, donors and the local community, and tools that help you engage and inform the local
community for better sustainability. Ensure that your work is running smoothly and provide
transparency where possible.

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Introduction to ArcGIS
ArcGIS is a geographic information system (GIS) for working with maps and geographic
information maintained by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri).
Capabilities

ArcGIS offers unique capabilities and flexible licensing for applying location-based analytics to
your business/project practices. Gain greater insights using contextual tools to visualize and
analyze your data. Collaborate and share via maps, apps, dashboards and reports.
Exploring the ArcGIS Interface

The ArcGIS interface is made up of a graphical user interface (GUI) including several main
applications. Each application can be housed in a separate window, and some of these applications
can be "docked" within each other.

The three main applications are ArcMap (for display and query of geographic information),
ArcCatalog (for management of geospatial data), and ArcToolbox (for spatial analysis). Below
are images and brief explanation of each of the applications.

ArcMap

ArcMap displays geographical data. This is the module you will interact with most frequently.

ArcCatalog

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ArcCatalog displays drives, database connections, and folders on the left-hand pane. Individual
files can be displayed on the right-hand pane.

ArcToolbox

ArcToolbox contains a number of different toolboxes for various geoprocessing functions. These
range from things as simple as converting data type to things as complex as multivariate statistical
analysis in multidimensional space.

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LAB 1: INTRODUCTION TO ARCGIS Commented [VLB1]: Sample Lab. Let us replace this based
on the shapefiles we have

Lab 1: Introduction to ArcGIS

_______________________________________________
Estimated time to complete: 3hrs
Introduction
____________________________________________________________________________________
This course assumes students have no prior GIS background or experience who want to learn the
basic features of a GIS and a geographic approach to solving problems. Only basic computer skills
such as knowledge of windows based software, opening, saving a file, creating and navigating between
file folders and a basic knowledge of Microsoft excel are required for later labs.

In this lab you will learn how use ArcGIS, display map features, add data to your map, make a
simple map, layout and save a map.

Learning objectives
____________________________________________________________________________________
In this lab you are introduced to different aspects of ArcGIS. ArcGIS is a suite of several software housed
in one. Through these hands-on exercises in creating a simple administrative map of Botswana, you will
gain experience in navigating the ArcGIS interface. Once you have successfully completed this part of the
lab, you should know

1. How to find your way around in ArcGIS, particularly, ArcMap.

2. Add data to a map and adjust its symbology
3. Create a map document file.

Definition of terms

Feature = A feature represents a real-world object on the map e.g. boundary, a building, road, river, etc. A
feature has four components – shape (geometry) which is symbolised, attributes, location and metadata.

Contents
____________________________________________________________________________________
➢
Navigating ArcMap

1. Lab Data instructions

Create a folder with your name and student registration number on the computer desktop on
the computer assigned to you. Copy data from the folder lab 1 (on the desktop) to the folder
you just created.

2. Start ArcMap

Start ArcMap from the Applications folder on your computer by clicking the ArcGIS icon, and
open a blank map.

3. Toolbar

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In the standard toolbar, hover the cursor slowly over the icons to see what they are as their names
appear. Identify other parts of the ArcMap interface such as Table of Contents, Map Window, Status bar,
etc,

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Map
window
Data
Mode Layout
mode
4. Exploring the navigation tools in ArcMap

There is a need to get familiar with the navigation tools in

ArcMap. - Zoom in and Zoom out

- Previous extent button which works like the back button on your web browser.

- The Next Extent Button steps you forward through the history of what you’ve done
mapping.

- Pan used to move around the map without changing the extent or scale of map.

- Identify tool used to quickly examine the attributes of a feature

- Check out other navigation tools

5. Click on the Add Data button in the toolbar.

6. Navigate to your personal folder

Select the Connect to Folder button and navigate to your personal folder created under step 1. Click
OK. The first time you open ArcMap, you will have to connect to folders on your computer before you
can work with the files they contain. If you use the same computer again, the connection will persist.

- Select the file BWA_adm0.shp and click Add. This will display Botswana national
boundary. This is an example of polygon data. The filename should also appear in the Table of
Contents on the left.

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- You will add more data to the map document. Repeat step 4 and 5 to add
BWA_adm1.shp to the table of content.

7. Choose what to display

The table of content shows you which data layers were added to the map.

Try turning on and off any data layer from the table of content. Thus, you can have many layers
in the GIS but only display the few layers needed for the application at hand.

8. Representation of shape in a GIS

A shape can be point, line or area (polygon). In the Map below, a river is represented as a line.
The boundary of Botswana is represented as a polygon. Palapye can be a point.

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9. Symbolization
- This will allow you to choose how to display the data. Here you can specify the colour
and other characteristics. In the table of content, right-click on BWA_adm1.shp and select
Properties from the drop-down menu.

