GIS IN ECOLOGY: CREATING RESEARCH MAPS

Transcription

1 GIS IN ECOLOGY: CREATING RESEARCH MAPS

2 Contents Introduction... 2 Elements of Cartography... 2 Course Data Sources... 3 Tasks... 3 Establishing the Map Document... 3 Laying Out the Map... 5 Exporting Your Map... 9 Making a Map Book This is an applied short course on how to use the software. It involves establishing a map document, displaying layers, editing layer properties, modifying data frame properties, and map presentation. The tools and techniques that you learn to work with can be applied to your own ecological spatial data layers this should provide good reference material for when you want to create your own maps for presentation or field work. For additional suggested reading on GIS theory, fundamentals, and software see: and Some excellent ESRI Online Training courses: especially The 15- Minute Map: Creating a Basic Map in ArcMap. GIS in Ecology is sponsored by the Alberta Cooperative Conservation Research Unit ccn@ualberta.ca 1

3 GIS IN ECOLOGY: CREATING RESEARCH MAPS Introduction The purpose of this short course is to familiarize you with using Esri ArcGIS software for creating maps of your ecological data. You will: author a publication study area map format map graphics for presentations generate multiple field site maps Elements of Cartography Conveying your message in a geographically meaningful and understandable way makes all your hard work in collecting and processing your spatial data worthwhile. A map is the primary method for displaying the results of your GIS analysis. In order for your geographic layers to be considered a true map, you must show your audience what they mean, where in the world they are located, and provide clues as to how they should be spatially interpreted. This means providing the following cartographic elements in your map layout: ELEMENT Title Scale Bar Legend North Arrow Geographic Referencing Additional Text DESCRIPTION Tells the map readers what they are looking at a good title includes what, where, and when Helps the map readers determine distance and size Indicates what the symbols mean Directional information for navigational purposes A grid or graticule showing map units or lat/long coordinates to provide locational information; also may use a pullout map i.e. Dates, Data Source, Projection Information, Author Name generally a good idea to provide this additional information so the map readers know when the map data is from, what spatial property has been preserved (distance, area, direction, or shape), and who to give credit to ccn@ualberta.ca 2

4 Course Data Sources Free spatial data that can be used for GIS analysis in ecological applications have been obtained from the GeoGratis website (Canada Land Inventory, Canadian Soil Information System, CanVec, Esri, and ArcGIS Online). The following summarizes the metadata for each geographic layer in the course dataset: Name Description Feature lakes Lakes Polygon landuse CLI land use Polygon Projection / Datum rivers Major rivers and streams Line roads Major roads Line UTM Zone 11 NAD 83 sites Field locations Point towns Towns Point \Alberta.gdb Province, ecoatlas, places, rivers, etc. various Alberta 10TM Forest NAD 83 \WorldData World countries, lakes, etc. Various GCS WGS 84 Tasks Editing layer properties, modifying data frame properties, and map layout Establishing the Map Document 1. Click the START MENU 2. Click PROGRAMS >>> ARCGIS >>> ARCMAP 3. Start using ArcMap with a new blank map and click OK 4. Choose CUSTOMIZE >>> CUSTOMIZE MODE 5. In the TOOLBAR tab, make sure there is a check beside the following toolbars: Standard Tools Draw Layout 6. Click OK ccn@ualberta.ca 3

5 7. Click and drag each toolbar so that they are positioned in a configuration you like Add Layers: 8. Click the CATALOG WINDOW button and dock the window to one side 9. Click the CONNECT TO FOLDER button and navigate to the C:\WorkSpace\4_CRM directory 10. Click the + to expand the folder 11. Click TOGGLE CONTENTS PANEL until you can see the catalog tree and the contents panel windows together 12. Add the following layer files (hold the CTRL key for multiple selections) by dragging and dropping from the SandRiver.gdb to the data frame: lakes landuse rivers roads towns Save Your Map Document: 13. Choose FILE >>> MAP DOCUMENT PROPERTIES 14. Check to Store relative pathnames to data 15. Click OK 16. Choose FILE >>> SAVE AS 17. Navigate to the C:\WorkSpace\GIS- 100\4_CRM directory 18. Type a name (e.g. StudyArea_todaysdate.mxd) and click SAVE Data Frame Properties: 19. In the table of contents, rearrange the drawing order of the layers (drag and drop the layer name) so it makes geographical and visual sense; e.g. roads over rivers, and lakes over landuse, etc. NOTE: Drawing order can only be adjusted when the Table of Contents is set to List by Drawing Order. 20. Double click on the Layers data frame name to open the data frame properties 21. In the GENERAL tab change the Name to Sand River 22. Click OK 23. Choose INSERT >>> DATA FRAME 24. In the Catalog, navigate to the Alberta.gdb and add the following layers: alberta ccn@ualberta.ca 4

