GPS TO GIS EXERCISE (30 PTS)

Transcription

1 GPS TO GIS EXERCISE (30 PTS) This exercise will allow you to demonstrate your cumulative knowledge of using a GPS receiver to collect data with locational information, downloading this data to a desktop computer, importing the data to ArcGIS, performing some form of data manipulation in which the results will provide new data, and effectively displaying your results in presentation format. Save all files within one folder on your USB drive titled GPSpro. Reminder: No spaces or special characters in file paths, folder names, or field heading names. Requirements: 1. Using a GPS receiver, collect a minimum of 10 coordinate points on campus that will represent the boundaries of at least 2 different areas (ie, the corners of buildings, tennis courts, parking lots, etc.) These points will later be connected with segments to create polygons of those features in ArcGIS. Use the Geographic Coordinate System with NAD83. Record at least three observations about these data points (metadata) (for example, what does the point represent, what side of campus is it on, or any information about the point that might be useful). Keep the metadata consistent for all of the points that you collect. Collect points that are at least 25 feet apart. You can use the following table as you collect your points: METADATA FID Attribute Attribute Attribute Attribute

2 2. Using a serial cable and the Easy GPS program, download the points to a desktop computer in the lab. 3. Convert the data to a format that is importable into ArcGIS. 4. In ArcCatalog, create a new polygon shapefile called Areas with the following state plane projection: NAD83 StatePlane California VI FIPS 0406 Feet. 5. In a new blank map in ArcMap, add the San Diego County boundary shapefile first. Then, add the new Areas polygon shapefile. 6. Add the xy coordinates (GPS points) to the map. Do not use the same coordinate system as in step #4. Rather, use the coordinate system and datum that were used within the GPS receiver. (Geographic Coordinates, North America, NAD1983). Then, export the newly added xy coordinate data to a shapefile. Add the new points shapefile to the map and remove the xy coordinates. 7. Using the ArcEditor Toolbar, create polygons using the points shapefile for reference and save your edits in the new Areas shapefile you created. 8. Buffer the newly created polygons to a distance of 100 feet. Name the output AreaBfr. 9. Using the results of the buffer ( AreaBfr ), calculate the area of the buffer polygons. To do this, perform the following steps: How to calculate AREA: a) In ArcCatalog, select the shapefile ( AreaBfr ) that you want to calculate area for (note, it must be removed from ArcMAP before you can edit it in ArcCatalog). b) Select the preview tab and then change the view (dropdown at bottom of preview window) to table. c) Click on the table options icon in the lower left, add a new field and title it Area with the long integer option, then OK. Then, click on any other folder in the catalog tree to deactivate the AreaBfr shapefile. d) Then, open ArcMap and display the shapefile. e) Open the editor toolbar and start editing using the shapefile you want to calculate area for. f) Open the attribute table for the shapefile. Right-click on the area header at the top of the new field and choose Calculate Geometry. g) Select Area and Square Feet, using the coordinate system of the data source. h) The area of each polygon will be calculated and the results will be displayed in the attribute table, in the new Area field. i) Save your edits and stop editing.

3 10. In the same manner that you added a new field above (except, now select text as the attribute type), add new fields for the other attributes that you recorded in the table on page 1 into the points shapefile attribute table. Then, in ArcMAP, with editing initiated, type in the attributes into each field within the attribute table. Note: If you already added this information in when you created your points text file, then you probably already have the attribute data from the table on page 1 in your points shapefile attribute table. If so, then skip this step Add into ArcMap a second data frame. Put at least 2 reference data layers into each of the two frames. You can use the georeferenced image (.tif), the RoadsAll shapefile, or other reference data from SanDAG for each frame. Add first to each frame a shapefile in State Plane projected coordinate system, so that the frame will be assigned the same State Plane coordinate system. Make both frames the same size. (you can physically adjust the size of one of the frames, then apply the actual dimensions found in the properties of the adjusted frame to the second frame) Use the same extent (i.e., zoom, or scale) within each frame. To do this, you can manually adjust the zoom for one of the frames and note the RF scale value, then apply that value to the other frame. NOTE: If after adjusting the RF scale to match for both frames, the extent of your data that s visible in each frame is not the same, it could be because your frames are not in the same coordinate system. Remember, the coordinate system for a frame is established with the coordinate system of the first shapefile added into the frame. If needed, you can check the coordinate system for each frame by opening the frame properties. Both frames should be in State Plane projected coordinate system. If one of the frames is not in State Plane, then you will have to o Add a third frame to your map. o To this new frame, add in a shapefile that has the state plane coordinate system. o Move the rest of the data from the problem-frame over to the new frame and delete the old frame. o Resize the new frame to match the old frame, and adjust the scale. In one frame, display your shapefile of the polygons you created with your GPS points (Areas). In the other frame, display the shapefile created from the buffer tool (AreaBfr). Display your reference data underneath the newly created shapefiles in each of the data frames. Choose an appropriate extent (level of zoom) to effectively convey the results within each frame. For both frames, change the symbology to most effectively convey your results in a way that will minimize dependence on a legend to interpret the map. Label features as appropriate.

4 12. Insert the attribute table that contains the area calculation results (the AreaBfr attribute table) into the display. To do this: a. Switch to Layout View. b. Open the attribute table for AreaBfr. c. At the top of the attribute table, select <Table Options>. d. Under the options menu, select <Add Table to Layout>. 13. Layout design considerations and map elements: a. Rearrange the layout to effectively display the Areas shapefile with reference data, the AreaBfr shapefile with reference data, and the attribute table that contains the area results, keeping in-mind that you will need some additional space for legends, titles, summaries, credits, etc. Note: You might have to resize the frames for optimum use of page space. Sometimes, resizing map elements, text, frames, etc., occurs several times before you get it just right. b. Insert a main title (capitalizing the first letter of each word, choosing a reasonable font size, and double-checking the spelling), subtitles over each frame, legends (that include meaningful labels for the colors and symbols used in your map), north arrow, scale bar, metadata, credits, and a brief summary of the process executed to arrive at your results for each frame. Place your summaries in the layout in an intuitive and easy to read location, insuring that the words are not too close to the margins of the page or other map contents. Choose an appropriate font and text size, and insure there are no spelling errors. c. Insert your first and last name within the layout. d. Insure that the contents of your layout are not too close to the printable area margin, such that your content might be cut off when printed out. e. Eliminate any significant areas of empty space in your layout by resizing all map elements and contents as necessary. f. Use good balance techniques when deciding where to place your data frames relative to text, legends, and other map contents. g. Tips: i. To place more emphasis on information within your layout, make the text bigger less emphasis = smaller text. Thus, use a hierarchy of text sizes in order for Main Title, Subtitles, summary text, and credits. ii. Don t abbreviate words in titles. iii. Remove borders from legends and frames as a way to optimize the amount of useable space on the page. iv. Edit the legend properties to eliminate the excessive number of significant figures displayed in legend category values. v. Try not to crowd map elements (summary text too close to titles, maps, etc).

5 14. Once you are done with step 13, create a final presentation of your results in PDF format. To do this: a. Select <File>, then <Export Map>. b. In the Save In dropdown menu, select your GPSpro folder. c. In the Save As Type dropdown menu, select <PDF> d. Name the file GPSfinallastname.pdf e. Verify that under the <General> options tab, the Output Image Quality is set to Best. f. Click <Save> 15. your PDF presentation of your results to your instructor as an attachment no later than 7pm on the due date.