Introduction to GIS

and ArcGIS

How a GIS works

Introduction to ArcGIS
A GIS integrates five basic components

software methods

hardware
data

people
Data
 Types of datasets
Vector formats
(“feature classes”)

Points

Lines (”arcs”)

Polygons
 Types of datasets

Raster formats
Matrices of square cells
(grids, pixels)
 Types of datasets

Attribute tables:
tables of data describing
spatial features
Methods
Basic GIS Functions

Capture
Store
Query
Analyze
Display
Output
 Capturing data

Digital images
Paper maps

GIS

GPS output

Coordinate lists
 Query
Identifying specific features
Where is parcel No. 2945?

Identifying features
based on conditions
Find all trees with DBH > 35 cm
 Analysis

Proximity : which roads are within a 100 ft

Overlay: combines the features of two or more

Network: examines how linear features are

Maps
Graphs
Reports/Tables
 Examples of GIS maps
surface drapes & 3-D modeling
 Examples of GIS generated maps
detailed
topographic maps
 Output

Paper map
Internet
Image (cc.jpg, cc.pdf)
Document (cc.mxd)
Poster
 How a GIS works

Introduction to ArcGIS
 What is ArcGIS?
E
E ArcGIS Desktop ArcGIS Engine X
T
X E
N
T ArcInfo
Custom
Custom
ArcInfo Application
S
E Application I
ArcGIS Clients N
O
N
S ArcEditor
ArcEditor S

I
O
ArcView
ArcView Web
Web
ArcReader
ArcReader N ArcPad
ArcPad Browser
Browser
S

Components ArcObjects
ArcObjects

Network

ArcGIS
ArcGIS Server
Server ArcIMS
ArcIMS

Application/Data ArcSDE
ArcSDE
Servers
RDBMS
 ArcGIS Desktop Products

ArcInfo
ArcInfo

ArcEditor
ArcEditor

ArcView
ArcView

Increased Functionality
The history of ESRI products

ArcInfo ArcView ArcGIS ArcInfo

ArcEditor
ArcView

time
 All ArcGIS products share common
ArcInfo
applications
ArcInfo
ArcEditor
ArcEditor

ArcView
ArcView ArcCatalog-window to database

ArcMap-displaying

ArcToolbox-geographic processing functions

•GUI (Graphic User Interface)

•Customization & Programming

•Extensions to Increase Functionality

•Scalability
 GUI

Beware:
The ArcGIS GUI is complicated and many-layered.
There is no command-line control; all automation
must be scripted.
 Customization & Programming
• Many functions are not available from the GUI
• Custom functions and operations can be created with
various programming languages
• Repetitive tasks can be automated
• New functions and operations can be added to the GUI
menus, buttons, and tools
• Entire new applications can be developed
• But:
Scripting is not easy to learn
Extensions -> Increase Functionality
 Functionality not included in the core ArcGIS
product can increase productivity
 Some extensions are built-in, but just need to be
enabled
 Other extensions are available for free (web); some
are available for sale
 We will be using several extensions during the
course
 ArcGIS
Scalability
Custom
Custom
Desktop ArcInfo
ArcInfo Application
Application
ArcEditor
ArcEditor
ArcView Web
Web
ArcReader
ArcReader ArcView ArcPad
ArcPad Browser
Browser
ArcObjects
ArcObjects
Network
ArcGIS
ArcGIS ArcIMS
ArcIMS
Server
Server ArcSDE
ArcSDE
RDBMS
The ArcGIS suite contains
Desktop application
(we will be using this quarter)
Data server application (ArcSDE)
Application servers (ArcGIS Server)
Internet mapping servers (ArcIMS)
GIS software
 Ecological Applications: Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 791–805

ASSESSING THE RISK OF

Ecological Applications: Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 791–805

ASSESSING THE RISK OF

•Do: Assignment 1 and submit with “Collect-it”