- Next select the Symbology tab in the Properties window.

- In the Symbology tab, select Categories, select Unique Values.
- Under the Value Field drop-down arrow (red box), select Name_1 to display the names of districts
in Botswana.

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- Under Color Ramp drop-down arrow (blue box), select the colour (Pastel) to assign a colour
to represent each district.

- Select Ok to apply the changes to the map.

10. Labeling

- Go back to Properties as in step 8.

- Next select the Labels tab
- Check (select) label all features in this layer (blue box).
- Under the Label Field drop-down arrow (red box), select Name_1 containing the
names of districts in Botswana.
- Select Arial font, Size 10.

Click Ok.

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11. Creating a Map

You need to familiarise yourself with the Layout Mode. Note that all along you were working in the
Data Mode. Look at the bottom of the map, select the Layout Button, which looks like a piece of
paper.

- Notice that you should now see the Layout Toolbar, which contains many tools that are nearly
identical in appearance to those on the “Tools” toolbar.
-

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- Examine some tools e.g. Select the Layout Zoom Tool and drag a box across some
portion of the Map Document Layout. The rest of the Layout Tools function in the same
way. While they mimic the actions of the Tools in the Toolbar navigation tools Menu, they
act only on the Page Layout, rather than the Map Data.

- Click on the Text tool and type your name at the bottom of the map.

12. Exporting Your Map to PDF

- On the Main Menu, go to File>Export Map.
- Change the Save As Type to PDF.
- Set the Resolution to 200dpi
- Browse to your personal folder and save your PDF using your name and reg. no.
- Click Save.

Hey you just made your first map ever. Congratulations!!!

13. Now save the map document as an .mxd file

Note that the .mxd file doesn’t store your data used in the exercise, it only keeps the information
about all the settings you have used and lets you continue from where you stopped at another time.

Submit your first map. This is the 1st exercise which will be marked. Ensure it is saved in your
personal folder on the desktop.

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Spatial data/Geospatial data/Geographic data

Spatial data, also known as geospatial data, is information about a physical object that can be
represented by numerical values in a geographic coordinate system. Generally
speaking, spatial data represents the location, size and shape of an object on planet Earth such
as a building, lake, mountain or township. Spatial data may also include attributes that provide
more information about the entity that is being represented. Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) or other specialized software applications can be used to access, visualize, manipulate
and analyze geospatial data.

A common example of spatial data can be seen in a road map. A road map is a two-
dimensional object that contains points, lines, and polygons that can represent cities, roads, and
political boundaries such as states or provinces. A road map is a visualization of geographic
information.

Geographic Phenomena: Spatial Dimensions

Geographic phenomena are often classified according to the spatial dimension best used to
describe their nature. These include points, lines, areas, and volumes (3D). We use the spatial
dimension of map elements (e.g., line vs. point) to decide how to symbolize and apply feature
labels to our maps.

Points exist in a singular location and thus have theoretically zero dimensions. Points are
usually specified using a coordinate pair (x, y) of latitude and longitude, though they
occasionally include a z (height).

Lines are one-dimensional spatial features, typically defined by a series of (x, y) coordinates.
A z (height) dimension can also be assigned to lines, but this is uncommon. Lines are used to
map phenomena that are best conceived of as linear features, including both some features that
have greater dimensionality in reality (e.g., rivers) and those that do not visibly exist in the real
world at all (e.g., property lines)

Area features are two dimensional and are represented by a series of (x, y) points that enclose
a space. Areal phenomena include natural features like lakes and parks, as well as human-
defined locations—from continents to census blocks.

2-½ and 3-D features are sometimes grouped together, but the distinction between them is
important. 2-½D features define a continuous surface—they have an x, y, and a z at every
location. A good example is elevation, which varies continuously across the landscape.
Therefore, a topographic map is a common depiction of 2-½D phenomena

True 3D maps have an x, y, and z, plus an additional data value, at every location. Imagine, as
an example, a map of elevation like the one above; but at every point along the terrain surface,
there are additional measurements being taken at various depths. Thus, rather than depicting a
continuous surface, true 3D maps depict a continuous volume.

Keep in mind that the scale of your map has significant influence on what spatial dimension
will best represent the phenomenon you intend to map. Cities, for example, are usually drawn

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as areas on large-scale maps, but appear as points on smaller-scale maps. Rivers are usually
drawn as lines on small-scale maps but are better represented as areas on large-scale maps. We
will discuss this more during discussions of cartographic generalization later in the course.

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Geospatial Data Models

A data model is a way of defining and representing real world surfaces and characteristics in
GIS. There are two primary types of spatial data models: Vector and Raster.

