Introduction to ArcGIS for Environmental Scientists Module 3 – GIS Analysis ArcGIS Toolbox

Tools-1 Introduction to ArcGIS Objectives Learn to find tools Become familiar with some tools commonly used in spatial analysis ESRI and third party extensions

Tools-2 Introduction to ArcGIS Basics The Help panel on the right provides information on each field as you click in it The Tool Help button opens complete documentation for the tool Most tools require an input, output, and optional parameters

Tools-3 Introduction to ArcGIS Finding Tools - Searching Use Geoprocessing  Search For Tools (or click the search icon ) when looking for less commonly used tools Search by name or keyword, possible matches are shown in a dropdown list Note that some tools are not available for all license levels (i.e. ArcInfo has all tools, but ArcEditor and ArcView do not)

Tools-4 Introduction to ArcGIS Finding Tools – Search Results Hover the mouse over the tool name to see a longer description Click the name of the tool to open it Click the path to locate the tool in the catalog window

Tools-5 Introduction to ArcGIS Finding Tools - Browsing You can browse for tools in both the Toolbox and Catalog windows Commonly used tools can be added to the Geoprocessing menu for easier access (and default tools in the list can be removed) in Customize Mode

Tools-6 Introduction to ArcGIS Some Commonly Used Tools Clip Intersect/Union Buffer Near Frequency Merge Dissolve Conversion Tools Project Define Projection

Tools-7 Introduction to ArcGIS Located in Analysis Tools  Extract Used to ‘cookie cut’ one feature based on the outline of another Very useful in terms of managing storage in a project database Similar to: Exporting a selected set to a new feature class Introduction to ArcGIS

Tools-8 Introduction to ArcGIS Located in Analysis Tools  Overlay Creates a new feature class containing features common to all inputs Attributes from all inputs are retained (optional) Similar to: Union, Identity and spatial join Introduction to ArcGIS

Tools-9 Introduction to ArcGIS Located in Analysis Tools  Overlay Creates a new feature class containing all features from all inputs Attributes from all inputs are retained (optional) Similar to: Intersect, Identity and spatial join Introduction to ArcGIS

Tools-10 Introduction to ArcGIS Located in Analysis Tools  Proximity Can be used on points, lines or polygons A negative buffer distance will shrink polygons Also available: Multiple Ring Buffer Tool to create multiple buffers Introduction to ArcGIS

Tools-11 Introduction to ArcGIS Located in Analysis Tools  Proximity Usually used to find distance from point features to other points or lines Only available with ArcInfo Similar to: Point Distance Introduction to ArcGIS

Tools-12 Introduction to ArcGIS Located in Analysis Tools  Statistics Very useful for summarizing attribute information Provides a record count of unique frequency field values even if no summary fields are entered Only available with ArcInfo Similar to: Summarizing a field (from field context menu) Introduction to ArcGIS

Tools-13 Introduction to ArcGIS Located in Data Management Tools > General Input features do not need to be adjacent Similar to: Append Introduction to ArcGIS

Tools-14 Introduction to ArcGIS Conversion Tools Useful for converting data from one format to another; shapefile GDB, as well as converting between vector and raster

Tools-15 Introduction to ArcGIS Batch Mode Available for all tools Right-click the tool and select Batch…

Tools-16 Introduction to ArcGIS Extensions Some tools/toolboxes are only available if the appropriate extension is licensed and turned on Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst and 3D Analyst are some examples of Esri extensions There are also third party extensions like XTools and ArcHydro Extensions sometimes load new toolboxes and sometimes add new menus