Digital Quest, Inc.

Course at a glance:
This hands-on course is a natural progression from "Introduction to GIS/RS Concepts". It introduces you to two very important components of the ArcGIS program; ArcCatalog and ArcMap. You will be provided with step by step instructions that will take you from learning the basics of these programs; like launching a map, viewing and editing metadata, to creating new shapefiles, and eventually to building a local map with data that you download from the Internet. While learning these valuable skills, you will be using the same geospatial tools that people in the industry are using.

During the course you will also learn….

Launching ArcMap
Navigating to Specific Folders
Learning the Different Parts of the ArcMap Window
Navigating a Map Display
Zooming Techniques
Using the Identifying Features Tool
Using and Setting Bookmarks
Using the Select Features Tool
Viewing Layer Attribute Tables
Using the Pan Tool
Launching ArcCatalog
Learning the Different Parts of the ArcCatalog Window
Viewing Data Contents in ArcCatalog
Reviewing Different Types of Vector and Raster Data Files
Previewing Data in ArcCatalog
Viewing Metadata in ArcCatalog
Copying and Pasting Data Files in ArcCatalog
Editing Metadata in ArcCatalog
Viewing Data Attributes in ArcCatalog
Creating a Thumbnail Image in ArcCatalog
Searching for Data in ArcCatalog
Adding Data to ArcMap from ArcCatalog
Displaying Geographic Data Using ArcMap
Adding Data to a Map Display
Editing Layer Properties
Editing Data Frame Properties
Creating Map Layouts
Exporting Map Layouts
Printing Map Layouts
Opening Existing Map Documents
Using Non-Spatial Data
Selecting Features by Attribute
Selecting Features by Location
Labeling Features Interactively
Adding a Table to a Layout
Finding Event Location
Connecting to a Folder
Creating an Address Locator
Creating a New Shapefile Data Layer
Adding Features to Shapefile Layers (Heads-Up Digitizing)
Editing Feature Symbology from the Table of Contents
Establishing Buffers
Selecting Features within Buffers
Selecting From a Current Selection
Adding a Field to a Data Layer Table in ArcCatalog
Symbolizing Features by Unique Value
Exploring Spatial Reference
Georeferencing an Image Data Layer
Adding Control Points
Layering Existing Local Data
Downloading Shapefile Data
Extracting Zipped Data
Clipping Data Layer
Downloading Tabular Data
Preparing Tabular Data for Use In ArcGIS
Adding and Displaying Tabular Data to ArcMap
Querying a Data File

Why is this topic important?
Maps are very useful tools. Being able to create a map is an invaluable skill to have. From a simple route map showing how to get from your home to the mall, to a state planner looking at the land uses of his state to attract new industries, to school district looking for the best location for their new high school, maps are crucial in giving the stakeholder a “picture” of what the answer to their spatial question could be. The skills that that are taught in this class allow the user to go directly from classroom application immediately to real world application.

Table of Contents:

Unit 1: Visualization of Spatial Data

Lesson 1 Introduction to ArcGIS ArcMap
Lesson 2 Navigating ArcMap
Lesson Objectives for Lessons 1 & 2

Build a geospatial technology vocabulary with terminology related to tools and functions of the ArcMap software program
Use different geospatial data navigation techniques
Explore elements of the ArcGIS application windows
Explore map scale
Identify vector features in a map display
Identify raster cell values in a map display
Utilize spatial bookmarks in a map display
Interactively select features in a map display
Explore feature attributes

Lesson Exercise: Introduction to ArcGIS ArcMap/ Navigating ArcMap

Launch ArcMap
Open an Existing Map Document
Identify the parts of the ArcMap Window
Understand Map Scale in ArcMap
Use ArcMap Navigational Tools (Zoom, Pan, Full Extent, etc.)
Identify Features in a Map Display
Use Bookmarks to Navigate in a Map Display
Set Selectable Layers in a Map Display
Select Features in a Map Display Interactively
Open a Data Layer s Attribute Table

Lesson 3 Introduction to ArcGIS ArcCatalog
Lesson 4 Navigating ArcCatalog
Lesson Objectives for Lessons 3 & 4:

Build a geospatial technology vocabulary with terminology related to tools and functions of the ArcCatalog software program
Use different geospatial data navigation techniques
Explore elements of the ArcGIS application windows
Explore feature attributes
Explore different data formats
View metadata for different data types
Edit metadata for a data layer
Perform data management tasks
Search for data using geographic search criteria

Lesson Exercises: Introduction to ArcGIS ArcMap/ Navigating ArcCatalog

Launch ArcCatalog
Identify the parts of the ArcCatalog Window
View Data Contents in ArcCatalog
Identify Data Formats
View Data Layers using Various Data File Icon Options in ArcCatalog
Preview Data Geography in ArcCatalog
Preview a Data Table in ArcCatalog
View Metadata in ArcCatalog
Explore Different Metadata Styles
Copy and Paste Data Layers in ArcCatalog
Edit Metadata in ArcCatalog
Search for Data in ArcCatalog
Add Data to ArcMap directly from ArcCatalog

Unit 2: Managing a Data Inventory

Lesson 1 Displaying Geospatial Data
Lesson Objectives:

