Geographic Information Systems in Action

Geographic Information Systems in Action, 1st Edition offers content that not only teaches GIS techniques, the ideas behind them, and how they work, but also—through a series of graded, hands-on content oriented activities--challenges students to think through what they are doing and why before going on to practical ArcGIS exercises. This deeper understanding, and the superior problem-solving skills students gain from using the text, will also make them highly valuable employees, in addition to well-informed students.

Table of Contents:
Preface v 1 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 1 Learning Objectives 1 Behavioral Indicators 1 Chapter Overview 2 What Is GIS? 2 Database Definition 2 Software Definition 3 System Definition 5 What GIS Does 7 Questions Regarding Individual Geographic Objects 7 Questions Concerning Multiple Geographic Entities 7 The GIS User Community 9 Disciplines Employing GIS 9 Examples of Users 10 The GIS Skill Set 12 Incorporating GIS Knowledge and Skills into Your Work and the Workplace 14 Additional Reading and Resources 14 Industry Profile 15 Key Terms 15 2 GIS Representation 16 Learning Objectives 16 Behavioral Indicators 16 Chapter Overview 17 Nature of Geographic Data 17 Types of Distributions 18 Uniform Distribution 18 Clustered Distribution 19 Random Distributions 19 Geographic Dimensionality 22 Points 22 Lines 23 Areas 23 Surfaces 24 Data Measurement Levels 26 Map Symbolism 29 Geographic Scale 30 Projections, Datums, and Reference Systems 31 The Earth Graticule 31 Map Projections 32 Datums 35 Reference Systems 35 Raster versus Vector (Basic GIS Data Models) 38 Vector Data Model 38 Raster Data Model 39 Additional Reading and Resources 41 Pertinent Websites 41 Key Terms 41 3 Creating and Editing GIS Data 43 Learning Objectives 43 Behavioral Indicators 43 Chapter Overview 44 Geographic Data Formats 44 Creating New Features with Template Layouts 48 Creating Point, Line, and Polygon Features 51 Setting Feature Template Properties 64 Creating and Editing Annotations 65 Digitizing Features 76 Editing Topology 78 Principles and Practice of Spatial Adjustment 88 Additional Reading and Resources 107 Key Terms 107 4 Basic Map Queries 109 Learning Objectives 109 Behavioral Indicators 109 Chapter Overview 110 Essentials of Map Layers 110 Selecting Map Layers 117 Using the Add Layers Button 117 Additional Methods for Adding Layers 117 Identifying Features 121 Interactively Identifying Map Features 124 Preparing to Select a Set of Features in ArcGIS 124 Selecting a Set of Features in ArcGIS 127 Selecting by Location 129 Selected Spatial Queries 129 Selecting by Attributes 133 Using Addresses or Place Names to Search for Features (Find) 137 Additional Reading and Resources 142 Resources 142 Key Terms 142 5 Common ArcGIS Tools 143 Learning Objectives 143 Behavioral Indicators 143 Chapter Overview 144 Overlay Analysis 145 Proximity Analysis 148 Summary Statistics 151 Table Management 153 Additional Reading and Resources 156 Key Terms 157 6 Raster Operations 158 Learning Objectives 158 Behavioral Indicators 158 Chapter Overview 159 Raster Data and Map Algebra 159 Spatial Analyst Module, Terminology, and Classes 161 Image Analysis Toolsets and Terms 166 Additional Reading and Resources 179 Key Terms 179 7 Network Analysis 180 Learning Objectives 180 Behavioral Indicators 180 Chapter Overview 181 Geometric Networks 181 Transportation Networks 197 Location Allocation 214 Additional Reading and Resources 222 Key Terms 223 xii Contents 8 Surface Analysis 224 Learning Objectives 224 Behavioral Indicators 224 Chapter Overview 225 Geostatistics (Interpolation) 225 Raster Surface Toolset 241 Aspect 241 Contour 241 Contour List and Contour with Barriers 242 Curvature 242 Cut Fill 242 Hillshade 242 Slope 242 Viewshed Analysis 243 Additional Reading and Resources 244 Key Terms 244 9 Constructing Models 245 Learning Objectives 245 Behavioral Indicators 245 Chapter Overview 246 GIS Models and ModelBuilder 246 Executing Tools in ModelBuilder 248 Additional Reading and Resources 258 Key Terms 258 10 Reporting Results 259 Learning Objectives 259 Behavioral Indicators 259 Chapter Overview 260 Charts and Diagrams 260 Route Logs 264 Web Maps and Story Maps 264 Additional Reading and Resources 271 Key Terms 271 Endnote 273