• Vector data represents features as discrete points, lines, and polygons

• Raster data represents features as a rectangular matrix of square cells (pixels)

Vector Data Model

A vector data model defines discrete objects. Examples of discrete objects are fire hydrants,
roads, ponds, or a cadastral. A vector data models broken down into three basic types: points,
lines, and polygons. All three of these types of vector data are composed of coordinates, and
attributes. Vector data is very common, and is often used to represent features like roads and
boundaries.

Types of Vector Data

• Points: A point uses a single coordinate pair to define its location. Points are considered
to have no dimension even though they may have a real world dimension. For the
purposes of a GIS, no dimension is assumed. Each point has associated attribute
information, and the information is attached to the center of the point. Examples of
spatial phenomenon that would be modeled well as points are light poles, manhole
covers, and crime locations

o One pair of coordinates defines the location of a point feature.

o Individual X,Y

• Polylines (LineStrings): A line vector type is defined by an ordered set of coordinates.

Each line, and curve, is made up of multiple line segments, however, occasionally,
curved lines are represented mathematically. There are two words that we need to define
when discussing lines: the node, and a vertex. A node is where a line begins or ends. A
vertex is where a line changes direction. The smallest possible line will have two nodes,
a start node, and an end node. Longer lines, will have at least two nodes, and many
vertices in between where the line changes direction. Attributes may be attached to the
entire line, individual node, or individual vertices, therefore, each line may have
multiple rows of attributes in the attribute table. For example, if a line represents a road,
each road segment between two intersections, may have its own address information,
such as the start address, and the end address for that block. An intersection may have
an attribute that describes where the intersection has a stop sign, or stoplight. The other
option, is for the entire line to have one row of attributes no matter how complex the

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line. Examples of spatial phenomenon that are modeled well by lines are roads,
pipelines, outlines of objects, and power lines.

o Two or more pairs of coordinates that are connected define a line feature.
o A series of connected points - Actually, a set of series of connected points.

• Polygons: The last vector data type is the polygon. A polygon is formed by a set of
connected lines where the start and end a point have the same coordinate. As the start
and point have the same coordinate, the polygon will close and will have an interior
region. Attribute information is attached to the center of the polygon no matter how
complex the polygon. Examples of spatial phenomenon modeled well by polygons are
lakes, cities, tree stands, and political boundaries.
o Multiple pairs of coordinates that are connected and closed define a polygon
feature.
o A series of connected points that loop back to the first point
▪ Multiple "polygons" can exist in one layer
▪ Polygons can have internal polygons or "holes"
▪ The beginning and ending coordinates for a polygon are the same.

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• Raster Data Model

Raster data models represents surfaces as a matrix of cells, more commonly known as pixels,
that are organized into rows and columns. Each cell contains a value that represents data. When
you use a digital camera to capture a photo, your image is being stored as raster data. In remote
sensing, a majority of the data encountered is raster data. The below image is a Digital
Elevation Model (DEM) which is a common type of raster data. Each pixel represents the
elevation of the area on the ground. Raster data models can be used to store reflectance data,
elevation data and categorical data like soil or land cover type.

The raster data model best represents continuous objects such as temperature or elevation. A
raster is a regular set of cells, or pixels in the case of a photograph, in a grid pattern, also
referred to as a matrix. Each cell in the raster contains a single value, and the coordinate of
each cell of the raster refers to the center of the cell. Therefore, the single value stored in each
cell of the raster, applies to the entire cell in the raster matrix. Each cell can be defined by a
cell dimension such as the cell width and height. Often, cells in a raster or square, so the cell
with a cell height will be the same.

In GIS, it is important that we know the resolution of the raster. The raster resolution is the cell
size of each cell of the raster. Unlike how photographers represent resolution, as the number of
megapixels their camera uses, in GIS, we are not as concerned about the number of cells, but
of how much area on the ground each cell covers. There is a direct trade-off between resolution
and file size, the cell coordinate is a center of the point cell, and the coordinate applies to the
entire cell area.

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Maps and Map Scale

Map scale refers to the relationship (or ratio) between distance on a map and the
corresponding distance on the ground. For example, on a 1:100000 scale map, 1cm on the
map equals 1km on the ground.

Map scale is often confused or interpreted incorrectly, perhaps because the smaller the map
scale, the larger the reference number and vice versa. For example, a 1:100000 scale map is
considered a larger scale than a 1:250000 scale map

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Getting Data into ArcGIS

Every GIS uses certain types of data sources or file formats. Because most GIS software
applications have been developed in competition with each other, many GIS software brands
do not use other vendors' data types. Regardless of the brand name on your GIS, it will have
limitations with using data of a particular types. In order to make effective use of your GIS,
you will need to know what types of data are available for use within your software
Layer feature types

A layer is a set of similar features representing a class of features that exists in the world. For
example, a single layer may represent a group of surface water sampling points, a transportation
network (lines), a group of forest stands (polygons), or a digital elevation model (raster). A
layer is not actually a data source, but is an object within the GIS that represents a data source
that may be present on a local or networked drive, or the layer data source may exist on an
internet mapping server.

