117
What Kinds of GIS Are Available?
Shapefile is the original file format for ArcView. A shapefile can hold only
one type of vector object—thus there are point shapefiles, line shapefiles, and
polygon shapefiles. Despite the name, a shapefile actually consists of multiple
files that have to be present together to properly represent the data. The files
all start with the same prefix (that is, if the shapefile is called “roads,” then
all the files that it consists of will be called “roads”) but will have different
extensions, including .shp, .shx. .dbf, and others. When copying a shapefile,
you need to move all files with the same prefix to their new location for the
shapefile to function properly.
Geodatabase is a new file format established for ArcGIS. A geodatabase
consists of a single file that contains all of the spatial information for a dataset. Its object-oriented structure is set up such that multiple datasets can be
stored in a single geodatabase, with each one being its own feature class. For
example, a geodatabase called “Yellowstone” could store the park boundaries
as a polygon feature class, the roads running through the park as line feature
classes, and the hiking trails as another line feature class.
Esri is not the only company making GIS software—there are several
other software packages and GIS companies providing a wide range of products used throughout the industry. For instance, there are many Open Source
GIS products available for use and download via the Internet. An example
is GRASS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System), a long-running
free (and open source) GIS software that can handle vector, raster, and image data with many different types of analysis. Some notable commercial GIS
vendors and their software products (and this list is not comprehensive) are:
a Geomedia (from Intergraph)
a IDRISI Taiga (from Clark Labs)
a Manifold System (from Manifold)
Esri data and software products are used in numerous applications across the globe. To keep informed
regarding new Esri updates, software, and realworld uses of GIS, Esri publishes a pair of print publications (and makes articles and content available
free online) as well as an e-magazine. Check the following sites for their publications:
1. ArcNews: http://www.Esri.com/news/
arcnews/arcnews.html
2. ArcUser: http://www.Esri.com/news/arcuser/
index.html
3. ArcWatch: http://www.Esri.com/news/
arcwatch/index.html
Look for some articles related to fields of interest to you. For instance, see how Esri software is
used in environmental monitoring, national security,
urban planning, or law enforcement—and see what
new types of developments are currently underway
in the GIS field.
Hands-on Application 5.6
Esri ArcNews, ArcUser, and ArcWatch
shapefile a series of
files (with extensions
such as .shp, .shx, and
.dbf) that make up one
vector data layer.
geodatabase a single
file that can contain
multiple datasets, each
as its own feature class.
What Kinds of GIS Are Available?
Shapefile is the original file format for ArcView. A shapefile can hold only
one type of vector object—thus there are point shapefiles, line shapefiles, and
polygon shapefiles. Despite the name, a shapefile actually consists of multiple
files that have to be present together to properly represent the data. The files
all start with the same prefix (that is, if the shapefile is called “roads,” then
all the files that it consists of will be called “roads”) but will have different
extensions, including .shp, .shx. .dbf, and others. When copying a shapefile,
you need to move all files with the same prefix to their new location for the
shapefile to function properly.
Geodatabase is a new file format established for ArcGIS. A geodatabase
consists of a single file that contains all of the spatial information for a dataset. Its object-oriented structure is set up such that multiple datasets can be
stored in a single geodatabase, with each one being its own feature class. For
example, a geodatabase called “Yellowstone” could store the park boundaries
as a polygon feature class, the roads running through the park as line feature
classes, and the hiking trails as another line feature class.
Esri is not the only company making GIS software—there are several
other software packages and GIS companies providing a wide range of products used throughout the industry. For instance, there are many Open Source
GIS products available for use and download via the Internet. An example
is GRASS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System), a long-running
free (and open source) GIS software that can handle vector, raster, and image data with many different types of analysis. Some notable commercial GIS
vendors and their software products (and this list is not comprehensive) are:
a Geomedia (from Intergraph)
a IDRISI Taiga (from Clark Labs)
a Manifold System (from Manifold)
Esri data and software products are used in numerous applications across the globe. To keep informed
regarding new Esri updates, software, and realworld uses of GIS, Esri publishes a pair of print publications (and makes articles and content available
free online) as well as an e-magazine. Check the following sites for their publications:
1. ArcNews: http://www.Esri.com/news/
arcnews/arcnews.html
2. ArcUser: http://www.Esri.com/news/arcuser/
index.html
3. ArcWatch: http://www.Esri.com/news/
arcwatch/index.html
Look for some articles related to fields of interest to you. For instance, see how Esri software is
used in environmental monitoring, national security,
urban planning, or law enforcement—and see what
new types of developments are currently underway
in the GIS field.
Hands-on Application 5.6
Esri ArcNews, ArcUser, and ArcWatch
shapefile a series of
files (with extensions
such as .shp, .shx, and
.dbf) that make up one
vector data layer.
geodatabase a single
file that can contain
multiple datasets, each
as its own feature class.