Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers 1 GIS and Geologic Mapping Day 1 Tools and methods to get started using GIS geologic mapping USGS Astrogeology

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers2 Introduction  There will be instructional periods to introduce you to the functions of ArcGIS  Followed by hands-on activities to reinforce concepts  There will also be Q&A sessions at the end of each session but feel free to ask at anytime

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers3 Introduction  Day 1 will include an introduction to GIS, the ArcGIS interface, and the basics of adding and editing data.  Day 2 will include more advanced topics, e.g., Projections, image registration, spatial analysis and geostatistics

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers4 Some important notes  USGS Astrogeology primarily uses only one “brand” of GIS (ESRI’s ArcMap, levels)  Other brands exist, both free and commercial  “Free” –Quantum GIS (qgis.org/) –UDIG (udig.refractions.net/confluence/display/UDIG/Home) –Open EV (openev.sourceforge.net/) –JUMP (jump-project.org/) –GRASS (grass.itc.it/)  Commercial –TNTmips ( –ER Mapper ( –PCI GeoMatica ( –Global Mapper ( –Integraph (

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers5 Some important notes (cont’d)  Though this presentation is geared toward geologic mappers, the information is relevant to all GIS users  Screen-shots are likely to differ from individual views  GIS skills are developed through software interaction … be patient and try new things!  Tip icon will point out helpful hints throughout the presentation

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers6 GIS Support  ESRI online portal to technical information –  ESRI ArcScripts –  ESRI Educational Services –Instructor-led training –Virtual Campus courses –Web workshops  Books

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers7 GIS Support Nodes  Planet-specific information (e.g., data, discussion, tutorials) –  USGS discussion board (login required) – … navigate to “Support”  “Planetary GIS Discussions” “Plugging keywords into a internet search engine is a great way to search for GIS-related assistance”

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers9 Arc Environment “Just get me started…”  Introduce ArcMap & ArcCatalog interfaces  Create a FILE Geodatabase (GDB)  Add attributes (domains)  Build a feature dataset and add three features (contacts, structures, units)  Import map bases (raster data)  Edit the features by adding lines and points (vector data)

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers10 GIS - “The horror…the horror….”  Organization!!  Multi-layer display  Digitize and edit on-the-fly  “Easily” generate layouts/figures (Adobe Illustrator compatible)  Raster and vector analysis –Crater counts –Spectral statistics for mapped units –Endless possibilities  Editing –Set rules for validating data –Easily edit/modify existing linework

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers11 ArcCatalog – your friend  Separate entity from ArcMap  Interface is similar to WindowsExplorer –Create new file –Add/Delete folders or files (if unlocked) –Good operating environment for ArcToolbox –Almost always running in background –ArcMap is opened and closed routinely

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers14 “Geodatabase” ?  ESRI FILE Geodatabase  Contains diverse spatial information –Vector, raster, tables –Topology, toolboxes, domains  Easily transferable to colleagues  Easily organized and managed  Stable

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers17 Geodatabase – General Info Tab

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers18 Geodatabase – Domains Info Tab “There is a difference between an attribute domain (described above) and a spatial domain (described later). Use the Arc Help search to see if you can distinguish this important difference”

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers23 Generate Feature Dataset  Geodatabase set  Domains set –Contacts –Structure –Temporary unit names  Next…Create a group of affiliated spatial information…a dataset of features (Polygons, lines, points)

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers26 Domains  There is a critical difference between attribute domains and spatial domains –Attribute domains are characteristics of a GDB that are applied directly to features –Spatial domains are characteristics of Feature Datasets that control (1) the spatial extent that the user can operate in and (2) the precision of the user’s data

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers29 Add “TYPE” Specify “Text” (vs. number, etc.) Specify DOMAIN Specify Geometry

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers30 Three feature classes using three specified attribute domains

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers31 Open existing ArcMap project  Good to have multiple projects (~backups)  Easily transferable to colleagues with GDB  Organizational preferences abound  Start ArcMap  Select: –New empty map –A template –An existing map

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers33 Hands-on (ArcMap/ArcCatalog)  Goals (using pre-loaded GIS, Athabasca Valles)  Add and move data  View properties  Attributes  Domains  Raster/vector  Menus

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers34 Break (10 minutes)  Next  Editing polylines