A layer should not simultaneously represent more than one class of features, although it may
represent several subclasses (i.e., a layer should not represent roads and streams, but may
represent roads, railroads, and trails as a transportation network).

A map document can contain many data frames, and each data frame can contain many layers.
Generally, the layers within a single data frame represent data for a common area of the earth.
For example, you may have a single data frame containing layers that represent roads, streams,
and forest stands for a single national forest, but it would be unlikely (or not very useful) to
have a single data frame containing roads for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
and streams for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. If you have layers that do not represent
the same place on the earth, the layers will not overlap.

Layer features represent objects that exist in the real world. The representation of real-world
features is made by using points, lines, polygons, or raster cells.

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As was discussed in the Spatial Data Model, vector data represent real-world features as

• Points (e.g., wells, utility poles, bird nests),

• Lines (e.g., roads, streams, utility lines), and
• Polygons (e.g., cities, forest stands, sections, counties).

Raster data are usually used to represent phenomena that change continuously across space,
such as pH, wind speed, or elevation.

Layer features are symbolized according to the feature class of which they are members.

• Point features are represented with markers, such as dots, crosses, or other graphical
icons.
• Line features are symbolized with thin, thick, dashed, or composite lines.
• Polygons are symbolized with hollow, solid, or hatched patterns in a variety of colors
• Rasters are symbolized with either discrete colors per class or in smooth color
transitions for continuous value data.

Certain disciplines expect to use formal symbols and colors for depiction of ground conditions
(e.g., urban planners use certain colors for different densities of residential housing areas).
Colors are also often used to indicate intensity (e.g., blue is cool or safe, while red is hot or
unsafe). Line thickness may be used to denote importance of features (e.g., Interstate highways
vs. local city streets). Sizes of point symbols can also reflect importance (e.g., major cities vs.
rural towns).

When layers are added to data frames, ArcGIS automatically assigns random colors and simple
patterns and symbols. The user may alter the symbology of layer features at any time. The next
topic, discussing Display of Layers, will focus closely on feature symbology.

Spatial data sources for layers

Spatial data for use in a GIS is composed of coordinate data (points, lines, polygons, and cells)
coupled with associated attribute tables. Each coordinate feature is also represented by a record
in an associated attribute table. Several different data sources may be used in ArcGIS, which
are listed below:

• ESRI Geodatabases
o Geodatabases are the preferred data source for use in ArcGIS.
o Geodatabases store many different vector and raster layers, as well as
tables, layer files, topological relationships, models, and more in a
single database file
o Geodatabases are more flexible than other data sources
o Geodatabases are easily shared among users
o Geodatabases can be configured to validate data so erroneous values
are not entered into the database.
• ESRI Shapefiles
o Shapefiles are the second preferred vector data source for use in
ArcGIS.
o Shapefiles can be created within ArcGIS from any other supported
vector data source.

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o Shapefiles can also be created from scratch in ArcGIS by adding
graphical primitives to newly created, empty shape files.
o Shapefiles are fully editable within ArcGIS (both the geometry and
attribute data can be edited).
o Shapefiles can be only point or line or polygon.
o Shapefiles display rapidly within ArcGIS.
• ArcInfo Coverages (PC or Workstation version)
o Most of the data you will encounter will be ArcInfo coverages, because
ArcInfo has been the leading GIS software for several years.
o Coverages can be composed of multiple feature types within a single
data layer source (e.g., lines, polygons, label points, regions, routes,
and annotations). However, to load multiple feature types from a single
coverage data source, each feature type must be added as its own layer.
o Coverages must be converted to shape files before coordinate editing
within ArcGIS.
• ArcInfo Map Librarian or ArcStorm Database Libraries
o Map libraries and ArcStorm databases are another ArcInfo data storage
format available within ArcGIS. None of the data in this course will be
obtained from these formats.
• Computer Aided Design (CAD) Data
o Before the development of GIS, CAD systems were often used to store
geographic data. In engineering applications, CAD systems are still
used in preference to GIS. A tremendous amount of data are available
in CAD formats
o ArcGIS supports MicroStation DGN, AutoCAD DXF, and AutoCAD
DWG formats.
o CAD data can be converted to shapefiles within ArcGIS.
• Spatial Database Engine (SDE)
o Another ESRI product, SDE, is beginning to come into wide and
regular use. The SDE format allows GIS data to be stored completely
within a relational database such as Oracle or SQL Server. SDE data
are used for rapid access and client-server applications.
o SDE layers can be displayed and queried in ArcGIS and converted to
shapefiles.
• Arc Internet Map Server (ArcIMS)
o ArcIMS is a server technology that serves individual layers or entire
map services
• Vector Product Format (VPF)
o VPF is a data format in use by the US military

