Practical No.

1
Introduction to Global Positioning System
Objective
To understand basics of geographic coordinates and GPS receiver
Theory
A GPS Receiver is a L-band radio processor capable of solving
the navigation equations in order to determine the user position,
velocity and precise time by processing the signal broadcasted by
satellites. The GPS applies trilateration rule which is used to
determine a position by knowing your distance from at least 3
known points (satellites). Latitude and Longitude are the units that
represent the coordinates at geographic coordinate system, by
means of which the location of any place on Earth’s surface can be
determined. Latitude specifies the north–south position of a point
on the Earth's surface from Equator. Latitude is an angle which
ranges from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the poles. Longitude
specifies the east–west position of a point on the Earth's surface
from the prime meridian at Greenwich.
Procedure
➢Switch on the GPS receiver and wait until it tracks minimum
three satellites. Approach the point of interest and mark the
waypoint. Record coordinates in GPS receiver or notebook in
terms of Latitude & Longitude. Mark all
the points of interests and transform all the
points into GIS software.
 Practical No. 2
Creating and Editing Point, Polyline, and Polygon
Shapefiles in ArcGIS
Objective
To understand the concept and creation of shapefiles.
Theory
A shapefile is a simple, nontopological format for storing the
geometric location and attribute information of geographic
features. Geographic features in a shapefile can be represented by
points, lines, or polygons (areas). The Shapefile is the most
common format in GIS.
Procedure
➢Open ArcGIS, go to Standard Toolbar, click on Add Data, click
on excel file having coordinates, click on Display XY Data, select
Latitude and Longitude, click Edit, go to Geographic Coordinate
System, select World, Select WGS 1984.
➢Open Arc Catalog from Toolbar.
➢Right click on destination folder then New and then Shapefile.
➢Name the file; Select feature type point/Polyline /Polygon.
➢Define the coordinate system. WGS 1984 .Click OK.
➢Go to Editor Toolbar click on Start Editing, Create Feature Box
will be open, select the file and then started to insert points/ draw
the lines/draw polygon or trace the feature.
➢If Create Feature box not open, then again go to
Editor click on Editing Window,
Edit Feature Box will open,
select file and then start. Double
click at the end, Go to Editor
Toolbar, Stop Editing and then
save it.
 Practical No. 3
Introduction of Google Earth and Creating Point Line,
and Polygon Data
Objective
To learn how to use Google Earth.
Theory
Google Earth is a geobrowser that accesses satellite and aerial
imagery, topography, ocean bathymetry, and other geographic
data over the internet to represent the Earth as a three-
dimensional globe. Google has created a Google Earth
Education site to provide helpful information on using Google
Earth with students
Procedure
➢Open Google Earth Pro, go to Tools then Options, and set the
units and coordinate system of your interest.
➢Go to Add then click Placemark, select your point of interest
in Pakistan, then write Name and click OK.
➢Go to Add then click Path, then trace the line from start to end,
you can also undo any point with right click, the write Name and
click OK. You can also see the distance at each click.
➢Go to Add then click Polygon, then trace the polygon from
start to end, you can also undo any point with right click, the
write Name and click OK. You can also see the measurements.
 Practical No. 4
Transformation of Data from ArcGIS to Google Earth and
Google Earth to ArcGIS
Objective
To transform data from ArcGIS to Google Earth and Google
Earth to ArcGIS
Theory
Conversion of ArcGIS shapefile layers to Google Earth Pro
format (KML, KMZ) allows users to visualize layers without
specialized software. The ArcGIS based map formats (tif, img)
can also be converted to Google Earth Pro formats.
Procedure
➢First, open the layer that you want to covert.
➢In the ArcToolbox window, open "then To KML, and select
Layer to KML.
➢Select the Point or Line or Polygon layer, set name and
destination, and click OK to convert to KML or KMZ format.
Then open that file in Google Earth Pro.
