Importing Tabular Data

In the following activity we learn to import tabular data to GIS projects. the following activity also include techniques like using the geographic coordinates system and join table. A join table was used when attaching information to an existing table. 

This techniques were used to create the Map below by showing the following: 

a. points showing locations contaminants sampled

b. points addressing plaintiff's properties 

c. symbology to show the market value 

d. a proper base map, features and values were then added. 

Geo_Referencing Rastar

The following map was created using the Geo-referencing toolbox to identify and match features of an unknown or unreferenced layer to the same features on a referenced control layer (for example: roads shapefile, buildings, DOQQ and Digital Raster. 

To Geo-reference a photo, data needed to be added first.  The Geo-referencing toolbox was open and the adding control box was used to take points which were needed in order for the buildings and roads to fit in the UWF_N shapefile it was then saved and recorded  with it RMS errors.  This was also done for UWF_S1 shapefile. After this was done the shapefile was updated and saved. 

Secondly, the editor toolbox was open to edit the data and new shapefile was created and named as Athletic_Fields, this was done in order to create new fields in the map. lastly, features and symbols (legend, text, scale bar, scale text) were then added; the file was then saved and exported as JPG.

Projections and Coordinates

The following map was created in an Albers type projection.   Cntbnd Shapefile was added to ArcMap and under the properties for the “Layer” data frame the coordinates was selected, it was then renamed as Albers and new coordinates was added. To Re-Project Datasets the Project Data Management toolbox was selected.  Once this done to complete the process, new sets of parameters were added and data was re-projected and saved as UTM and coordinates NAD_1983_To_HARN_Florida.  

Under “layer” data frame the shapefile UTM was moved to a new data frame to have both in full extent. After doing this, the attribute table for both were edited and a new field was added and named as Area, with this done the area was calculated for both, and then compared to see the difference which was more or less like 10-12 in value.

Lastly, the following counties were added: Alachua, Escambia, Miami-Dade, Polk by creating a query under properties of Albers and UTM. Features and Symbols were added to give the maps meaning. It was then saved and exported as JPG. ;)

University of Belize, Belmopan

Collecting GPS Data 

 

First, data was gathered using a GPS, then points were recorded.

Secondly, the data was added to Arcmap program, where symbols and labels were inserted.

lastly, a basemap was selected to give the map meaning. then it was exported and saved as JPG.

 

 

This is how the Map looks:

 

Stann_Creek. Belize

Data Search Collection

This activity was based on data search collection by finding existing GIS datasets on the web.

First of all, to begin the activity, we had to create and acquire GIS data, and to do gather data we had to explore and know how to find existing datasets on the web, which is a critical step of GIS projections. It is very important to make use of the resources available on the web. Belize is a small country and consists of 6 districts and in this activity we will only focus in 1. This map represents a district of Belize, which is Stann Creek.

The process …

After downloading data from the web, under layers on the Table of content the data Belize_Basemap_District was added to ArcMap. Then, under layer the attribute data table was open and Stann Creek District was selected and highlighted.

With this done, the district was exported. After exporting the selected District, under the analysis toolbox, clip toolbox was selected; this was done in order to isolate only the district of Stann Creek because we don’t need the whole country to show in our map, we only want to focus on the Stann Creek.

Once clipped, the rest of the data was added for example Urban_Areas, Roads, Protected Areas and Aquatic_Ecosystems found ONLY in the district of Stann Creek. Before adding the above data, each one was clipped to the District of Stann_Creek, keeping this in mind; we don’t want to show the entire country only the selected District. Features such as legend, text, and scale bar, North Arrow were inserted to make the map meaningful and useful.

Finally, the activity was saved and exported to JPEG. 

This is how the map looks after clipping and adding existing datasets on the web.

GIS Cartography

Creating Maps with ArcGIS

First Map in ArcMap illustrating the boundaries of the Mexican State

 The ArcMap project/MXD activity 2 was created and saved.  Under Map documents properties menu the file menu was selected, and the name was change to Mexico, a title and the author’s name was also entered. The add button was then click and the following were selected:  World_countries, Mex_boundary, Americas_admin.  To illustrate the boundaries the following approach was used: selecting by attribute and a new selection was created.  Then a new layer was created (by export). After doing so, some labels were applied to the world_countries by choosing new fills colors and symbols to the CNTRY_NAME. After finishing adding values and symbols, the map was flip to layout view and a layout and legend were selected, an arrow, scale bar and scale text were added, as well as a dynamic text.  Lastly, the frame tab was selected some features were selected for the tab and finally it was exported to JPG and saved as activity 2_map1.mxd. 

Second Map illustrating many layers of Mexico

The layers Mex_rails, Mex_Rivers, Mex_Roads, Mex_urban were selected and Mex_state was unchecked. Under mex_rivers, the symbol tab was selected and under categories and unique values the RANK field value was selected and values such as primary and major were added.  The same procedure was used to display only roads and rails.  In this map, advanced labelling was chose for Mex_urban, with a scale of 1:5,000,000. The labels were then converted to annotations to allow you to manipulate them individually just like a text box. Before creating annotations your map needs to be in data view. Labels and symbols were added, as well as a legend, scale bar and scale text.  Finally, an inset map was created and a data frame was inserted highlighting Central America region, the map was exported to JPG and saved as Activity2_map2.

Third map created using Raster to illustrate the elevations of Mexico

First, everything was removed from the previous map except world_countries from the “Layers” data frame. The Layer Mex_Elev raster was added and under its symbol properties stretched Symbology was selected, a color ramp was chose to display the information. A legend was inserted, as well as a scale bar and scale text an inset frame to display the area. Finally, the map was exported to JPG and saved as activity3_map3.