Lab #10

Lab #9B

1. The state of Iowa contains 99 counties.
2. As of 2001, the county in Georgia  that havd the larges population was Fulton County.
3. The number of cities with in the state of Washington that have a population greater than 10,000 but less than 49,000 is 31
4. The number of miles are 4105.56 of LA interstates
5.

6.1,441,652 acres
7. 522 zip codes
8.



9. there are 2 reservation

10.



Lab #9

I.

1.      What is spatial scope and what are the three types?

Special scope is the extent of area of the input data that are used in determining the values at output locations.  There are local operations, neighborhood operations, and global operations.

2.      What are the two types of Algebra used in queries?  Give an example of each.

There is set algebra which uses the operations less than(<), greater than(>) equal to(=), and not equal to(<>) which can be applied alone or in combination to select features from a set(one example in book is state = Vermont this will query the state of Vermont out)

There is also Boolean Algebra.  This uses the conditions of OR, AND and NOT to select features.  These expressions are most often used to combine set algebra conditions and create compound spatial selections ((area > 100,000) AND (farm_income < 10 billion))

3.      What are the different types of spatial selection operations?

There is ADJACENCY, CONTAINMENT,

II.

4.   Is there a feature dataset in the geodatabase? _yes___________

5.   What features classes are present? __PtDumeQuad, vegetation, wetlands__________________

II.                  Exercise 1: Prepare (simplify) a vegetation layer for the Los Angeles region for further spatial analysis.

6.   How many features (records) exist in the Vegetation feature class in the Lab9aData.mdb geodatabase? _10896______

7.   How many features (records) exist in the new VegCov feature class after running the dissolve operation? ___9____

8.   How many features (records) exist in the new “VegCov_Clip” feature class? ___1450_______

III.

9.   How many wetland features (records) were selected? _129____

10.   How many features (records) were selected? _12____

Lab #8

1)A database management system is a record keeping system.  Its functions are to provide data independence, multiple user-views, and centralized control and maintenance.

2)One-to-one combines a selected query item to select the desired result.  Many-to-one provides multiple items that are being queried.

3)Relational databases are popular due to a fast processing time. The also are more flexible, to provide a loose structure and can accommodate a large variety of data types

4. a)String or text data
    b)String of text data

5. a)LU_discription, LU_generak, LU_type, sq_miles, Acres, Shape_lenght, and Shape_Area
    e)92,236.7 acres
    f)

    g)  

Lab #7

I. Chapter 7

1. The information used for dynamic labels comes from where?

The info comes from the attribure data that is already in the file

2. You are making a map of Los Angeles and have a point layer that shows all the cities in the region. However, you want to show city names for only 3 cities. What is the most efficient way to achieve this?

??

3. Can you manually adjust the position of dynamic labels?

Yes they can if they have been converted to annotations otherwise you cannot

4. Which tool needs to be selected to adjust graphics?

The select elements tool

5. What are the two annotation types?

Standard and feature linked annotations

II. Chapter 18

1. You can create your own ArcMap templates.

a. True

2. If you create a map based on an ArcMap template file (.mxt), can you save it as an .mxd file?

Yes you can.

3. Describe two different ways you can access map templates.

You can open a normal template or a blank document that come pre installed with a template. Or you can choose to access a custom template

4. You are adding five point graphics to your map. Instead of having to change the properties for each one after you add it, you want to set the default point symbol to a size 12 purple star. How do you do this?

??

5. Describe two different ways you can change the color of a graphic circle.

One, in the properites dialog box click the symbol tab, click the color square and change the color

Two, int the drawing tool bar, select the circle and change the color from the drop down box

III. Chapter 19

1. What is the first thing you should always do before setting up your map layout?

Set up the dimension and the orientation of the map

2. Why is the scale different in the data view versus the layout view?

Data view scale is the scale of the map while layout view is the scale of the print page.

3. What are three customization options available for the scale bar?

Scale and units, format, and number and marks

4. Why is it important to use the 1:1(Zoom to 100%) button?

This shows u how the project will come out to the full size of the paper without any distortion to fit the screen

5. Explain how a graphic added to your data view would respond differently compared to a graphic added to the layout view when navigating around your map.

If added to the the data view, the graphic would be its own data frame while when added to the layout view the graphic is posted on the current data frames

Part 2: More about Mapping in ArcGIS

Q1: Choropleth maps are a type of thematic map. Define what we mean by a choropleth map.

Choropleth is a map that represents each category by a different colors for particular range

Groups and Layer Files

Q2: Read about layer files in the ArcGIS Desktop Help. Describe their benefits.

Layer files are a quick access to the information all in one. They reference the information

Q3: How do layer files differ from layer packages?

