GSP 536 Lab 1 - Spatial Data Sources and Data Formats


Due date: Sunday, September 11, 2016

Part 1: Shapefile and coverage

The TIGER/Line ® is an important spatial data source provided by the United State Census Bureau. TIGER stands for Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Reference. Please explore the TIGER products web site at http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/tiger.html. You will find a lot of base data that will be useful in your future work.

In this lab, you will

  1. Download a shapefile (demographic data not needed) of 2010 census tracts of Coconino County, Arizona.  When you are at the downloading page, please choose the "Web Interface" link.
  2. Use the data conversion tool in the ArcGIS toolbox (Conversion tools >> To Coverage >> Feature Class to Coverage) to convert the shapefile into an ArcInfo coverage (If you have trouble doing this, you may seek help by using the discussion area)
  3. Explore the shapefile and the coverage. Describe what folders and files make these two different GIS data formats.
  4. Use ArcCatalog to explore the two data formats, list the contents of each data format.
  5. Compare characteristics of shapefile and coverage based on what you have learned from the lecture and reading materials.

Part 2: USGS datasets

Deliverable 1

Use the Google search engine and labs from previous courses to find information about the following USGS data resources: DEM, DLG, and LULC. Use your own words to describe each data source. Your description should include what it is, how it may be used, the format of the dataset, as well as map scale or spatial resolution of the dataset.  You should include URLs where you obtained the information. Also, Search the ArcGIS online help and describe how to load or import each of these datasets into ArcGIS. Submit the Word document to the BBLearn Dropbox (Project 1 (click to open dropbox)) .

Data Source Description Description Source How to Load/Import into ArcGIS ArcGIS Import Instructions Source
DEM USGS DEMs are a digital representation of cartographic data. DEM stands for Digital Elevation Model. DEMs are produced by the USGS as part of the National Mapping Program, and are used in projects that require elevation data. They are available in resolutions from 7.5 minutes of latitude/longitude all the way to 1 degree of latitude/longitude. They are in raster format. Answers to Lab 7, GSP 533, Spring 2016

To import a DEM into ArcGIS, use the Raster to Other Format tool in ArcMap.
(Conversion Tools | To Raster | Raster To Other Format)

  1. Select a DEM in the Input Rasters box.
  2. Specify the Output Workspace
  3. Select an output raster format
  4. Click OK to finish. Preview the grid in ArcCatalog.
  5. After converting a DEM, use ArcCatalog to change the name of the output DEM to a desired name.
 Answers to Lab 7, GSP 533, Spring 2016
DLG

Digital Line Graphs (DLGs) are digital, vector format representations of cartographic information derived from USGS maps and related sources, and are used in projects that require feature classes such as roads, buildings, large equipment, forest types, and many many more. DLGs come in 2 scales: 7.5 minute, and 1:100,000.

https://lta.cr.usgs.gov/DLGs You used the Import From DLG (Coverage) tool in ArcToolbox. Or, call the equivalent function from a Python Script. http://resources.esri.com/help/9.3/ArcGISengine/java/gp_toolref/coverage_tools/import_from_dlg_coverage_.htm
LULC

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) datasets are manual interpretations of land use data from 70s and 80s era aerial photographs. They are based on 1:100,000- and 1:250,000-scale USGS topographic quadrangles, and are available in either GIRAS or Grid vector formats.

http://web.archive.org/web/20080516203156/http://eros.usgs.gov/products/landcover/lulc.html You use ArcInfo to import LULC datasets as ArcGIS coverages. http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/gishydro/docs/amls/lulc.htm