➢To convert data from Google Earth Pro, select any Placemark
or Path or Polygon and save it as KML or KMZ. In ArcGIS open
Conversion Tools then From KML and select KML to Layer.
 Practical No. 5
Creating Raster Map using Inverse Distance Weighted
Interpolation Technique in ArcGIS
Objective
To generate raster map with point data using IDW technique
Theory
Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation determines cell
values using a linearly weighted combination of a set of sample
points. The weight is a function of inverse distance. This method
assumes that the variable being mapped decreases in influence
with distance from its sampled location.
Procedure
➢Open the point shapefile having data like rainfall, etc.
➢Go to Spatial Analyst Tools and the Interpolation, Select IDW
➢Enter shapefile as Input Point Features.
➢Z value will be the field you want to interpolate, like rainfall
➢Name Output Raster with extension like tif, img and click OK.
➢Assign number of points for interpolation of data at any point.
➢Before pressing the OK if you want to get the map of selected
area within or beyond the boundary of Point Shapefile, the click
Environments and select Processing Extent., then select any raster
or vector file for boundary extent, then Click OK.
➢To get map of Pakistan boundary, go to Spatial Analyst Tools,
select Extraction, Extract by Mask, Give Input Raster and
Pakistan Shapefile, save output File and Click OK.
 Practical No. 6
Creating Raster Map using Kriging Interpolation Technique in
ArcGIS
Objective
To generate raster map with point data using Kriging technique
Theory
Kriging can be understood as a two-step process: first, the spatial
covariance structure of the sampled points is determined by fitting
a variogram; and second, weights derived from this covariance
structure are used to interpolate values for unsampled points or
blocks across the spatial field.
Procedure
➢Open the point shapefile having data like rainfall, etc.
➢Go to Spatial Analyst Tools and the Interpolation, Select Kriging
➢Enter shapefile as Input Point Features.
➢Z value will be the field you want to interpolate, like rainfall
➢Name Output Raster with extension like tif, img and click OK.
➢Assign number of points for interpolation of data at any point.
➢Before pressing the OK if you want to get the map of selected
area within or beyond the boundary of Point Shapefile, the click
Environments and select Processing Extent., then select any raster
or vector file for boundary extent, then Click OK.
➢To get map of Pakistan boundary, go to Spatial Analyst Tools,
select Extraction, Extract by Mask, Give Input Raster and
Pakistan Shapefile, save output File and Click OK.
 Practical No. 7
Georeferencing the Scanned Map in ArcGIS
Objective
To assign spatial reference to a scanned map in ArcGIS
Theory
Georeferencing is the process of assigning locations to
geographical objects within a geographic frame of reference. A
georeferenced digital map or image has been tied to a known
Earth coordinate system, so users can determine where every
point on the map or aerial photo is located on Earth's surface.
Procedure
➢Add scanned map in in ArcGIS.
➢Identify control points in the map, like bridges, rail-road
crossings, rivers’ confluence, and get coordinates of control
points from field visits or from Google Earth.
➢Open Georeferencing Toolbar, go to Georeferencing, Uncheck
the Auto Adjust.
➢Select 1st control point in the map, Left click and then right
click, the select Input X and Y. Where X is longitude and Y is
latitude. Perform the process for all the identified control points.
➢Go to Georeferencing and click Update Georeferencing, it will
assign the entered coordinates to the selected control points.
➢Add Geo- referenced map in Arc Map.
➢Overlay another map of that area from some other
standard source like shapefile of Pakistan, and
check the accuracy that you have attained.
 Practical No. 8
Digitizing the Georeferenced Map in ArcGIS
Objective
To Extract river feature as vector layer from georeferenced map
Theory
Digitizing is the process by which coordinates from a map,
image, or other sources of data are converted into a digital
format in a GIS. Digitizing is the process of making features you
can see on the map editable and making them features to which
additional spatial and non-spatial attributes can be assigned.
This means you have to follow a process of making digital
versions of objects that will have an attribute table associated
with them. Our primary goal will be digitizing the Indus river in
the map.
