130
5.2 Geospatial Lab Application
GIS Introduction: ArcGIS Version
This chapter’s lab will introduce you to some of the basic features of GIS. You
will be using one of Esri’s GIS programs to navigate a GIS environment and
begin working with spatial data. The labs in Chapters 6, 7, and 8 will utilize
several more GIS features; the aim of this chapter’s lab is to familiarize you
with the basic functions of the software. The previous Geospatial Lab Application 5.1: GIS Introduction: AEJEE Version asked you to use the free ArcExplorer
Java Edition for Educators (AEJEE), however, this lab provides the same
activities but asks you to use ArcGIS 10.
Objectives
The goals for you to take away from this lab are:
a Familiarize yourself with the ArcGIS software environment, including
basic navigation and tool use with both ArcMap and Catalog.
a Examine characteristics of spatial data, such as their coordinate system,
datum, and projection information.
a Familiarize yourself with adding data and manipulating data layer properties, including changing the symbology and appearance of Esri data.
a Familiarize yourself with data attribute tables in ArcGIS.
a Make measurements between objects in ArcGIS.
Obtaining Software
The current version of ArcGIS (10) is not freely available for use. However,
instructors affiliated with schools that have a campus-wide software license
may request a 1-year student version of the software online at http://www.
esri.com/industries/apps/education/offers/promo/index.cfm.
Important note: Software and online resources sometimes change fast.
This lab was designed with the most recently available version of the software at the time of writing. However, if the software or Websites have significantly changed between then and now, an updated version of this lab (using
the newest versions) is available online at http://www.whfreeman.com/
shellito1e.
Lab Data
There is no data to copy in this lab. All data comes as part of the AEJEE sample
data that gets installed with the software.
Important note: In order to keep the data and results similar, both the
AEJEE and ArcGIS 10 versions of the lab use the same set-up sample data that
5.2 Geospatial Lab Application
GIS Introduction: ArcGIS Version
This chapter’s lab will introduce you to some of the basic features of GIS. You
will be using one of Esri’s GIS programs to navigate a GIS environment and
begin working with spatial data. The labs in Chapters 6, 7, and 8 will utilize
several more GIS features; the aim of this chapter’s lab is to familiarize you
with the basic functions of the software. The previous Geospatial Lab Application 5.1: GIS Introduction: AEJEE Version asked you to use the free ArcExplorer
Java Edition for Educators (AEJEE), however, this lab provides the same
activities but asks you to use ArcGIS 10.
Objectives
The goals for you to take away from this lab are:
a Familiarize yourself with the ArcGIS software environment, including
basic navigation and tool use with both ArcMap and Catalog.
a Examine characteristics of spatial data, such as their coordinate system,
datum, and projection information.
a Familiarize yourself with adding data and manipulating data layer properties, including changing the symbology and appearance of Esri data.
a Familiarize yourself with data attribute tables in ArcGIS.
a Make measurements between objects in ArcGIS.
Obtaining Software
The current version of ArcGIS (10) is not freely available for use. However,
instructors affiliated with schools that have a campus-wide software license
may request a 1-year student version of the software online at http://www.
esri.com/industries/apps/education/offers/promo/index.cfm.
Important note: Software and online resources sometimes change fast.
This lab was designed with the most recently available version of the software at the time of writing. However, if the software or Websites have significantly changed between then and now, an updated version of this lab (using
the newest versions) is available online at http://www.whfreeman.com/
shellito1e.
Lab Data
There is no data to copy in this lab. All data comes as part of the AEJEE sample
data that gets installed with the software.
Important note: In order to keep the data and results similar, both the
AEJEE and ArcGIS 10 versions of the lab use the same set-up sample data that