Introduction to Geographical Information System Practicals

(For this practical task I used ARCGIS 10.3 student trial version)

INTRODUCTION TO ARCGIS SOFTWARE

ArcGIS is a geographic information system (GIS) for working with maps and geographic information. It is used for: creating and using maps; compiling geographic data; analyzing mapped information; sharing and discovering geographic information; using maps and geographic information in a range of applications; and managing geographic information in a database.

The system provides an infrastructure for making maps and geographic information available throughout an organization, across a community, and openly on the Web.

OBJECTIVES : Exploring ArcMap, Symbolizing features, Classifying features and Labeling       

                             features

EXERCISE 1

1.    Open ArcMap.

·         First of all we need to install ArcGIS software package to PC.

·         Go to start > Select ArcMap > Select New map > Press OK

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2.    Add Land use, Roads, DS Division and Town shape files.

There are two method to Add Data

                             I.        Click on Add Data option

             OR

                            II.Go Layers > Add Data > Select Data what you want to add > Press Add

3.    Arrange the order of layers.

We should arrange the order of layers according to user interest. If we arrange it wrong way we will disable to see all information. We can arrange layers by dragging.

4. Change the colors of layers.

Double click on color square > Select color > press OK

6.Use tools in the Tools toolbar to zoom in, zoom out, pan, measure etc.

Names from left to right:

                       i.        Zoom in

                      ii.        Zoom out

                     iii.        Pan

                    iv.        Full Extent

                     v.         Fixed zoom in

                    vi.        Fixed zoom out

                   vii.        Go to previous extent

                  viii.        Go to next extent

                    ix.        Select features

                     x.         Clear selected features

                    xi.        Select elements

                   xii.        Identify

                  xiii.        Hyperlink

                  xiv.        HTML popup

                   xv.         Measure

                  xvi.        Find

                xvii.        Find root

               xviii.        Go to XY

                  xix.        Time slider

                   xx.         Create viewer window

When this tools are not appear on your tool bar, you have to activate it.

·         Right click on free top space > Select tool

7.Change the outline color and width of Roads layer.

Click on color square > Then we can see below window, by the use of that we can change the outline color and width of Roads layer. > Press OK 

8.  Add minimum and maximum scale range to the Roads layer.

 ·         Right click on Road layer > Go to Properties > Then we can see Layer Properties Window > Select General tab > Under that select suitable Scale > Press Apply & OK

9. Remove Town layer.

·         Right click on Town Layer > Select Remove 

10.    Pan and zoom to ATTANAGALLA DS Division and create a bookmark. Display full extent of the map and view ATTANAGALLA using the bookmark.

Right click on DS Division Layer > Select Open Attribute Table > then you can see Table like below from it Select ATTANAGALA / Close it.