A layer package is saved as a special file (layer_name.lpk) that contains the map layer, a copy of its data, and an XML file that has a brief description of the layer. Layer packages contain all the information necessary for users to put them to work in their own ArcGIS software

Map Tips and Dynamic Hyperlinks

Q4: What is the population of City of Long Beach for the year 2000?

461,522

Q5: What is the population for the City of Los Angeles in 2000?

3,694,820

Q6: Using the ArcGIS Desktop Help, describe the three types of hyperlinks that can be created.

• Document: When you click a feature with the Hyperlink tool, a document or file is launched using the application with which that file type is currently associated.
• Uniform resource locator (URL): When you click a feature with the Hyperlink tool, a Web page is launched in the default Web browser.
• Macro: When you click a feature with the Hyperlink tool, a value is sent to a macro. This option lets you create customized hyperlink behavior.

Selective Labeling

Lab #6

1. In your own words, describe how symbology can be influenced by scale.

When scale is changed, symbology stays the same size that it was set at. When you go to a smaller scale the symbols are comparatively smaller to the area around them.

2. What are two ways (one direct and one indirect) to access a layers symbol colors so that they can be changed?

Double click on the layer and while in the properties box access the symbology field to change colors.  Right click on the layer, go to properties and access the symbology field.

3. How would you access the graduated symbols classification option?

To access the graduated symbols classification one must access the layer properties box, select the symbology tab, change the show feature to quantities and select graduated symbols.

4. What are 5 other symbology styles (in addition to ‘Conservation’) that are available to customize your features?

Weather, waste water, hazmat, crime analysis, and survey.

5. How could you permanently save layer symbology for use later on?

Right click on the layer and  navigate to “save as layer file”

6. How can pyramids help raster data display faster?

 They are pre-defined resolution settings that vary from coarse to fine depending on the level that is zoomed in on

7. How could you quickly and temporarily change a layer name to aid display in the Table of Contents?

Click once on the layer. Then click again and you are able to type.

8. What is normalization? Give an example of when it would be used.

Normalization is dividing one attribute by another to find the ratio between them.  It would be used for finding the density of a population

9. How could dot density maps be misleading?

The random distribution of dots may be different from the actual distribution of values

Lab #4 ....more to come

Lab #5

I. Answer the following questions based on Bolstad Chapter 7 and lecture.

1. What are some advantages and disadvantages of using digital spatial data?

Advantages are readily accessible and can be use in various projects by various entities.  Directly transferred to other digital devices.  Disadvantages include different formats of data stored, inaccurate data and outdated data being used.

2. What are the most important questions you must ask before using already-developed spatial data?

Is this data relevant and up todate

3. How do DOQs differ from regular photographs?

Scanned aerial photographic images that have been corrected for distortions due to camera tilt and terrain displacement, and then are georeferenced

4. Choose three existing data sets and describe who produces them, what the source materials are and what they contain.

·         Digital Raster Graphic (DRG)-

·         Georeferenced raster image of a scanned USGS map

·         Usually 1:24,000 scale in the US

·         Stored in geotiff format (*.tif). Used for quick check for consistency in data collection and for navigation when displaying data.

·         Digital Line Graphs (DLG)-

·          Vector representations of features displayed on a USGS national series map often in SDTS format.

·         Provide a limited set of attribute information and are highly structured to convey topological relationships

·         Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)-

·         Elevation data in raster format

·         Created from ground and aerial surveys of original elevation measurements

·         Spatial resolution of 30 meters (often 10 meters)

·         USGS National Elevation Datasets –Primary delivery as a seamless data source.

·         Created for specific projects such as road construction

5. What is the difference between DEMs and NEDs?

NEDs provide higher resolution images for larger areas with greater accuracy.

II. Step through the following instructions and answer any associated questions.

a. What are the names of the feature datasets in the geodatabase?

Base map and hydrology

b. What are the names of the feature classes in the hydrology dataset?

NHDFlowline, NHDPoint, NHDWaterbody, Watersheds

c. For each one of the feature classes you just listed, describe whether it is a polygon, line or point layer.

NHDFlowline- line

NHDPoint- point

NHDWaterbody- polygon

Watersheds- polygon

3. Using ArcCatalog, answer the following questions.

a. Is topoq24.shp a raster or vector layer?

vector

b. What is the GIS data format of topoq24.shp?

SHP

c. Is there metadata associated with topoq24.shp?

yes

d. What is the GIS data format of the NHDFlowline layer?

ArcGIS Geodatabase

e. Is there metadata associated with NHDFlowline?

yes

f. What are 3 keywords used to describe the NHDFlowline layer?

FWHYDROGRAPHY, Hydrography, Stream / River

g. Who created the NHDFlowline layer?

