Overview of ArcGIS - Countries/Cities by Population

OverviewArcGIS_AKM Process Summary

·        Deliverables:

o   Countries by Population Map in JPEG format.

o   Process Summary with answered questions (11 total)

·        Objectives

o   Locate various tools commonly used in ArcGIS

o   Recall the function of various tools commonly used in ArcGIS

o   Construct a useful map showing the population of various countries.

·        Access data file: R: drive Intro2GIS/OverviewArcGIS.zip and extract the files to a folder named Overview of ArcGIS.

·        There are 2 GIS layers called shape files, each of which are made up of as many as 5 files for example:

o   Cities.shp this file is for the geometry

o   Cities.shx this file is for indexing

o   Cities.sbn this file is for housekeeping

o   Cities.dbf this file is for tabular data (also called a “tables of attribute data”)

o   Cities.prj this file is for the projections & datum required for the layer

·        I began with the vector layer World_Countries shape file. I later added the Cities shape file.

·        Save my file as OverviewArcGIS_AKM.mxd

·        Work through LAB and answer questions as I go.

·        Using help I found the following definitions:

o   Shapefile = A vector data storage format for storing the location, shape, and attributes of geographic features. A shapefile is stored in a set of related files and contains one feature class.

o   catalog tree = In ArcCatalog, a hierarchical view of folder connections which provide access to GIS data stored on local disks or shared on a network that allows users to manage connections to databases and GIS servers.

o   metadata = Information that describes the content, quality, condition, origin, and other characteristics of data or other pieces of information. Metadata for spatial data may describe and document its subject matter; how, when, where, and by whom the data was collected; availability and distribution information; its projection, scale, resolution, and accuracy; and its reliability with regard to some standard. Metadata consists of properties and documentation. Properties are derived from the data source (for example, the coordinate system and projection of the data), while documentation is entered by a person (for example, keywords used to describe the data).

o   vector = First, A coordinate-based data model that represents geographic features as points, lines, and polygons. Each point feature is represented as a single coordinate pair, while line and polygon features are represented as ordered lists of vertices. Attributes are associated with each vector feature, as opposed to a raster data model, which associates attributes with grid cells. Second, Any quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

o   raster = First, A spatial data model that defines space as an array of equally sized cells arranged in rows and columns, and composed of single or multiple bands. Each cell contains an attribute value and location coordinates. Unlike a vector structure, which stores coordinates explicitly, raster coordinates are contained in the ordering of the matrix. Groups of cells that share the same value represent the same type of geographic feature. Second, In ArcGIS, an in-memory representation of a raster dataset. A raster may exist in memory as a subset of a raster dataset; it may have a different cell size than the raster dataset; or it may exist using a different transformation than the raster dataset.

o   cell = First, The smallest unit of information in raster data, usually square in shape. In a map or GIS dataset, each cell represents a portion of the earth, such as a square meter or square mile, and usually has an attribute value associated with it, such as soil type or vegetation class. Second, A pixel. Third, A small drawing, usually of a frequently used or complex symbol, notation, or detail. Cells are similar to blocks in AutoCAD drawings.

o   attribute table = A database or tabular file containing information about a set of geographic features, usually arranged so that each row represents a feature and each column represents one feature attribute. In raster datasets, each row of an attribute table corresponds to a certain zone of cells having the same value. In a GIS, attribute tables are often joined or related to spatial data layers, and the attribute values they contain can be used to find, query, and symbolize features or raster cells.

o   field = First, A column in a table that stores the values for a single attribute. Second, The place in a database record, or in a GUI, where data can be entered. Third, A synonym for surface.

o   record = A set of related data fields, often a row in a database, containing all the attribute values for a single feature. For example, in an address database, the fields that together provide the address for a specific individual comprise one record. In the SQL query language, a record is analogous to a tuple.

·        Questions:

o   Q1: How many records are shown? 13

o   Q2: What is in the LONG_NAME field? Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

o   Q3: What is the name of this country and what are its approximate coordinates? Isle of Man and the location is 4°28'56.446"W  54°15'23.642"N

o   Q4: What is the East-West length of this country in kilometers? 254.007345 Kilometers

o   Q5. What part of this lab did you have the most trouble with? I have been unable to figure out how to remove the label POP2007 from the legend. I also was not able to figure out how to create more room on the bottom of the page for the legend to be displayed in one column.

o   Q6: What are two ways to show a toolbar? You can access the toolbars list without using the Customize menu; simply right-click anywhere in the toolbar docking area at the top of the application or directly on a toolbar. OR Click Customize on the main menu and point to Toolbars. Check a toolbar to show it.

o   Q7: Define shapefile: A vector data storage format for storing the location, shape, and attributes of geographic features. A shapefile is stored in a set of related files and contains one feature class.

o   Q8: Define vector: First, A coordinate-based data model that represents geographic features as points, lines, and polygons. Each point feature is represented as a single coordinate pair, while line and polygon features are represented as ordered lists of vertices. Attributes are associated with each vector feature, as opposed to a raster data model, which associates attributes with grid cells. Second, Any quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

o   Q9: Define raster: First, A spatial data model that defines space as an array of equally sized cells arranged in rows and columns, and composed of single or multiple bands. Each cell contains an attribute value and location coordinates. Unlike a vector structure, which stores coordinates explicitly, raster coordinates are contained in the ordering of the matrix. Groups of cells that share the same value represent the same type of geographic feature. Second, In ArcGIS, an in-memory representation of a raster dataset. A raster may exist in memory as a subset of a raster dataset; it may have a different cell size than the raster dataset; or it may exist using a different transformation than the raster dataset.

o   Q10: Define attribute table: A database or tabular file containing information about a set of geographic features, usually arranged so that each row represents a feature and each column represents one feature attribute. In raster datasets, each row of an attribute table corresponds to a certain zone of cells having the same value. In a GIS, attribute tables are often joined or related to spatial data layers, and the attribute values they contain can be used to find, query, and symbolize features or raster cells.

o   Q11: What should be the first thing you look at when you get stuck or have problems in ArcGIS? ArcGIS HELP

·        Export file OverviewArcGIS_AKM.jpeg to H: drive

·        Upload to Dropbox

·        Upload to Blog