Explore terminology associated with geospatial data and geospatial analysis
Explore the benefits of a community data inventory
Add data to a data inventory
Explore data attributes
Edit layer properties (layer name)
Edit feature symbology (single symbol)
Edit data frame properties (data frame name)
Create a map layout with necessary map elements
Export a map layout
Print a map layout

Lesson Exercise: Displaying Geospatial Data

Explore Scale Thresholds
Compare the Difference between Entities and Attributes
Sort Records in an Attribute Table
Add Data to ArcMap
Change a Data Layer s Name
Change a Data Layer s Symbology (Single Symbol)
Set a Scale Threshold for a Data Layer
Compare the Difference Between a Data Frame and a Data Layer
Change the Name of a Data Frame
Create a Map Layout
Add Map Elements to a Map Layout Page
Export a Map Layout
Print a Map Layout
Exit ArcMap

Lesson 2: Managing Geospatial Data
Lesson Objectives:

Explore terminology associated with geospatial data and geospatial analysis
Explore the benefits of a community data inventory
Join a non-spatial data table to a spatial data table.
Select features using an attribute-based query
Select features using a location-based query
Label features interactively
Edit a map layout

Lesson Exercise: Managing Geospatial Data

Join a Spatial Data Layer to a Non-Spatial Database Table using Common Fields (Attributes) in each Table
Select Features in a Map Display based on Attributes
Select Features in a Map Display based on Location
Label Features in a Map Display Interactively
Edit an Existing Map Layout Page
Add a Table to a Layout Page

Lesson 3 Creating Geospatial Data
Lesson Objective:

Explore terminology associated with geospatial data and geospatial analysis
Explore the benefits of a community data inventory
Geocode a single address
Create a new shapefile
Edit a data layer to add data to a new shapefile (heads-up digitize)
Edit a map layout

Lesson Exercise: Creating Geospatial Data

Identify a Location using the Find Tool
Connect to a Commonly Used Data Folder to Lessen File Browsing Navigation Time
Create an Address Locator in ArcCatalog
Geocode a Single Address in a Map Display using the Find Tool
Create a New Shapefile in ArcCatalog
Explore the Concept of Spatial Reference
Draw Features in a New Data Layer using the Heads-Up Digitizing Method

Lesson 4: Analyzing Geospatial Data
Lesson Objectives:

Explore terminology associated with geospatial data and geospatial analysis
Explore the benefits of a community data inventory
Geocode a single address
Create a new shapefile
Edit a data layer to add data to a new shapefile (heads-up digitize)
Edit a map layout

Lesson Exercise: Analyzing Geospatial Data

Create a Buffer around Features in a Map Display
Show the ArcToolbox Window in ArcMap
Selecting Features from a Current Selection of Features
Export Selected Features as a New Data Layer
Add a new field to an attribute table
Enter values into an attribute table field
Edit feature symbology (Unique Values)

Lesson 5: Preparing Data
Lesson Objectives:

Explore terminology associated with geospatial data and geospatial analysis
Explore the benefits of a community data inventory
Explore the concept of spatial reference
Georeference an image layer to a feature layer
Create a data layer to add data to a new shapefile (polygon features)
Edit a map layout.

Lesson Exercise: Preparing Data

Georeference an image data layer
Change the coordinate system of a data frame
Edit Layer Properties of an Image Data Layer
Edit a data layer to add data to a new polygon shapefile (heads-up digitize)
Change the transparency of a data layer in the map display

Lesson 6: Planning & Building a Local Data Inventory
Lesson Objectives:

Explore terminology associated with geospatial data and geospatial analysis
Use different geospatial data navigation techniques
Edit feature properties including symbology
Explore feature attribute data
Select features using attribute-based queries
Edit data frame properties
Create a new shapefile data layer
Add data to a new data layer

Lesson Exercise: Planning & Building a Local Data Inventory

Add local data to a new map document to begin creation of a local data inventory
Download a shapefile from the Internet
Extract zipped data files
Clip the features in a data layer using the features in another data layer
Download tabular data from the Internet
Prepare tabular data in a spreadsheet program for use in ArcGIS
Add tabular data to ArcMap
Display XY tabular data in a map display

Who could use this knowledge?

Who are the direct stakeholders?

Skills we assume you have before you take this class: You will need basic computer skills, a working knowledge of an office suite (such as PowerPoint, Word Docs, and Spread Sheets) and experience with access to the Internet.

Software you will need:

An office suite (such as PowerPoint, Word Docs, and Spread Sheets), an Internet Browser, STARS Custom dataset, and ArcGIS Desktop (includes ArcMap and ArcCatalog)

Hardware you will need:

A networked computer lab with a 1:1 ratio of students to computers, which meets the following minimum specifications: Pentium-III, Celeron, Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon running at 1ghz or equivalent, at least 1GB of RAM memory, Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional, a network server providing at least 500MB of storage per student, and appropriate read/write permissions for both the server and workstations. You will also need Internet access and a suitable means of displaying PowerPoint presentations (LCD projector, large monitor, plasma screen, etc.). You will also need a GPS unit.

Teacher Support…

Detailed, thorough student documentation, Full lesson plans including objectives, materials needed, procedures and assessments, PowerPoint presentations with narratives, Customized assessment and answer keys based on local data

What Data will you use…

Filename Type Description
cfcc dbf Census Feature Class Codes

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