Barry Biediger Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC) October 28, 2004 Database Issues

Overview Some GIS basics How the database can be accessed Submitting data

GIS = Geographic Information System What is GIS? wells geology topography transport facilities System for management, analysis, modeling, and visualization of geospatial data. Integrates diverse data and models in a map-based context.

What is AT or NEAR Location X? Aerial Imagery Slope or Aspect Point Sources Counties Streams Pipelines Property Boundaries Wetlands Population Streets Utilities GIS Facilitates Data Integration - Location can be used as the central organizing principle for data from multiple databases -Questions can be asked of the data in 2 ways: 1)What is at location X? 2)At what locations does some condition exist? Location X Geology

How a GIS Database Works Items in a traditional database are linked to a geographic representation of their real world location in the form of: - points - lines - polygons - grid cells Vector Data Raster Data

What is AT or NEAR Location X? Oracle/SDE Spatial Data Shapefiles/ GDBs agrc.utah.gov servers Tabular Data File based download Direct database connection with ArcGIS Accessing the Database Internet Map Server Oracle client, Access, Excel

ArcIMS Prototype Site Some basic exploratory analysis tools are included on the ArcIMS site. The user needs only a moderately fast internet connection.

Connecting Directly to the SDE Database Those users with ArcGIS 9.0 can connect directly to the database and work with the data layers directly(read only) Contact Barry Biediger for the connection parameters and details.

File Download If there is enough need, an ftp site can be set up where users can download the GIS data layers in Geodatabase or Shapefile formats. Alternatively, AGRC can send data layers to users as they request them.

Submitting data to the database Any common GIS format can be submitted Shapefiles Geodatabases Coverages Any other format readable by ArcGIS Flat files (e.g. Excel spreadsheets) with coordinates for point features.

Metadata (Data Describing Data) Metadata is crucial for the credibility and understandability of the data. At a minimum, these items need to be provided to AGRC when submitting data: –Description –Source –Scale –Definition of attributes Projection information is absolutely necessary.

Questions, Comments AGRC Contacts: Dennis Goreham, Barry Biediger, AGRC website: –