1. Major parts of ArcGIS ArcView -Basic mapping, editing and Analysis tools ArcEditor -all of ArcView plus Adds ability to deal with topological and network editing- additional stuff in Arctoolbox ArcInfo- fully functional everything

2. Definitions Features –points, lines, or polygons with x,y coordinates marking the location of points, nodes or vertices Node- the end points of a line Vertices - the corners of a polygon Feature Classes –Contains a number of different features that are all the same type of geometry e.g., they can multiple feature files that are all point features, but not some combo of points, lines and polygons

3. Data Types Raster vs Vector Raster is turning pixels on and off and giving them values –Advantages- looks like a photograph –Disadvantages- at high magnification things can look jagged as pixels are square Vector- uses x,y coordinates to create points, lines and shapes –Advantage is things are smooth at high magnification –Disadvantage is that it looks like a line drawing

4. Data files in ArcGIS Shapefiles –Vector data files –Can be points, lines or polygons –Cannot store topological data –Files have the suffixes.shp,.dbf or.shx –Icons are green with different symbols for points lines and polygons Icons for the three types of vector features

5. Data files in ArcGIS Coverages- topological data sets that contain multiple features classes Files are commonly spread among multiple folders Coverages have a folder with files that have the suffix.adf and a file called info that must be in the same location as the.adf file

6. Geodatabases- one of the newer types of files Contains multiple types of of features classes Can also contain tabular files that are not linked to spatial locations They can store topological relationships between different data sets Data files in ArcGIS

7. Layer files-A layer file contains references to spatial data and how it should be displayed and what basic properties it has –Example, a layer file with basic map symbols can be placed into any work so that there is consistency between jobs (maps) of various types Data files in ArcGIS

8. RASTERS- rasters are arrays of numbers stored in binary format. RASTER files have the data itself, plus some critical information about how the array is set up and how it is georeferenced These can be displayed in a variety of ways, but can only be analyzed when they are converted to grid files Data files in ArcGIS

9. Tables- these can exist as separate files or associated with other files. They can have the suffix.dbf (database file) or as comma delimited text files INFO files are commonly stored as standalone tables with a yellow stripe at the top of the table Data files in ArcGIS

10. Grids - a specialized data file developed by the software manufacturer to allow for rapid manipulation or analysis of RASTER data Data files in ArcGIS

11. TINs- Triangulated Irregular Networks store surface information such as elevation Uses nodes (points) to define triangular shaped planar surfaces. Tins are used to create contour maps and analyze 3D surface information Data files in ArcGIS

12. Metadata Data about the data –Includes who created the file What coordinate system it uses What the fields in the attribute tables mean –What are the abbreviations Plus other information –It is time consuming to create, but ArcGIS will assist in the adding information to the file and in making sure that the metadata stays with the appropriate files

13. ArcCatalog Like having windows explorer operating within the GIS software –It knows how to organize and manipulate and store information within itself

14. Topological models How features (polygons, points, lines) relate to each other –Adjacency- sharing of a boundary State lines, county lines –Connectivity- how things connect if one stream flows into another stream –Overlap- if data relates to same are more than once Spraying of pesticides over the same area –Intersection- types of interactions Highway goes over or has onramps to a crossing road

15. Precision vs Accuracy

16. Geometric Accuracy –How closely do the x,y coordinates of features or raster data reflect their position on the earth? Thematic Accuracy –Refers to the accuracy of attributes Is the population of the city really 734, or is it 7340?

17. Image service vs Feature service data servers Image services –Can view and print out images, but cannot download or manipulate the files Feature services –Can download, view, and printout data

18. http://www.geographynetwork.com Try to find one of each on this site.