EXERCISE 1 - INTRODUCTION TO ARCMAP, ARCCATALOG AND ARCTOOLBOX

   Environmental Resources 372:362

Intermediate Environmental Geomatics

Today we are going to introduce you to ArcGIS 9.  We want to encourage you to explore the software and learn how to "discover" the ways to do different things.  So we are going to TRY to avoid filling this with symbols for buttons, or complete lists of how to do tasks.  As such, much of this exercise is going to be lists of things that we show during our somewhat rapid demo.

ArcCatalog

We start with ArcCatalog because we start with the data and then we analyze, and map.  ArcCatalog is the module in which you manage your data (which will eventually be quite complex).  ArcCatalog is designed to resemble (eerily) Windows Explorer, so some of it will come naturally.  You should:

• Start it
• Add a few directories to your "catalog tree"
• Look at the different shapes for coverages and shapefiles and directories
• Look at some specific themes from:    \\Swine\teach2\intgeo\rowan\arc8class\hopewell\ - aka your Y: drive.

Cntysoils

Hydsoils

Mermcd

Threemcd

• Read the metadata in different formats:  FGDC, ESRI, xml
• Look at the Preview
• Look at the map
• Query the map
• Look at the table
• Check out the different "menu bars"

How would you copy some files from one directory to another?  Why would you do that? Answer these questions for yourself. You don't have to submit the answers to us.

ArcMap

Well, ArcCatalog is fun for a little while, but sooner or later the beige maps get kind of old.  ArcMap is where you do most of the mapping

• Start it -- From inside ArcCatalog
• Add data with the Add Data button
• Drag some data from ArcCatalog to ArcMap
• Adjust the display, categories colors, hierarchy
• Zoom around
• Display vs. Source
• Print Layout vs. Map
• Add compass, scale, etc.
• Add layers from different projections
• Identify
• Select some things (counties, or cities or roads)
• Right-click on anything and everything, including:

The themes

The legend

The layout tab

ArcToolbox

ArcToolbox is the GIS powerhouse.  It is where you can analyze and DESTROY datasets in a matter of seconds.

• Open ArcToolbox
• Look at -- but don't "touch" -- the different boxes of tools

o       Data Management Tools -- Aggregate, COGO, Composite Features, Generalization, Geodatabase, Projections, Tables, Topology

• Analysis   --  Extract, Overlay, Proximity, Statistics, Surface
• Conversion   -- Export and import
• Each tool starts up a small dialog box in which you can choose certain files to modify or analyze.  The dialog box also allows you to set any relevant parameters.

Notice that you can create your own set of tools and keep them in the fourth toolbox.  If you worked in an office with specialized tasks, that could be really important.

Multi modules

Use ArcCatalog to copy the Y:\intgeo\ClassWork\avdata\lbwpuse\ point coverage called Hazsitesold into your own directory.

In ArcMap, look at Hazsites.  Notice that it isn’t a very large dataset.

Let’s try out a tool.

In ArcToolbox Buffer the Hazsites by 5280' and save it in your own directory.  (You might try a fuzzy tolerance of 1500’)

Go back to ArcMap and create a map of the points, the buffers, and a few landmark features (like roads, streams, and/or municipal boundaries).  Add your name to the map. Print it.

Assignment 1

Turn in your map.  It is due on Monday, January 31st.