Earth Science Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey

4. Export the NHDFlowline feature class to a shapefile format, name it NHDFlowline.shp and place in the Lab_5 folder on your C-drive.

a. Is there still metadata associated with the layer?

Yes there is

b. In the USGS_QD_ID field, find the value that corresponds to the Canoga Park QUAD_NAME. What is it? _34118-B5______

7. Load the DOQQ tiff into your Lab5 ArcMap document. Is the DOQQ black and white or CIR (color infrared)?

Black and white

8. Use the DOQQ and Highways layer to find the CSUN campus. Zoom to that location. Capture a screenshot (Alt+PrintScreen) and paste into a Word document with your other answers for this assignment.

9. Save your Lab5.mxd document and close ArcMap.

10. In ArcCatalog, navigate to your Lab5 folder. Capture a screenshot (Alt+PrintScreen) of the expanded folder/file structure and paste into a Word document.

12. Open the Lab5.mxd document again.

a. What happened to the lacounty_lu01.shp layer?

The La county disappeared

Lab #3: Data Formats & Models

I. Answer the following questions based on Bolstad Chapter 2 and lecture.
1. What is a data model? Describe the two most commonly used data models.
A data model is a set of rules/constructs used to describe and represent aspects of the real world in a computer. Geometric/Geospatial Data- defines spatial location and extent using usually coordinates or pair of numbers. Attribute data- captures non spatial info in an attribute table.

2. What is topology and why is it important?
The study of geometric properties that do not change when the forms are bent, stretched or undergo similar geometric transformations

3. What type of data model would be best for representing hillside slope? Justify your answer.
Geospatial data would best represent a hillside slope when constructing a model of the hillside with spatial information

4. Describe the relationship between spatial detail and cell dimension with regard to raster models.
With a raster model cells represent the given information, with each cell having equal dimensions but different numbers of spatial info for each cell.

5. What are the four types of attribute data? Give an example of each.
Nominal- descriptive categorical data such as a house and a tree.
Ordinal- ranked and ordered data such as lists of smallest to biggest.
Interval- ordered data, with absolute differences in magnitude and arbitrary zero. Range of data along a live
Ratio- ordered data, with absolute differences in magnitude and absolute zero. A number line defined at an absolute zero

6. List two types of vector data file formats.
Shape files and coverages

7. List two types of raster data file formats.
Grids and images

II. Answer the following questions using the data/tutorials supplied in Ormsby
Chapter 4.
8. You can do all of the following in ArcCatalog EXCEPT:
c. Select features

9. In the Chapter 4 exercises, does the World.mdb geodatabase contain a feature dataset?
no

10. What are the names of the feature classes contained in the World.mdb geodatabase?
Cities, countries, disapp_area, and world30

11. What data format does the flight_path.lyr layer file reference?
Raster format

12. What are two ways to add data to an ArcMap document?
Click and drag the data from ArcCatalog to the TOC in ArcMap

13. How many features (records) exist in the dissap_area feature class?
699
14. How can you determine this using ArcCatalog?
By accessing the metadata

15.

Lab #2: ArcGIS & ArcMap

1. What types of software products are included in ArcGIS and which one will we be
using most in this course?

ArcView, ArcInfo, ArcEditor. We will be using ArcEditor the most in this class.

2. Would it be better to perform most of your data analysis and layer symbolization in
data or layout view? Why?

It would be better to perform most data analysis in data view. This view allows you to explore, query or display information where you can edit or analyze data from a single frame.

3. What are two ways to obtain help for ArcGIS Desktop?

To obtain help either press “shift+F1” or go to http://support.esri.com.

4. How are attributes linked to geographic features?

Attributes are linked to geographic features by a unique ID.

5. What is the file extension of an ArcMap document?

.mxd

6. What are two ways to zoom in/zoom out on a map?

Use the zoom in/ zoom out function on the tool bar by double clicking on an area or by clicking and draging to create a box that highlights a certain area.

7. List three operations available in the ‘context menu’ of a layer. Hint: Right‐clicking
with your mouse in the TOC should help you with this question.

Add data, group layers, open attribute table.

8. If the check box next to a layer in the table of contents is grayed‐out, what does this
mean? How would you resolve this issue?

This layer is to small to be seen at your current veiwing scale. Zoom in to see where this layer is.

9. What are the differences between large and small scale maps? Provide an example of
each.

A large scale map has a small ground area shown with a lot of detail such as a city street map. A small scale map has a large ground area shown with not a lot of detail such as a country map.

10. Describe the differences between features and surfaces. Provide an example for each.

A feature is a geographic object in a layer, such as a lake, river or city. A surface is a xontinuous expanse that changes from one location of another such as an ocean.