6 ecoatlas 25. Click once on the name New Data Frame ; wait a moment and then click it again 26. Change the name of the data frame to Alberta 27. Choose INSERT >>> DATA FRAME 28. In the Catalog navigate to the \WorldData folder to add the layers: countries lakes world Click ADD 30. Adjust the drawing order 31. Click once on the name New Data Frame ; wait a moment and then click it again 32. Change the name of the data frame to World Switch between Views: When in data view, you can see only one data frame at a time. 33. Hold the ALT key and click on the data frame entitled Sand River to activate it To see all data frames at the same time, switch to layout view. 34. Choose VIEW >>> LAYOUT VIEW 35. On the page, click and drag each data frame to position them unobstructed 36. In Layout View, click on the Sand River data frame to activate it 37. Switch to Data View (click button at lower left corner of display window) TIP: Remember to SAVE your map document regularly!!! Laying Out the Map Symbolize Layers: 1. Turn OFF all layers in the Sand River data frame 2. Turn each one on to symbolize as desired 3. Import the symbology from the Landuse.lyr file in the working directory 4. Change the layer names to start with capital letters 5. Repeat setting the layer properties SYMBOLOGY for the Alberta and World data frames 6. Show categories with the value field Ecozone for the ecoatlas layer (Alberta) and a hollow symbol for the alberta boundary ccn@ualberta.ca 5

7 7. Choose a green/blue or grey/white color scheme for the World layers Label Attributes: 8. ACTIVATE the Sand River data frame 9. Right click anywhere it s blank on the MAIN MENU bar 10. Click to show the LABELING toolbar 11. Click on the LABEL MANAGER button 12. Check beside each layer that you wish to label and highlight the <Default> class 13. Specify the field; e.g. NAME 14. Modify the Text symbol; i.e. color, bold/italics and size 15. Click OK 16. Try labeling a few different layers 17. For water, choose Curved as the Orientation and Blue Italics for the color and font 18. Click OK This is just a small taste of what the LABELING toolbar can do. It provides sophisticated tools and options for managing labels for specific layers in the active data frame. See more Essential labeling concepts and About displaying labels in ArcGIS Desktop Help. TIP: The MAPLEX extension enables advanced label placement and conflict detection to improve the quality of the labels on your map. You can also convert to annotation that you can manually modify and move. Scale within Layout View: 19. Switch to Layout View 20. In the Layout Toolbar, click ZOOM TO WHOLE PAGE 21. Choose FILE >>> PAGE AND PRINT SETUP 22. Change the Paper Orientation to Landscape 23. Click OK 24. Resize and reposition the Sand River data frame so it takes up most of the map layout page (click and drag the corner or side drag handles) 25. Resize Alberta and World smaller and move to one side 26. Set the scales so that the layers in both data frames are at their FULL EXTENT 27. For the Sand River data frame, right-click on sites and choose ZOOM TO LAYER Objects in Layout View behave very much like in Power Point: move, resize, modify. ccn@ualberta.ca 6

8 Modify the Data Frame: Within Data Frame Properties, you may modify the frame, add a grid, change the coordinate system, etc. Experiment with different properties to see what they do. 28. Double click on the Sand River data frame to open its PROPERTIES 29. Click on the FRAME tab Optionally, choose a border, background, and drop shadow, then click OK 30. Click on the COORDINATE SYSTEM tab Make sure it is set to NAD 1983 UTM Zone 12N and click OK NOTE: If your data were unprojected then you really should set this to a projected system that best displays your study area! 31. Click on the GRIDS tab Click NEW GRID Choose a Measured Grid and click NEXT Choose Labels only for the Appearance Type in both X and Y axes Intervals Click NEXT twice and then FINISH Highlight Measured Grid and click PROPERTIES In the LABELS tab: a. Modify the Font size, etc. b. Format as Formatted c. Label Orientation for Vertical Labels: Check Right and Left d. Click ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES and in Rounding, set to Number of decimal places: 0 e. Click OK In the INTERVALS tab, choose to Define your own origin and type in 0 for both X and Y Click OK 32. Click OK to apply and dismiss the data frame properties window Insert Cartographic Elements: To make your geographic layers into a true map, you must add the elements of cartography to the data frame in layout view. These are all accessible from the INSERT pull-down menu, while in the layout view. 33. Choose INSERT >>> TITLE ccn@ualberta.ca 7

9 Type STUDY SITES IN SAND RIVER, ALBERTA or something descriptive! Press ENTER on the keyboard Reposition the title object on the map page Modify the font size/style using the DRAWING toolbar tools 34. Choose INSERT >>> SCALE BAR Highlight your choice of scale bar Click PROPERTIES Click the NUMBERS AND MARKS tab Choose Frequency: divisions Click the SCALE AND UNITS tab Modify the scale bar parameters so intervals are not lost upon resizing or scaling. Adjust the following scale bar parameters: a. Number of divisions = 6 b. Number of subdivisions = 2 c. Show one division before zero = check it ON d. When resizing = Adjust width e. Division value = 10 f. Division Units = Kilometers g. Abbreviate to km Click OK twice Reposition the scale bar object Modify the font using the DRAWING toolbar tools 35. Choose INSERT >>> LEGEND Choose to include legend items from only the Sites, Towns, Roads, Rivers, Lakes, and Landuse Click NEXT Type LEGEND as the title and center it Click NEXT Optionally, modify the Legend Frame with border, fill, and shadow settings Click NEXT Optionally, change the legend patch width/height, and select a new line or area symbol for each item Click NEXT Keep the default spacing Click FINISH Reposition the legend object on the map 36. Choose INSERT >>> NORTH ARROW Select a north symbol Click OK Resize and reposition the north arrow object ccn@ualberta.ca 8

