Lab 3: Vector and Pattern Analysis in ArcInfo

Introduction

This lab has three parts. Part I teaches you how to use ArcGIS tools in ArcToolbox and ModelBuilder to build an analysis model. In Part II, you will do dasymetric mapping in ArcGIS. The third part involves using ArcGIS spatial statistics tools to do pattern analysis.

 

Instructions

Follow the instructions to finish all three exercises in Parts I, II, and III. Hand in your answers and the associated outputs to the TA. Labs should be typed, include your name, be well organized, and be stapled together.

 

Part I: Using ModelBuilder

Read Chapter 8 and skim chapter 9 of Geoprocessing in ArcGIS (Geoprocessing_in_ArcGIS.pdf). The pdf is in the I:\Students\data\GIS\ArcGIS9.1_documentation\ESRI_Library\ArcGIS_Desktop folder. You will use the GIS data you used in Lab1 for this exercise. First, start ArcMap and add elevation, landuse, rec_sites, roads, and schools to a data frame. Next, create a geodatabase named Site.mdb to store your output information (the exercise will ask for this on page 43). To create a new geodatabase, open ArcCatalog, right-click the folder that is your working directory, click >New >Personal Geodatabase, and name it 'site'. Then, do exercise # 2 (pages 15-46) of Using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Tutorial (Spatial_Analyst_Tutorial_90.pdf). This document is in I:\Students\data\GIS\ArcGIS9.1_documentation\ESRI_Library\Tutorials.
Note: To open the slope tool (page 20), you'll need to first turn on the Spatial Analyst extension license if it isn't already on (via >Tools >Extensions on the menu).


Answer the following questions while you do the exercise:

  1. Look up the majority filter tool in the ArcGIS Desktop Help. Read the help topic and explain how the filter works in terms of using FOUR and EIGHT neighbors.
  2. Print out the model (from design view) you created in this exercise.
  3. Create a map showing Output optimal areas raster (i.e., opt_areas) and Output filtered optimal areas raster (i.e., opt_areasM) and export the map to a JPG and paste it into your lab MS Word document. You will need to insert a second data frame and move one of the raster layers to the new data frame to show two data layers in one map.
  4. In contrast to what you did in exercise #1 in Lab1, what are the benefits of having a GIS model?

 

Part II: Dasymetric Mapping

Click here to get the instructions to Part II.

 

Part III: Spatial Statistics Tools for Pattern Analysis

Click here to get the instructions to Part III.