The ArcGIS workshop taught us how to use this particular software in order to make maps that communicate, perform analysis, share information, and solve complex problems around the world. There are two parts to this program; ArcScene and ArcMap - both of which do two very different things.
Throughout the workshop, we learnt how to import data from Digimap and present it in a visual way through this software by layering information that is necessary to our research. We also had the opportunity to use Rhino in combination with Grasshopper to generate a terrain through a 2D image.
Table of Contents
❓Purpose of Using ArcGIS
GIS (geographic information system) is a way to create, manage, analyse and map data that is generated through information we can find about specific locations. In particular, GIS can help architects to understand the patterns and relationships between buildings, spaces, demographics and other data in a geographical context.
Before the workshop, we had been given a data pack that includes information downloaded from Digimap which is designed to be imported into ArcGIS. The task for this workshop was to generate maps with a series of information. I feel that this would be quite useful for doing site research and spatial analysis.
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ArcMap (2D)
— used to edit, analyse and create map layouts
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ArcScene (3D)
— used for 3D visualisation
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ArcCatalog (both in ArcMap and ArcScene)
— used to organise and manage data
A shapefile is a simple, nontopological format for storing the geometric location and attribute information of geographic features. Geographic features in a shapefile can be represented by points, lines, or polygons (areas). The workspace containing shapefiles may also contain dBASE tables, which can store additional attributes that can be joined to a shapefile's features.
TIFF Image
TIFF files are the best choice for importing into image editing applications and are also a common GIS raster data format.
🚘 Process
Open a new Blank Map. The first thing we need to do is check the Coordinate System. If the site is in the UK, we will use the British National Grid however the software does include a wide range of systems.
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It is important that the grid system in the software and the datasets match otherwise you may find that the map is incorrect.
Customize > click Extension > Select all > Close. Then, Right click the ‘layer’ > Properties > Check the coordinate system (British National Grid).
Connect to folder, import the data and check the coordinate system for each layer.
Now, we need to select the specific data through these layers in order to separate them and display them in a different way visually.
In this example, I want to highlight all of the religious buildings in this particular area. I can do this by; Right Click on the layer > Open Attributes Table and figure out which column of information is relevant for my work
Selecting the Data
Click ‘Selection’ on the top tool bar, and select by attribute > choose the target
layer.
Type '=’ >> Get unique value > choose the one you need > Apply > OK
Right click the target layer > data > export data > as a new layer
Export the Map. Select the Page layout by going to the 'Layout' tab and clicking 'Change Layout'
Add in other elements onto the page such as Legend, Scale Bar and set the scale to the desired number.
Export the data either as a PDF or as an Adobe Illustrator file. Whichever way you want to export it is dependant on the kind of presentation style you prefer.
