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Getting GPS Data into ArcGIS

At this point, you have successfully collected, corrected, and exported your data using Pathfinder Office.

The next step is to get your data into your GIS and the following slides will help you do this using ArcGIS 9.

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1. Click on the tool that looks like a yellow file cabinet. (shown in picture)

2. When the ArcCatalog window pop up, browse to c:\warehouses and go to the School Map export folders inside C:\PFDATA\.. You should see all of your exported files.

Open your map project again in ArcMap.To retrieve your GPS data you will need to open ArcCatalog.

Bringing your GPS data into ArcGIS

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• Maps are based on coordinate systems similar to the coordinate planes you may have worked with in math classes.

• Different coordinate systems have different names.

• While we won’t cover the details about coordinate systems in these lessons, as you advance in your GIS skills you will find that an understanding of how coordinate systems work is essential.

• This lesson will walk you through the steps to select the coordinate system for your GPS files.

A word about Coordinate Systems

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3. Click on the icon that looks like a little red toolbox. This is called – you guessed it! – ArcToolbox.

4. In the middle column click the ‘+’ next to “Data Management tools” and then the ‘+’ next to “Projections and Transformations”, and then double-click the “Define Projection” tool.

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5. Click on the folder button to add one of your GPS files.

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6. Notice that the coordinate system is unknown (it may also be called GCS_Assumed_NAD1927). Click the button next to the coordinate system box.

7. Click the “Select”, button.

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8. Double-click Geographic Coordinate system.

9. Double-click North American.

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10.Look for North American Datum 1983.prj Double-click on it.

11.Click OK

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12. Click OK. 13. Click Close.

14.Now repeat steps 4 through 12 for each of your remaining GPS files. After you have selected projections (.prj files) for each of your files, go on to the next slide.

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15. Click on the “Add Data” button that looks like a “Plus Sign.” Then select all of your GPS data files and click “Add.”

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16. Now you should see your GPS data represented as polygons on the map!!!!!

NOTE: Only the features you collect in the field will appear in the legend (table of contents) on the left. If you did not collect any buildings, you will not have a layer called “building.shp.”

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17. If you don’t like the colors or patterns of your features you may change them:

Double-click on the symbol you wish to change and select the fill color you like.

You can also browse through the styles under category but using the scroll bar.

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Don’t forget

to save

18.Once you are happy with your color selections you may need to edit or create new data. The next slides will explain this process.

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Creating and Editing Data in ArcGIS 9

You may find that you need to make changes to your attributes, the shape of your features, or that you need to add more features to your map.

The next part of this lesson should be helpful in guiding you through some of the steps.

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You may not have been able to record all of your buildings on campus due to obstructions, poor signal reception or other problems.

Or you may find that you have features on campus that don’t fit into the categories provided by your data dictionary.

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1. To create a new feature you will need to open ArcCatalog. Click on the tool that looks like a yellow file cabinet. (shown in picture)

2. When the ArcCatalog window pop up, browse to c:\warehouses and go to the folder with your county name.

You can easily create new features in your map without using GPS. The technique you will use is called Heads-Up Digitizing.

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3. Go to the file menu and Select “New,” then select “Shapefile…”

4. In the boxes at the top, give your feature a name.

5. Then select point, line or polygon.

6. Then click on the Edit button under the box that says Unknown Coordinate System.

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7. Click on select

8. Double-click “Projected Coordinate systems.

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8. Double-click “UTM.”

9. Look for “NAD 1983” Double-click it.

10. Next select your UTM Zone. This basically describes your longitudinal position on the globe. Check out this UTM Zone Map to determine your zone or the summary on the next slide.

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UTM Zone Roundup

Arkansas – Zone 15 NCalifornia – east of 120°W – Zone 11 N

– west of 120°W – Zone 10 NHawaii – Hawaii – Zone 5 N

– All other islands – Zone 4 NIllinois – Chicago – Zone 15 NLouisiana – Zone 15 NMississippi – east of 90°W – Zone 16 N

– west of 90°W – Zone 15 N

Notice that all of the zones are N for north since we are in the northern hemisphere.

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11. Click “OK.” 12. Click “OK.”

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13.Now you can close ArcCatalog. Add the shapefile you just created by clicking on the button that looks like a plus sign.

14.Browse for the shapefile you just created. Select it and click “Add.”

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15.Click on the “Editor” button and “Start Editing.” If you do not see this button, then click on the button that looks like a pencil and four squares.

16. In the editor toolbar make sure the task is to “Create New Feature,” and the target is the shapefile you just created.

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17.Click on the arrow next to the button that looks like a pencil. Then click on the Sketch Tool, which also looks like a pencil.

18.Start drawing over the feature in your aerial photo. If you are drawing lines or polygons, double-click when you have finished your feature.

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19.When you have finished with all of your features, go to the Editor menu and select “Stop Editing.” Make sure you save your edits.

20.Now you will need to manually edit the attributes for the feature(s) you just added. Right-click on the shapefile you just created and select open attribute table.

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21. Click “Options, Add Field.”

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22. In the Name blank, type Name. In my example this will represent the name of the open-space, digitized on the map. The type should be “Text.”

23.Now you will see the “Name” column in your table.

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24.Repeat the process of adding fields. Add a new text field called “Function.”

Function

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25.Go to the Editor and click on Start Editing. With your table up front and your map, click on the square to the left of your first record in the table. Notice it turns blue. Note also that the feature is outlined in blue as well.

Function

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26.Type in the name and type of feature you have in the table. After you have typed in all of the fields, go to your Editor button and Stop Editing. Save your edits when prompted.

Don’t forget

to save

Function

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If you are in need of adding a feature to an existing layer (such as buildings) which you collected with the GPS, you will need to edit your existing data.

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27.Click on the “Editor” button and “Start Editing.” If you do not see this button, then click on the button that looks like a pencil and four squares.

28. In the editor toolbar make sure the task is to “Create New Feature,” and the target is the one to which you would like to add the feature. Use the pencil tool to trace out the feature in the same manner as before.

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At times you may need to correct a feature which may not appear properly from your GPS data.

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30. In the editor toolbar make sure the task is to “modify feature,” and the target is the one to which you would like to edit. Use the edit tool (looks like an arrow without a tail).

29.Click on the “Editor” button and “Start Editing.”

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31.Click on the vertex you wish to move. Hold and drag to the place you want it.

32.Right-click and select “Finish sketch when you have completed your edits.

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33. If you would like to add a vertex, right-click and select “Insert Vertex.”

34. When you have completed all of your edits, go to Editor> Stop Editing.

Don’t forget

to save

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At this point we should have mapped:

1. An athletic field2. A flagpole3. The buildings around campus

Now, you need to decide how you will finish your work. You can use either GPS or heads-up digitizing to map. You will need to map:

All the athletic fields on your campusParking lots around campusAny gyms or assembly locationsAny other buildings that haven’t been mappedOther features that are important on your school

groundsWe want you to take some time to develop your skills and a final

product that you can be proud of. When you are done with this, move onto chapter 10.