Procedure
➢Add georeferenced map in the ArcGIS whose features are
needed to be extracted as vector shapefile formats.
➢Go to ArcCatalog, right click the destination folder, go to
New and them Shapefile, Name the file as Indus River,
Select Polyline as feature type, and go to edit and select the
Spatial reference as GCS_WGS_1984.
➢Go to Editor Toolbar, click on Start Editing, select Indus
river from create feature window, draw the river from
starting point to the end point.
 Practical No. 9
Linear Measurements in ArcGIS
Objective
To perform linear measurements of polygon in ArcGIS.
Theory
The linear measurements in ArcGIS cannot be performed while
working with angular units (GCS_WGS_1984). Angular
coordinates system must be projected to linear coordinate system
like Projected Coordinate Systems (PCS). The PCS is a
Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) that has been flattened
using a map projection. Your data must have a GCS before it
knows where it is on earth. The Universal Transverse Mercator
(UTM), is a plane coordinate grid system named for the map
projection on which it is based (Transverse Mercator). The UTM
system consists of 60 zones, each 6-degrees of longitude in width,
and Pakistan lies in 41N, 42N and 43 N zones of UTM.
Procedure
➢Open ArcToolbox, select the Data Management Tools, select
Projection and Transformations, then Feature then Project.
➢Give Input file having GCS projection like shapefile of
Faisalabad, name the output file with destination
➢Go to Output Coordinate System, then Projected Coordinate
Systems, then UTM, then WGS 1984, then Northern Hemisphere,
select appropriate zone like 43N for Faisalabad.
➢Right click the new UTM shapefile, go to Open Attribute Table,
go to Table Options and Add Field, name field as Area and select
Double as type. Right click on column name Area, then Calculate
Geometry, select Area or Perimeter, Units (km2) and click OK.
 Practical No. 10
Basics of Map Classification and Layout in ArcGIS
Objective
To understand the concept of map classification
To understand the map layout and map export
Theory
Image classification refers to the task of extracting information
classes from a multiband raster image. The resulting raster from
image classification can be used to create thematic maps. The
map layout can be prepared in color and black and white format.
Procedure
➢Prepare rainfall raster map and extract to Pakistan boundary.
➢Right click, go to Properties, Symbology, Classified, Classify,
assign desired Number of Classes.
➢You can adjust values in Break Values portion., click OK.
➢Adjust values up to desirable decimal digits, and assign colors.
➢Go to View, click Layout View, go to Insert, add Title, Legend,
and North Arrow. Design Title, Legend, and Arrow as per
requirements. Insert Scale Bar and adjust units.
➢Right click on map, Properties, Grids, New Grid, click Next,
click, Labels Only, Next, Finish, click Graticule, click
Properties, set Units, Fonts, Orientations, Label Axis, Interval.
➢Go to File, Export Map, set Name, Resolution, and Extension.
 Practical No. 11
Introduction to Satellite Imagery
Objective
To download data of different satellites
Theory
The data of MODIS, Landsat, and Sentinel satellites is freely
available can be downloaded from the following links;
https://search.earthdata.nasa.gov/
https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/
https://scihub.copernicus.eu/dhus/#/home ,
https://glovis.usgs.gov/
https://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/
https://disc.gsfc.nasa.gov/
The data is available in different formats like HDF, Geo tiff,
Grib, ASCII, BSQ, BIP.
Procedure
➢The procedure is similar for each satellite data, the basic
requirements are user account, area, time range, and satellite
product. The following procedure can be used for Earthexplorer
website. Go to https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ and create an
account.
➢Go to Search Criteria and click on geocoder or can also
shapefile. Or manually select study area by clicking on screen.
➢Go to Data Range and select time range
➢Go to Data Sets and select different satellite imagery.
➢Go to Results, visualize and download the data of any satellite
for selected time period.