Spatial Data Quality:

Data quality is the degree of data excellency that satisfy the given objective. In other words,
completeness of attributes in order to achieve the given task can be termed as Data Quality.
Production of data by private sector as well as by various mapping agencies assesses the data
quality standards in order to produce better results. Data created from different channels with
different techniques can have discrepancies in terms of resolution, orientation and
displacements. Data quality is a pillar in any GIS implementation and application as reliable
data are indispensable to allow the user obtaining meaningful results.
Spatial Data quality can be categorized into Data completeness, Data Precision, Data
accuracy and Data Consistency.
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• Data Completeness: It is basically the measure of totality of features. A data set with
minimal amount of missing features can be termed as Complete-Data.
• Data Precision: Precision can be termed as the degree of details that are displayed on
a uniform space. More about precision: GIS Data: A Look at Accuracy, Precision,
and Types of Errors
• Data Accuracy: This can be termed as the discrepancy between the actual attributes
value and coded attribute value.
• Data Consistency: Data consistency can be termed as the absence of conflicts in a
particular database.
Assessment of Data Quality:
Data quality is assessed using different evaluation techniques by different users.
• The first level of assessment is performed by the data producer. This level of
assessment is based on data quality check based on given data specifications.
• Second level of data quality assessment is performed at consumer side where
feedback is taken from the consumer and processed. Then the data is analyzed /
rectified on the basis of processed feedback.

Sources of Spatial Data Discrepancy:

1. Data Information Exchange:

Data information exchange is basically the information about the data provided by the
client to organization. The degree of information provided by the client defines the
accuracy and completeness of data.

2. Type and Source:

Data type and source must be evaluated in order to get appropriate data values. There
are many spatial data formats and each one of them is having some beneficiary elements
as well as some drawbacks. For example: In order to use CAD data on GIS platform,
data must be evaluated and problems must be rectified otherwise resultant values will
show the high extents of discrepancies. Conventional data formats are quiet specific to
data storage technique and functional compatibilities. For example: Topology can not
be created on shapefiles. This can be created only on the latest geospatial storage
format- Geodatabase. So, data type and source must be identified and evaluated before
proceeding towards any analysis.

3. Data Capture:

There are many tools that incorporate manual skills to capture the data using various
softwares like ArcGIS. These softwares allows user to capture information from the
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base data. During this data capture, the user may misinterpret features from the base
data and captures the features with errors. For example: A user misinterprets two
buildings as single building and capture as a single feature. But in real world, there are
two features. So, the correct interpretation of features in base data must be performed.
However, there are many tools that enables user to find and fix those errors, but still
these tools are not used frequently due to lack of awareness. Data capture must be
performed on a perfect scale where one must be able to view the features distinctly.

4. Cartographic Effects:

After capturing the data, some cartographic effects like symbology, pattern, colors,
orientation and size are assigned to the features. This is required for a better
representation of reality. These effects must be assigned according to the domain of the
features. Like for Forestry application, forestry domain specific cartographic elements
must be used. Elements of any other domain used for a particular domain degrades the
output of results.

5. Data Transfer:

Some discrepancies may occur while transferring the data from one place to another.
For example: Data transferred from a web source to the standalone, web disconnected
machine. Sometimes, In order to make the accurate data more accurate, user tries to
apply different advanced rectification technique but as a result the less accurate data
changes into highly degraded data. “There is no bad or good data. There are only data
which are suitable for a specific purpose.” So, Data must be evaluated according to the
domain for which it is supposed to be used.

6. Metadata:

Sometimes metadata is not updated according to the original features. For example:
Few features are edited on some software platform but the edited information is not
updated like name of the editor, reason for editing and some more relevant information.
So, metadata must be updated with the original data.

Data Quality Improvement Techniques:

• Choice of relevant data from a relevant source.
• Derive precisions in the origin itself.
• Data quality testing in each phase of data capture.
• Using automated software tools for spatial and non-spatial data validation.
• Assessment of the mode of data uses and user.
• Determining the map elements like scale, visualization and feature orientation.

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Projections and coordinate systems

Every dataset has a coordinate system, which is used to integrate it with other geographic
datasets within a common coordinate framework. Coordinate systems enable you to integrate
datasets to perform various integrated analytical operations, such as overlaying data layers from
disparate sources and coordinate systems. Geographic, projected, and vertical coordinate
systems, as well as geographic (datum) transformations, are discussed in this topic.

What is a coordinate system?

Coordinate systems enable geographic datasets to use common locations for integration. A
coordinate system is a reference system used to represent the locations of geographic
features, imagery, and observations, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) locations,
within a common geographic framework.

