ArcGIS Desktop II: Tools and Functionality
(3 days)
Overview
The ArcGIS 9.2 version of this course was titled Introduction to ArcGIS I.
ArcGIS Desktop software is an integrated system that includes all the tools needed to get the most
out of a GIS. This course teaches the range of functionality available in the software and the
essential tools for visualizing, creating, managing, and analyzing geographic data. The hands-on
course exercises emphasize practice with ArcMap and ArcCatalog (the primary applications included
with ArcGIS Desktop software) to perform common GIS tasks and workflows. The tools for creating
and managing geographic data, displaying data on maps in different ways, and combining and
analyzing data to discover patterns and relationships are highlighted, and you learn how ArcGIS
Desktop provides a complete GIS software solution. By the end of the course, you will be prepared
to start working with the software on your own.
Topics Covered
· Spatial Investigating geographic data: How geographic data is stored; Vector and raster
data; Geodatabase basics and advantages; Shapefiles; Coverages; CAD data; Managing data
in ArcCatalog; Displaying data in ArcMap; ArcMap basics; Data and layers.
· Managing map layers: Zooming to layers; Bookmarks; Display windows; Scale ranges; Group
layers; Selection layers; Layer files; Creating hyperlinks.
· Symbolizing categorical data: Symbology; Choosing symbology; Types of symbols (marker,
line, fill); Creating symbols.
· Symbolizing quantitative data: Symbology options (graduated colors, graduated symbols,
proportional symbols, dot density, charts); Classification methods (Natural Breaks, Equal
Interval, Quantile, Manual); Excluding data from a classification; Rendering raster data.
· Labeling map features: Label placement for different feature types (points, lines, polygons);
Label symbology; Controlling label display using scale range and SQL query; Label classes;
Label expressions; Label ranks and weights; What is annotation?; Geodatabase annotation;
Map annotation.
· Using coordinate systems and map projections: What is a coordinate system?; Geographic
coordinate systems; Datums; Projected coordinate systems; Map projections; Feature classes
and coordinate systems; Data frames and coordinate systems; Geographic transformations;
Working with an unknown coordinate system; Projecting data; Defining a projection.
· Making a map layout: Working in layout view; Tools for arranging map elements; Data frame
properties for layouts; Adding legends, scale bars, and other map elements; Exporting maps;
Working with map templates.
· Managing tables: Table structure; Layer attribute tables; Nonspatial tables; Getting
information from tables; Field properties; Table appearance; Creating graphs and reports;
Connecting tables using joins and relates; Cardinality.
· Editing features and attributes: Reasons to edit data; Working with the Editor toolbar; Edit
sketches; Common editing tools; Edit tasks; Snapping to features while editing; Editing
attributes; Calculating values for geometry fields; Working with coincident geometry in a
map topology; Typical editing workflow.
· Creating geodatabases and feature classes: Types of geodatabases; Geodatabase
organization; Feature class organization; Feature class properties and attributes; Metadata;
Creating, viewing, and editing metadata; Importing and exporting metadata; Creating
features in a new feature class.
· Getting locations from attributes: Adding x,y coordinate data; Finding places and addresses;
Finding routes and nearby places; Geocoding; Geocoding components (address table,
address locator, reference data); Address matching overview; Geocoding workflow;
Reference data sources.
· Solving spatial problems with query and analysis: GIS analysis basics; Typical analysis
workflow; Common analysis operations (attribute and spatial queries, clipping data from
layers, buffering features, overlaying features); Overview of geoprocessing; Analysis results.
· Customizing ArcGIS Desktop: Why customize the interface?; Customize dialog box; Locating
commands; Adding new toolbars, commands, and menus; Saving customizations;Saving
customizations; Saving to a template; Storing templates.
Prerequisites and recommendations
Students should have completed ArcGIS Desktop I: Getting Started with GIS or Getting Started with
GIS or have equivalent knowledge.