Lab 2: ArcGIS and ArcMap

1. What types of software products are included in ArcGIS and which one will we be

using most in this course?

 

       ArcGIS includes Desktop GIS, Server GIS, Mobile GIS, and Online GIS. We will be focusing mainly on Desktop GIS in this course, particularly ArcMap.

2. Would it be better to perform most of your data analysis and layer symbolization in

data or layout view? Why?

      It would be best to do it in layout view since it enables you to physically observe the data trends more than in data view.

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

     Help > What's This? or Shift + F1

4. How are attributes linked to geographic features?

     They're linked in an attribute table via a "unique identifier"

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

     '.mxd' aka a 'map document' 

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

     View > Layout Zoom, View > Data Zoom 

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.

     Label, Open attribute table, and Zoom 

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?

     If it's grayed out, it means you haven't saved the data into your file, therefore it is not able to access the data. 

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

each.

     Large Scale = more magnification/bigger fraction. Example: map of Northridge

     Smalle Scale = less magnification/smaller fraction. Example: map of Russia

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

     Features are specific points in a map, such as a city marking or a river marking. Surfaces are smooth, broad parts of a map, such as a lake or body of water.

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

12. What are the minimum and maximum elevations of the cities Earhart visited? Briefly

describe how you determined these values.

     Minimum elevation visited: Sea Level, Maximum: 1045ft. Found in attribute table under elevation.

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?

     4,016 miles (approximately). The measure tool can be used or referring to an existing attribute table of African cities and distance between them. 

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

shown on the map?

     Identify > Click on city, or open up the layers to see how it's labeled.

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.

      (Unable to paste screenshot into blog...)