Creating a Map Layout using ArcGIS

In order to visually present data, there is a need to generate an array of maps. A map is a
visual representation of an area showing a given data or attribute and supporting elements
should be added such as the title, legend, scale bar, datum and projection, and data
sources. While aesthetics is important in mapmaking, the real purpose of a map is to be
able to communicate its contents to the audience easily and effectively.

Time Allotment
2 hours 30 mins

Input
 Solana Municipal boundary shapefile
 Solana Barangay boundary shapefile
 Exposure units shapefiles

Expected Output
 Exposure Units Maps
I. Changing feature symbology
1. Using the Add Data icon , load all the data from your working folder
for this activity.

2. We will be preparing a map layout so enable the Layout View by going to

the Main Menu and clicking View → Layout View.

3. Start by zooming in to our area of interest. In this case we will create a

map layout of each exposure units.

4. To choose the orientation of our map, go to File → Page and Print Setup,
then choose the preferred paper size and orientation. For this activity,
paper size is A4 and orientation is landscape.

5. To create an information box at the right side of our layout, we rescale our
data frame accordingly. The info box will contain the title, legend, north arrow,
 scale bar, data sources, and other map elements we wish to include in the
layout.

6. Let us now change the symbology of the shapefiles. Double‐click the layer to
show the Layer Properties window, go to the Symbology tab. Choose
Categories → Unique Values. In the Value Field dropdown, choose the field
that contains the data we want to change. Then click on “Add All Values” to
show all data in the area. Do this for each exposure unit.

7. We now change the symbology of our features. For this activity, we may
choose any color we want. Double‐click on the corresponding symbol of the
exposure unit you wish to change.

8. The Symbol Selector window will appear. Click on the Fill Color dropdown
to view the color options. Now choose a color for the feature. Set the
Outline Width to ‘0’ (zero) to avoid showing the borders between the
features. Do these steps for the remaining features.

9. To emphasize the area we are laying out, add a separate layer that will show
only the barangay boundary of Solana, Cagayan. To do this, open the
 Attribute Table of the Solana Barangay Boundary layer. Select the entry
for the barangay of your choice.

10. After selecting the area of your interest, we go back to the Table of Contents and
right‐click the layer. Select Data → Export Data.

11. The Export Data window will appear. Make sure to select “Selected features” in
the Export dropdown. This technique allows us to isolate certain features from a
larger dataset.

12. Save the resulting layer in your working folder and name it Solana_<name of the
barangay> .shp.

13. To change the symbology of the of the barangay boundary you chose, In the Symbol
Selector window, click Edit Symbol → Outline. On the Styles option, select “Boundary,
City”. Finally, set the Fill Color to ‘White’ and Width to ‘1’.