Each coordinate system is defined by the following:

• Its measurement framework, which is either geographic (in which spherical

coordinates are measured from the earth's center) or planimetric (in which the earth's
coordinates are projected onto a two-dimensional planar surface)
• Units of measurement (typically feet or meters for projected coordinate systems or
decimal degrees for latitude-longitude)
• The definition of the map projection for projected coordinate systems
• Other measurement system properties such as a spheroid of reference, a datum, one or
more standard parallels, a central meridian, and possible shifts in the x- and y-
directions

Several hundred geographic coordinate systems and a few thousand projected coordinate
systems are available for use. In addition, you can define a custom coordinate system.

Types of coordinate systems

The following are two common types of coordinate systems used in a geographic information
system (GIS):

• A global or spherical coordinate system such as latitude-longitude. These are often

referred to as geographic coordinate systems.
• A projected coordinate system such as universal transverse Mercator (UTM), Albers
Equal Area, or Robinson, all of which (along with numerous other map projection
models) provide various mechanisms to project maps of the earth's spherical surface
onto a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate plane. Projected coordinate systems are
referred to as map projections.

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Coordinate systems (both geographic and projected) provide a framework for defining real-
world locations.

What is a spatial reference?

A spatial reference is a series of parameters that define the coordinate system and other
spatial properties for each dataset in the geodatabase. It is typical that all datasets for the
same area (and in the same geodatabase) use a common spatial reference definition.

A spatial reference includes the following:

• The coordinate system

• The coordinate precision with which coordinates are stored (often referred to as the
coordinate resolution)
• Processing tolerances (such as the cluster tolerance)
• The spatial extent covered by the dataset (often referred to as the spatial domain)

Geographic coordinate systems

A geographic coordinate system (GCS) uses a three-dimensional spherical surface to define

locations on the earth. A GCS is often incorrectly called a datum, but a datum is only one part
of a GCS. A GCS includes an angular unit of measure, a prime meridian, and a datum (based
on a spheroid). The spheroid defines the size and shape of the earth model, while the datum
connects the spheroid to the earth's surface.

A point is referenced by its longitude and latitude values. Longitude and latitude are angles
measured from the earth's center to a point on the earth's surface. The angles often are
measured in degrees (or in grads). The following illustration shows the world as a globe with
longitude and latitude values:

In the spherical system, horizontal lines, or east–west lines, are lines of equal latitude, or
parallels. Vertical lines, or north–south lines, are lines of equal longitude, or meridians. These
lines encompass the globe and form a gridded network called a graticule.

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The line of latitude midway between the poles is called the equator. It defines the line of zero
latitude. The line of zero longitude is called the prime meridian. For most GCSs, the prime
meridian is the longitude that passes through Greenwich, England. The origin of the graticule
(0,0) is defined by where the equator and prime meridian intersect.

Latitude and longitude values are traditionally measured either in decimal degrees or in
degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS). Latitude values are measured relative to the equator
and range from –90° at the south pole to +90° at the north pole. Longitude values are
measured relative to the prime meridian. They range from –180° when traveling west to 180°
when traveling east. If the prime meridian is at Greenwich, then Australia, which is south of
the equator and east of Greenwich, has positive longitude values and negative latitude values.

It may be helpful to equate longitude values with x and latitude values with y. Data defined
on a geographic coordinate system is displayed as if a degree is a linear unit of measure. This
method is basically the same as the Plate Carrée projection. A physical location will usually
have different coordinate values in different geographic coordinate systems.

Geographic (datum) transformations

If two datasets are not referenced to the same geographic coordinate system, you may need to
perform a geographic (datum) transformation. This is a well-defined mathematical method to
convert coordinates between two geographic coordinate systems. As with the coordinate
systems, there are several hundred predefined geographic transformations that you can
access. It is very important to correctly use a geographic transformation if it is required.
When neglected, coordinates can be in the wrong location by up to a few hundred meters.
Sometimes no transformation exists, or you have to use a third GCS like the World Geodetic
System 1984 (WGS84) and combine two transformations.

Projected coordinate systems

A projected coordinate system (PCS) is defined on a flat, two-dimensional surface. Unlike a

GCS, a PCS has constant lengths, angles, and areas across the two dimensions. A PCS is
always based on a GCS that is based on a sphere or spheroid. In addition to the GCS, a PCS
includes a map projection, a set of projection parameters that customize the map projection
for a particular location, and a linear unit of measure.

Map projections

Whether you treat the earth as a sphere or a spheroid, you must transform its three-
dimensional surface to create a flat map sheet. This mathematical transformation is
commonly referred to as a map projection. One easy way to understand how map projections
alter spatial properties is to visualize shining a light through the earth onto a surface, called
the projection surface. Imagine the earth's surface is clear with the graticule drawn on it.
Wrap a piece of paper around the earth. A light at the center of the earth will cast the shadows
of the graticule onto the piece of paper. You can now unwrap the paper and lay it flat. The
shape of the graticule on the flat paper is different from that on the earth. The map projection
has distorted the graticule.