10 37. INSERT some additional TEXT with your name, date, and other useful info (e.g. indicate the spatial referencing: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 12N) 38. Use the ALIGN TOOLS in the DRAWING Toolbar to reposition the cartographic objects and data frames on the map layout 39. Right click on any cartographic element and choose PROPERTIES to modify them Inset Maps: Use the Alberta and World data frames to show the location of your study area. 40. Activate the Alberta Data Frame 41. INSERT >>> LEGEND for the Ecozone layer only 42. In the Alberta Data Frame properties: Modify the FRAME so that it has NO border, NO background, and NO drop shadow Set the EXTENT INDICATOR to Sand River 43. Modify the line width and color 44. Activate the World Data Frame 45. In the World Data Frame properties: Modify the FRAME so that it has NO border, NO background, and NO drop shadow Set the EXTENT INDICATOR to Alberta Check the COORDINATE SYSTEM Finally, modify the coordinate system to create a globe-shaped map of the world. 46. In World Data Frame Properties select the COORDINATE SYSTEM tab 47. Choose PREDEFINED >>> PROJECTED COORDINATE SYSTEMS >>> WORLD >>> The World from Space 48. Click on MODIFY Change Longitude Of Center to: -115 Change Latitude Of Center to: Click OK twice 50. Click ZOOM TO FULL EXTENT 51. SAVE your map document Exporting Your Map You may export your map layout as a picture file to insert into other applications, such as MS Word documents or MS Power Point presentations. Once you have a map layout created and designed how you want: 1. Choose FILE >> EXPORT MAP ccn@ualberta.ca 9

11 2. Save as type: select one of EMF, PDF, TIFF, PNG, etc. 3. Expand on OPTIONS and modify the GENERAL and FORMAT as desired (e.g. resolution, color or grayscale, etc.) 4. Type in a file name and click SAVE 5. Experiment with different formats and resolutions, insert into MS Power Point and project or print to hardcopy to test the quality and how well your map conveys information has advice on the various file formats that can be exported from ArcMap. You may also export as Adobe Illustrator (.AI) format to enable further refinement of your map in the external software. Know the author information: Above all advice, consult the target journal instructions to authors on required format, resolution, and other details for figures/maps. Making a Map Book To zoom-in on various areas/extents for separate map pages, use map books: e-layouts/building-map-books-with-arcgis.htm and data driven pages: e-layouts/what-are-data-driven-pages-.htm 1. Set up your main map as usual using the tips and suggestions from above 2. SAVE the new map document 3. Show the toolbar for Data Driven Pages Create a Custom Grid Index: The following uses a GIS tool to create a grid index for specifying the map page extents. 4. In ArcToolbox, click CARTOGRAPHY TOOL >>> DATA DRIVEN PAGES >>> GRID INDEX FEATURES and fill out the following to create an index grid for your sites: Specify the output feature class as: grid25km Select the input features that defines the extent of the index grid: sites Keep "Generate Polygon Grid that intersects input feature layers or datasets" check ON Specify Polygon Width and Height as: 25 Kilometers ccn@ualberta.ca 10

12 Leave all else at their defaults Click OK 5. Zoom in on one of the grid squares and tweak your map: symbology, labels, insert cartographic elements, grid, etc. 6. In the Data Driven Pages toolbar, click the DATA DRIVEN PAGE SETUP button 7. Check to enable data driven pages and select the following: Data Frame = Layers Layer = grid25km 8. Examine other default options and click OK 9. Insert some dynamic text by clicking the PAGE TEXT button; e.g. Data Driven Page Name and/or Data Driven Page with Count 10. Resize the font and place on the map 11. SAVE the map document 12. Export from the layout view to PDF 13. In the OPTIONS, PAGES tab, indicate All pages exported as a Single PDF File (note the other options) 14. Specify the output file name and click SAVE 15. Open the file to inspect it (fix mxd as needed and export again) Map for Each Feature: Try another map book by using features in a layer as the extents. 16. ADD DATA sites 17. Click the ADD DATA drop-down list to select ADD DATA FROM ARCGIS ONLINE 18. Search for imagery 19. Click ADD below World Imagery 20. OPEN ATTRIBUTE TABLE for sites, highlight the first record, and click ZOOM TO SELECTED 21. zoom to desired scale AND CLEAR SELECTED FEATURES 22. Modify symbology as needed, tweak the map in Layout View 23. Set up the Data Driven Pages to use the site layer 24. INSERT dynamic Page Text 25. SAVE the map document 26. Export to PDF using the desired settings 27. Open the file to inspect it (and fix mxd) You now have the basic skills to set up your presentation and field quality maps. It just takes ongoing practice to perfect the art of cartography. ccn@ualberta.ca 11