ARCGIS FAMILIARISATION EXERCISES EXERCISE 1A

This exercise in ArcGIS involves using two of its main components ArcCatalog and ArcMap.
ArcCatalog is the Proect Manager part of ArcGIS and is used to organise files! create lin"s to where
shared files ma# $e stored! examine Metadata etc.
ArcMap is the part of the programme where the data can $e displa#ed or anal#sed in a variet# of
formats.
In this exercise #ou will $e displa#ing data from the Atlanta neigh$ourhood of Georgia! changing the
co%ordinate s#stem! then ma"ing a map.
Part 1.A:
You will learn to connect to our !ata "ource an! to in#e"ti$ate t%e !ata u"in$ ArcCatalo$
The data re&uired for the exercise will $e found in folder' P:&GIS'cour"e&atlanta&re$ion
(EFORE YO) START T*E EXERCISE+ COPY T*IS FOL,ER TO YO)R -*. SPACE+
CALLING IT *:&GIS'Cour"e&atlanta&re$ion
(. )pen ArcCatalog from the GIS programs on the des"top.
*. Select File / Connect 0ol!er from the drop down menus and navigate to
*: &Gi"'cour"e&atlanta&re$ion.
This lin" should now appear in the left hand side of the -Catalo$. on the window. +xpand the
,egion folder and there ought to $e * items showing within the folder -count. and -co!e1o$..
-otice that the s#m$ols for each appears differentl# which signifies that the files contain different
t#pes of data.
.. The right hand window indicates that the file called -co!e1o$. is a data$ase file /d0ase Ta$le1!
while -count. is a shapefile format. /A shapefile is a la#er forming a 2map3.1
4. In the left hand window! select -count. and notice that the content" window changes to give
different information a$out the file.
5. Select the 2re#iew ta3 and displa# a simplified view of the data /this ma# $e slow1.
6. 7inall#! select the 1eta!ata ta3 to displa# information a$out the data source etc. If implemented
the details which are availa$le within this section eg co%ordinate s#stem! data extents etc.! give
further information on the origins! &ualit# content etc. of the data.
8. -ext select the -co!e1o$. file and examine the data in a similar wa#. This file is not -1a2. data so
the preview shows a data$ase ta$le rather than graphic detail.
9. :efine the shapefile;s coordinate s#stem'
<e need to la$el the spatial data set with its correct coordinate s#stem $efore proceeding. =ou ma#
have noticed the coordinates are 2geographicals3 /or latitude and longitude1. If #ou had gathered
these data #ourself! #ou would "now the coordinate s#stem! $ut it is' Geo$ra2%ical Coor!inate"
on t%e Nort% A1erican ,atu1 1456 71468 !e0inition9. The >figure of the earth? on which these
geographical coordinates are $ased is the -orth American :atum (@*8 /(@86 definition1.
Clic" the shapefile whose coordinate s#stem #ou want to define /count#1.
Clic" the 7ile menu and clic" Properties.
In the A= Coordinates Ta$! clic" Select and choose Geographic Coordinate S#stemB -orth
AmericaB-A: (@*8 /definition (@861
Clic" Appl#B)C in the shapefile Properties dialog $ox.
This has now la$elled the shapefile as having Geographical Coordinates! $ased on the -A:
(@*8B(@86 datum
Part 1.(:
,i"2lain$ t%e !ata u"in$ ArcMa2:
(. 7rom the main menu $ar! select Tool" / ArcMa2 or use the icon on the tool$ar.
(
*. A new window opens with a different set of menus and tool$ars availa$le.
.. Choose to start using ArcMap -wit% a new e12t 1a2..
4. Arrange the * windows /ArcCatalog and ArcMap1 so that #ou can see the left hand side of
each window and select the -count. file from ArcCatalog and drag it into the left hand
$ox in ArcMap. Tic" the $ox to allow it to $e displa#ed and the map should appear in the
right hand window.
5. Select the -I!enti0. $utton from the tool$ar and move the mouse over the map area.
Clic" on an# of the areas and a new window will open to displa# the attri$ute data a$out
that -count.
6. Clic" on a few -countie". and then close the -i!enti0 re"ult". $ox.
8. -ote that the coordinates are Geographicals.