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A spheroid cannot be flattened to a plane any more easily than a piece of orange peel can be
flattened—it will tear. Representing the earth's surface in two dimensions causes distortion in
the shape, area, distance, or direction of the data.

A map projection uses mathematical formulas to relate spherical coordinates on the globe to
flat, planar coordinates.

Different projections cause different types of distortions. Some projections are designed to
minimize the distortion of one or two of the data's characteristics. A projection could
maintain the area of a feature but alter its shape. In the following illustration, data near the
poles is stretched:

Projection parameters
A map projection by itself is not enough to define a PCS. You can state that a dataset is in
Transverse Mercator, but that's not enough information. Where is the center of the projection?
Was a scale factor used? Without knowing the exact values for the projection parameters, the
dataset cannot be reprojected. You can also get some idea of the amount of distortion the
projection has added to the data. If you're interested in Australia but you know that a dataset's
projection is centered at 0,0, the intersection of the equator and the Greenwich prime meridian,
you might want to think about changing the center of the projection.

Each map projection has a set of parameters that you must define. The parameters specify the
origin and customize a projection for your area of interest. Angular parameters use the GCS
units, while linear parameters use the PCS units.

Linear parameters

False easting is a linear value applied to the origin of the x-coordinates. False northing is a
linear value applied to the origin of the y-coordinates.

False easting and northing values are usually applied to ensure that all x- and y- values are
positive. You can also use the false easting and northing parameters to reduce the range of the
x- or y- coordinate values. For example, if you know all y- values are greater than 5,000,000
meters, you could apply a false northing of –5,000,000.

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Height defines the point of perspective above the surface of the sphere or spheroid for the
Vertical Near-Side Perspective projection.

Angular parameters

• Azimuth defines the centerline of a projection. The rotation angle measures east from
north. It is used with the azimuth cases of the Hotine Oblique Mercator projection.
• Central meridian defines the origin of the x-coordinates.
• Longitude of origin defines the origin of the x-coordinates. The central meridian and
longitude of origin parameters are synonymous.
• Central parallel defines the origin of the y-coordinates.
• Latitude of origin defines the origin of the y-coordinates. This parameter may not be
located at the center of the projection. In particular, conic projections use this
parameter to set the origin of the y-coordinates below the area of interest. In that
instance, you do not need to set a false northing parameter to ensure that all y-
coordinates are positive.
• Longitude of center is used with the Hotine Oblique Mercator center (both two-point
and azimuth) cases to define the origin of the x-coordinates. It is usually synonymous
with the longitude of origin and central meridian parameters.
• Latitude of center is used with the Hotine Oblique Mercator center (both two-point
and azimuth) cases to define the origin of the y-coordinates. It is almost always the
center of the projection.
• Standard parallel 1 and standard parallel 2 are used with conic projections to define
the latitude lines where the scale is 1.0. When defining a Lambert Conformal Conic
projection with one standard parallel, the first standard parallel defines the origin of
the y-coordinates.

For other conic cases, the y-coordinate origin is defined by the latitude of origin parameter:

• Longitude of first point

• Latitude of first point
• Longitude of second point
• Latitude of second point

The previous four parameters are used with the Two-Point Equidistant and Hotine Oblique
Mercator projections. They specify two geographic points that define the center axis of a
projection.

• Pseudo standard parallel 1 is used in the Krovak projection to define the oblique
cone’s standard parallel.
• X,y plane rotation defines the orientation of the Krovak projection along with the x-
scale and y-scale parameters.

Unitless parameters

• Scale factor is a unitless value applied to the center point or centerline of a map
projection. The scale factor is usually slightly less than one. The UTM coordinate
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system, which uses the Transverse Mercator projection, has a scale factor of 0.9996.
Rather than 1.0, the scale along the central meridian of the projection is 0.9996. This
creates two almost parallel lines approximately 180 kilometers, or about 1°, away
where the scale is 1.0. The scale factor reduces the overall distortion of the projection
in the area of interest.
• X and y scales are used in the Krovak projection to orient the axes.
• Option is used in the Cube and Fuller projections. In the Cube projection, option
defines the location of the polar facets. An option of 0 in the Fuller projection displays
all 20 facets. Specifying an option value between 1 and 20 displays a single facet.

Vertical coordinate systems

A vertical coordinate system defines the origin for height or depth values. Like a horizontal
coordinate system, most of the information in a vertical coordinate system is not needed
unless you want to display or combine a dataset with other data that uses a different vertical
coordinate system.

Perhaps the most important part of a vertical coordinate system is its unit of measure. The
unit of measure is always linear (for example, international feet or meters). Another
important part is whether the z-values represent heights (elevations) or depths. For each type,
the z-axis direction is positive "up" or "down," respectively.