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers36 Set Projection in ArcMap Data Frame  Right-click “Layers”  Properties  Select appropriate geographic or projected data frame  If feature data is already added, ArcMap may set automatically (Beware)

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers37 Add Features to ArcMap  Drag and drop from ArcCatalog <or>  Use from toolbar and navigate to GDB  Select single or multiple: –Features –Rasters (images or girds) –Shapefiles

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers39 Add Raster Information  Good to organize pertinent project raster data  Raster data is added similarly to Feature Classes  Raster may be Tiff, GeoTiff, Jpg, GeoJpg, ERDAS IMG, GRD, etc…..  Raster may exist in GDB if collectively GDB <4GB. –Strengths and weaknesses to raster info in GDB

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers41 Editing Feature Classes in ArcEditor  Ensure that ArcEditor is functional: –Right-click empty ToolBar and select “Editor” <or> –Tools  Customize  Editor (check)  Dock ArcEditor ToolBar onto ArcMap project “You can grab any toolbar using its handle along the left side (see arrow) and move it where you want. Customize your Arc project!!”

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers43 Start Editing  Under Editor, select “Start Editing” from drop-down menu  Identify the layer you want to edit with the “TARGET” drop-down menu “If you have feature in your project that reside in several different locations on your hard drive, you may have to navigate to that location in the TARGET drop-down menu.”

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers44 Select “Start Editing”

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers45 Click, click, click… Streaming (F8)…

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers47 Select all/some Attribute simultaneously

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers48 Digitize, digitize, digitize…  Tricks: –Editor  Snapping  Will allow linework to snap to ends or vertices –Hit F8 for streaming…hit F8 again for single click –F2 Finishes a sketch –You can pan while digitizing (not streaming) –Attribute while you digitize  Use domains  Use hand-entered  Next  Snapping

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers52 Based on mapping scale. More vertices= more detail AND data (larger file size). Again, based on map scale. This sets the distance between vertices. Note: there are problems with having TOO MUCH detail

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers53 Changing Legend Character  Allows personalized use of legend attributes –Contacts = solid lines –Approximate = dashed –Etc…  Can save out a layer file (*.lyr) for use in other projects.

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers54 Double-click feature in Data Frame to bring up Layer Properties

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers55 Symbology  Categories  Add All Values

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers56 Re-order Symbols Double-click Symbol To change line weight, etc…

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers57 Change Editing Target to Units (vector points)

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers58 Digitize and attribute each mapped unit.

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers59 Attributed Units and Contacts

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers60 Summary  ArcCatalog utility vs. ArcMap utility  Opening a new ArcMap project  Building a new geodatabase  Creating feature datasets and feature classes  Adding Domains for attribution  Importing images and grids

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers61 Summary, cont’d  Adding and starting ArcEditor  Digitizing – click-click and streaming (F8)  Attributing digitized information using domains  Attributing digitized information using hand- entered data  Creating custom legends

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers62 Hands-On (Editing Lines)  Goals –Open Athabasca project –Set snapping –Zoom in and digitize –Save  NEXT  Polygons

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers 63 Polygon Creation  Multiple methods  Draw contacts and convert to unit polygons  Draw unit polygons and extract contacts

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers 64 Polygon Creation  Contacts to units  Start editing line features  Setup snapping environment  Draw  Edit nodes  Stop editing  Arc/Info license: Build polygons from ArcToolbox  ArcView license: free 3rd party software to build  Tools for Graphics and Shapes   Demonstration

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers 66 Polygon Creation  Drawing Polygons  Start by using Create New Feature  ****New polygons cannot overlap, overlay, abut or touch another polygon in the same layer in anyway****  Autocomplete  Use when adding adjacent or internal polygons  Start inside an existing polygon  Draw the polygon around the feature of interest  End the polygon inside an existing polygon  Demonstration

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers 69 Polygon Editing  Editing existing polygons –Cut Polygons  Select the polygon to edit  Start line outside of selected polygon  Draw the line along contact  End outside of selected polygon  See also Advanced Topology Editing  Demonstration

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers 71 Polygon Editing  Editing existing polygons layers  Append Multiple Layers  Demonstration

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Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers 75 Polygon Editing  Extract contacts from polygon file –Use Features to lines tool to create contacts

Oct 2008 GIS for Planetary Geologic Mappers76 Demonstration of Layout View  Legends  Graticules  Insets  Export