Part 1.C:
Na1in$ t%e "et o0 laer" 71a29+ e"ta3li"%in$ a rectan$ular coor!inate ""te1 an! t%u"
"u3"e:uentl 3ein$ a3le to !i"2la coor!inate" on t%e "creen 7note: currentl t%e
coor!inate" are Geo$ra2%ical"9.
(. Move the screen cursor over the map. The displa#ed coordinates! in the status $ar $elow the
map! are Geographicals /latitude and longitude1.
*. 7rom the ;iew menu choose ,ata Fra1e Pro2ertie".
.. In the General field! t#pe the name as Atlanta Re$ion Countie".
4. -ext select the Co<or!inate S"te1 $utton. <e want to change the displa# to a Docal State
Plane S#stem so we have to select the appropriate s#stem from the Predefined s#stems
availa$le
5. In the lower $ox! select Pre!e0ine!! then Pro=ecte! Co<or!inate S"te1". 7rom the next
selection! choose State Plane+ then select NA, 14>?.
6. Scroll down the list to select NA, 14>? State Plane Geor$ia @e"t FIPS 1AA5. Clic" A22l.
8. ,epl# =es to the message a$out conflicting co%ordinate s#stems and then select OB.
9. Move the screen cursor over the map. The displa#ed coordinates are now in the Georgia <est
State Plane coordinates s#stem /meters1.

ArcMap has now redrawn the view using the proection #ou chose. 0ecause #ou are proecting
such a small portion of the +arth3s surface! the view changes onl# slightl#. Ead it $een a continent!
rather than a few counties! #ou would have seen a reall# $ig change.
An# other la#er $rought into the map! from ArcCatalog! will now $e converted to A= coordinates
on the -A: (@9. datum.
Part 1.,:
You will learn to 2re2are a "i12le 1a2 0or out2ut < calle! creatin$ t%e Laout. Fp until now
#ou have $een wor"ing in the ,ata ;iew where! t#picall#! the content of the map is manipulated.
-ow #ou will change to the Laout ;iew to produce a product for output.
*
(. 7rom the 1ain 1enu 3ar "elect ;iew / Laout view.
*. The main window content immediatel# changes to displa# a page la#out with the map area
included in the centre.
.. To ma"e the la#out more meaningful! add a Title! legend! scale $ar and -orth Arrow! at least.
4. 7rom the main menu $ar select In"ert / Title. A $ox appears on the map la#out as"ing for a
Title to $e added. T2e "o1et%in$ "uita3le and press return. The $ox can now $e dragged to
a suita$le location if necessar#. Move it to the top left of the la#out.
5. -ext add a scale $ar $# selecting In"ert / Scale 3ar and choosing one from the availa$le list.
The $ar will appear in the centre of the la#out screen and should again $e dragged to a suita$le
location on the la#out.
6. -ext add the -orth Arrow $# selecting In"ert/Nort% Arrow.
8. At this point #ou could clic" on the File pulldown menu! and select print % $ut don3t do it % it is
such a $oring map and a waste of paper.
So in ust a few minutes #ou have $rought data into ArcMap! &ueried it in a ver# simple wa#!
changed its proection and prepared it for output.
If #ou stop all #our wor" for the da# at this point then'
1. In File+ in its pulldown menu select "a#e a" and save the map to #our * "2ace as
eC'one.1C!.
T*IS PROCESS ,OES NOT SA;E YO)R ,ATA IN eC'one.1C! + IT ONLY SA;ES ALL
T*E PROCESSES YO)R ,ATA *A;E )N,ERGONE. TO )SE eC<one.1C! NEXT
TIME YO)R ,ATA M)ST ALL (E IN EXACTLY T*E SAME PLACE AS TO,AY.
5. Clo"e ArcMa2 an! ArcCatalo$ 3 $oin$ to t%e File !ro2 !own 1enu an!
"electin$ File / ECit.
Test #our 2saving3 procedure $# going to #our 2E space3 in 2M# Computer3 and clic"ing
exGone.mxd.
If scheduled #ou ma# carr# on with exercise *! now.
A:! H+: I(B((
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