 Practical No. 12
Creating Mathematical Model in Model Maker of Erdas
Objective
Imagine
To learn how to use the Model Maker in Erdas Imagine.
Theory
The Modeler maker allows to build a flow chart that contains
operators strung together logically to produce output results. Real-
time previews and visual indicators allow you to inspect the model
as it runs, easily find and correct errors, and see the results before
running the model. The model maker has three main parts: Objects,
Operators, and Connections. Objects define the input and output
rasters in the model. Operators are the actions (equations) that are
done to the objects. Connections tie everything together and define
the flow of the model
Procedure
➢Open Erdas Imagine, go to Files, click Open, click Raster Layer,
open input files to be used in the equations.
➢Go to Toolbox, go to Model Maker, then open Model Maker.
➢Use icon for input and output files, use for equations, and
use arrow to draw from input to equations and from equations to
output
➢To make sum of 2 input rasters, create two input icons, open each
one and locate Input raster, draw Arrow from both Input to the
Circle, open Circle and click Input 1 , click + sign, and then click
Input 2.
➢Create Output icon after the Circle, draw Arrow from Circle to
Output icon, open Output icon, give the name (with extension like
.img, .tif,) and destination of Output raster, open drop-down
menu and select Float Double if you need output in decimal digits.
➢Go to Process and click Run.
 Practical No. 13
Vegetation, Water, and Snow Indices using ArcGIS and Erdas
Imagine
Objective
To estimate vegetative area, water bodies and snow extent over
the Indus basin using ArcGIS and Erdas Imagine.
Theory
NDVI=Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
Green − NIR
𝑁𝐷𝑊𝐼 =
Green + 𝑁𝐼𝑅
Range (-1 to +1)

NDWI=Normalized Difference water index

NIR − Red
𝑁𝐷𝑉𝐼 =
NIR + 𝑅𝑒𝑑
Range (-1 to +1)
NDSI=Normalized Difference snow Index
𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 − 𝑆𝑊𝐼𝑅
𝑁𝐷𝑆𝐼 =
𝐺𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 + 𝑆𝑊𝐼𝑅
Range (-1 to +1)
Vegetation NDVI > 0.25
Water NDWI > 0.25
Snow NDSI > 0.35
Procedure
➢Open ArcGIS, Add Data
➢Open Spatial Analyst Tools
➢Map Algebra, Raster Calculator
➢Apply formula
➢Open Erdas Imagine, go to Files
click Open, click Raster Layer,
Open Green, NIR, Red, SWIR
Bands, go to Model Maker, create
models of NDVI, NDWI, NDSI.

Tarbela and Mangla Vegetative Areas of Snow Cover Areas of

Dam using NDWI Indus Basin using NDVI Indus Basin using NDSI
 Practical No. 14
Supervised Classification in Erdas Imagine
Objective
To understand the concept of supervised classification.
Develop landuse map using NDVI-based supervised classification
Theory
Supervised classification is the technique used for quantitative
analysis of remote sensing image data. It is the concept of
segmenting the spectral domain into regions that can be associated
with the ground cover classes of interest. Supervised classification
uses the spectral signatures obtained from training samples to
classify an image. Supervised Classification Steps are Select
training areas, Generate signature file, and then Classify
Procedure
➢Go to field and collect several coordinates of multiple landuse
classes, Develop NDVI map of any region in Erdas Imagine.
➢Go to Raster, go to Supervised, and open Signature Editor.
➢Go to Drawing, select Rectangle icon, identify relevant pixel from
your collected in situ data, then draw rectangle within that pixel,
open Signature Editor window, and click on icon, the class
signature will be added automatically.
➢Assign all the signatures of one landuse, then select all signatures
of one landuse, click on icon to merge them.
➢Apply similar procedure for all the other landuse features, assign
color to each landuse, go to File in the Signature Editor and Save it.
➢Go to Raster, Supervised, then Supervised Classification, give
NDVI as input file and locate the saved signature file.
➢Assign name and destination of output file and click OK.