In the following illustration, there are two vertical coordinate systems: mean sea level and
mean low water. Mean sea level is used as the zero level for height values. Mean low water is
a depth-based vertical coordinate system.

One z-value is shown for the height-based mean sea level system. Any point that falls below the mean
sea level line but is referenced to it will have a negative z-value. The mean low water system has two z-
values associated with it. Because the mean low water system is depth based, the z-values are positive.
Any point that falls above the mean low water line but is referenced to it will have a negative z-value.

You cannot define a vertical coordinate system on a dataset without a corresponding geographic or
projected coordinate system.

Introduction to the UTM coordinate system

UTM stands for “Universal Transverse Mercator”. It is a geographic coordinate system which
is used to identify locations on earth in meters, as measured in the Northern Hemisphere going
North and East from the intersection of the equator and a central meridian assigned to each of
60 longitudinal zones around the earth. Each zone is widest at the equator (covering 833,000
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meters, or 6 degrees) and narrower moving toward the poles. Zones above the equator use the
designation “N”, (for example, 17N), and those below use “S”, (for example, 34S). In the
Southern Hemisphere, the point of origin is defined as being 10,000,000 meters south of the
equator. Coordinates above 84 degrees N and 80 degrees S (those nearest the poles) are
excluded from the UTM system.

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LAB #
Getting started with GIS online module project for ENVS 305

Getting started with GIS online module project for ENVS 305

Getting Started with GIS

Course overview:

4. Format: Web Course

 Duration: 1 module (4 hours)
 Price: Free
 ArcGIS Version: 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4
 Authored by Esri

Benefits:

An internationally recognised certificate of completion will be issued to you upon successful

completion of the course. Out-of-class experience of online learning using web based technology
at your won pace.

Grading

The certificate of completion (hardcopy) must be submitted to Mr. Phenyo Tlale (ENVS Technician
in charge of GIS/RS lab) to be graded for your project in ENVS 305 in the 11th week.

Steps:

4. Go to link – press ctrl+click to go to link page for the online course

http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=catalog.webCourseDetail&courseid=2500

2. Click Login. Click Need an ESRI account? (bottom of login page) to create an ESRI account

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5. Create an ESRI account. Fill out the form and click create an account

6. Check your email address used for further details to finalise opening an account
7. Once you have an account, go back to the course page and login into your account to start
http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=catalog.webCourseDetail&courseid=2500

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8. Browse by clicking the tabs

Learn how to
Course outline
Software requirements
Click go to course

7. Start your course from reading the Introduction, click next.

You have up to the Friday November 8th 2020 to submit your certificate.
HINT

You can logout and return to complete the course via your ESRI account.
Once you login to your account, the course will be displayed under MY
Training tab in your account.

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Getting started with GIS online module project for ENVS 305

- Data: Some datasets are provided for use. Download and use when appropriate for the labs
in the course. You will need them later during the online course exam to answer questions.
E.g. ……Student\GettingStartedGIS10_1\FindingInfo folder,
Student\GettingStartedGIS10_1\NavigateGIS folder,

- Follow all instructions on the course until you get to the Exam. You need to correctly
answer 8 out of 10 questions to pass. Enjoy.

8. You can retake the exam until you pass. However don’t gample with answers but make sure you
understand in order to learn in the process.
9. Upon successful completion, click Get certificate

12. Sample certificate

13. Download the certificate as pdf, print and submit to the TAs for grading.

If you are interested in more advanced training in GIS, ask Mr. Tlale (GIS/RS Technician) for course
codes to do more online modules on the ESRI Virtual Campus.

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References

Anselin, Luc, and John O’Loughlin. 1992. “Geography of international conflict and
cooperation: spatial dependence and regional context in Africa.” The New Geopolitics, 39–
75.

O’Sullivan, David, and David Unwin. 2010. Geographic Information Analysis. New
Jersey, USA: Wiley.

Tukey, John W. 1972. “Some Graphic and Semigraphic Displays.” In Statistical Papers in
Honor of George W. Snedecor, edited by T. A. Bancroft, 293–316. August 1969

Chrisman N.R. 2002 Exploring Geographic Information Systems (2nd edn). New York:
Wiley.
McMaster R.B. and Shea K.S. 1992 Generalization in Digital Cartography. Washington, DC:
Association of American Geographers.
National Research Council 1999 Distributed Geolibraries: Spatial Information Resources.
Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Available: www.nap.edu.
http://resources.esri.com/help/9.3/arcgisengine/dotnet/89b720a5-7339-44b0-8b58-
0f5bf2843393.htm

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/409827634827051043/

https://learn.canvas.net/courses/464/pages/unit-2-dot-4-raster-data-
model#:~:text=The%20raster%20data%20model%20best,referred%20to%20as%20a%20matrix.

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