11. A GIS is a useful problem‐solving tool. You can do all of the following tasks with it,
except one. Which one?

a. Create project criteria
b. Query data
c. Display data on a report
d. Store project data

Using the existing ArcMap document “Ex03c.mxd”, and the knowledge and skills you have
gained from the Chapter 3 exercises, answer the following questions:

12. What are the minimum and maximum elevations of the cities Earhart visited? Briefly
describe how you determined these values.

The maximum elevation was Tucson at 1045ft, and New Orleans at 0ft. To determine this I accessed the attribute table.

13. On the continent of Africa, what is the approximate distance (in miles) from Dakar to
Assab? What are two techniques (one tool and one process) you could use to figure
this out?

It is appx. 6915 kilometers. One way is to select the attribute table of the flight path and summerize the cities from Dakar to Assab and take the sum of the flight path. The other way is to use the measurement tool and measure from city to city.

14. What are two possible methods you could use to figure out the names of the cities
shown on the map?

One way is to right click and turn the labels on for the cities Earhart visited. Another way is to use the information tool and to select a city.

15. Zoom to the extent of North and South America so that all the cities Earhart visited are
labeled. Capture a screen shot (Alt + PrtScr) of this view and paste into your Word
document (Ctrl+v). Turn in this screen shot with your answers from this sheet.

Lab 1b post

1)       a) “A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts.  A GIS helps you answer questions and solve problems by looking at your data in a way that is quickly understood and easily shared”- http://www.esri.com/what-is-gis/index.html

b) “Geographic information system (GIS) technology can be used for scientific investigations, resource management, and development planning. For example, a GIS might allow emergency planners to easily calculate emergency response times in the event of a natural disaster, or a GIS might be used to find wetlands that need protection from pollution.  A GIS is a computer system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information; that is, data identified according to location. Practitioners also define a GIS as including the procedures, operating personnel, and spatial data that go into the system”-http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/gis_poster/

c) “A geographic information system (GIS), or geographical information system, is any system that captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data that are linked to location. In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis, and database technology. GIS systems are used in cartography, remote sensing, land surveying, utility management, natural resource management, photogrammetry, geography, urban planning, emergency management, navigation, and localized search engines”- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_information_system

All of these definitions are quite similar in my opinion. They all include the capturing, analzing and managing data.  The only differences are in how they are applied to individual aspects in the applied project.  The definitions tell me that GIS can be applied to many aspects

2)       Some uses of GIS are many but recent projects include tracking by biologists.  GIS comes in handy to track the migratory paths of animals such as birds.  Once the paths are tracked they can be turned into mapped paths and layered onto maps of particular area.  This helps set up areas to be used as preserves.  Other uses include the maping of geological date to locate water resources and what type of uses the land above or surrounded by them are being used for.  Both these examples are fromhttp://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/gis_poster/.  Another use is to apply GIS towards retail business.  This provides a quick and readily acceable way to call up informations about a certain location and its surrounding demographic. http://www.esri.com/industries/retail/index.html

3)       Three similarities between GIS and maps are the ability to display information, accurate representation of the earth and the ability to locate various thematic elements.  Both give a visual display of information such as where a place is located and some general information about a place. They also provided a longitude and latitude to provide corrdinates as to where it is located.  Then with the thematic elements, various types of topography can be displayed and interpreted. But those are also the differences between the two.  Maps display information but are very limited to what can be printed and manipulated to fit on a map.  GIS on the other hand is able to display multiple information with the click of a button.  GIS is able to provide accurate representations of the Earth to multiple scales why maps are limited to how the scale they were created for.  With thematic elements, GIS has the ability to remove and add layers depending on what you want to display.

LAB 1A

This map comes from a website called 'Who's Your City'

(www.WhosYourCity.com).

This map represents the distribution of where different types of personalities come from in relation to the United States.  I find this map very interesting due to the fact that it does, at least to me, explain why people from different areas are the way they are.  Just from personal experience I can understand some of my family.

This map comes from another blog called 'Strange Maps'

(Strange Maps Blog).

This map represents how cities are incorporating mass transit systems such as subways and metro systems into their city planning.  The map is designed to represent the modern subway maps in the world.  Each stop is a city that has or will have mass transit systems integrated into the city.  After traveling to Chicago this summer, I have fallen in love with how when planned properly, mass transit can save you time and money.  This map is also intriguing by how the world is represented and is now connected by globalization.  

This map comes from National Geographic (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/30805993.html).

This map represents how natural hazards can effect communities and their ability to respond to them from 1960 to 2010 by decade.  The red color represents a high vulnerability to hazards and the blue represents a low vulnerability.  I chose this map because I found the trend of natural hazards to shift from centralized regions to widely spread across the nation.  It is also interesting how there is large areas that are deemed unable to coop with hazards to small, individualized areas.