Getting GPS Data into ArcGIS

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Getting GPS Data into ArcGIS
At this point, you have successfully collected,
corrected, and exported your data using
Pathfinder Office. The next step is to get
your data into your GIS and the following slides
will help you do this using ArcGIS 9.
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Bringing your GPS data into ArcGIS
Open your map project again in ArcMap. To
retrieve your GPS data you will need to open
ArcCatalog.

• Click on the tool that looks like a yellow file
  cabinet. (shown in picture)

• When the ArcCatalog window pop up, browse to
  c\warehouses and go to the School Map export
  folders inside C\PFDATA\.. You should see all
  of your exported files.

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A word about Coordinate Systems

• Maps are based on coordinate systems similar to
  the coordinate planes you may have worked with in
  math classes.
• Different coordinate systems have different
  names.
• While we wont cover the details about coordinate
  systems in these lessons, as you advance in your
  GIS skills you will find that an understanding of
  how coordinate systems work is essential.
• This lesson will walk you through the steps to
  select the coordinate system for your GPS files.

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• Click on the icon that looks like a little red
  toolbox. This is called you guessed it!
  ArcToolbox.

• In the middle column click the next to Data
  Management tools and then the next to
  Projections and Transformations, and then
  double-click the Define Projection tool.

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5. Click on the folder button to add one of your
GPS files.
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• Notice that the coordinate system is unknown (it
  may also be called GCS_Assumed_NAD1927). Click
  the button next to the coordinate system box.
• Click the Select, button.

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8. Double-click Geographic Coordinate system.
9. Double-click North American.
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• Look for North American Datum 1983.prj
  Double-click on it.
• Click OK

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12. Click OK.
13. Click Close.

• Now repeat steps 4 through 12 for each of your
  remaining GPS files. After you have selected
  projections (.prj files) for each of your files,
  go on to the next slide.

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15. Click on the Add Data button that looks
like a Plus Sign. Then select all of your GPS
data files and click Add.
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16. Now you should see your GPS data represented
as polygons on the map!!!!!
NOTE Only the features you collect in the field
will appear in the legend (table of contents) on
the left. If you did not collect any buildings,
you will not have a layer called building.shp.
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17. If you dont like the colors or patterns of
your features you may change them
Double-click on the symbol you wish to change
and select the fill color you like. You can also
browse through the styles under category but
using the scroll bar.
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• Once you are happy with your color selections you
  may need to edit or create new data. The next
  slides will explain this process.

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Creating and Editing Data in ArcGIS 9
You may find that you need to make changes to
your attributes, the shape of your features, or
that you need to add more features to your map.
The next part of this lesson should be helpful
in guiding you through some of the steps.
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You may not have been able to record all of your
buildings on campus due to obstructions, poor
signal reception or other problems.
Or you may find that you have features on campus
that dont fit into the categories provided by
your data dictionary.
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You can easily create new features in your map
without using GPS. The technique you will use
is called Heads-Up Digitizing.

• To create a new feature you will need to open
  ArcCatalog. Click on the tool that looks like a
  yellow file cabinet. (shown in picture)
• When the ArcCatalog window pop up, browse to
  c\warehouses and go to the folder with your
  county name.

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• Go to the file menu and Select New, then select
  Shapefile
• In the boxes at the top, give your feature a
  name.
• Then select point, line or polygon.
• Then click on the Edit button under the box that
  says Unknown Coordinate System.

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• Click on select

• Double-click Projected Coordinate systems.

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• Double-click
• UTM.

• Look for NAD 1983 Double-click it.

• Next select your UTM Zone. This basically
  describes your longitudinal position on the
  globe. Check out this UTM Zone Map to determine
  your zone or the summary on the next slide.

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UTM Zone Roundup

• Arkansas Zone 15 N
• California east of 120W Zone 11 N
• west of 120W Zone 10 N
• Hawaii Hawaii Zone 5 N
• All other islands Zone 4 N
• Illinois Chicago Zone 15 N
• Louisiana Zone 15 N
• Mississippi east of 90W Zone 16 N
• west of 90W Zone 15 N
• Notice that all of the zones are N for north
  since we are in the northern hemisphere.

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11. Click OK.
12. Click OK.
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• Now you can close ArcCatalog. Add the shapefile
  you just created by clicking on the button that
  looks like a plus sign.

• Browse for the shapefile you just created.
  Select it and click Add.

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• Click on the Editor button and Start Editing.
  If you do not see this button, then click on the
  button that looks like a pencil and four squares.
  
• In the editor toolbar make sure the task is to
  Create New Feature, and the target is the
  shapefile you just created.

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• Click on the arrow next to the button that looks
  like a pencil. Then click on the Sketch Tool,
  which also looks like a pencil.

• Start drawing over the feature in your aerial
  photo. If you are drawing lines or polygons,
  double-click when you have finished your feature.

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• When you have finished with all of your features,
  go to the Editor menu and select Stop Editing.
  Make sure you save your edits.
• Now you will need to manually edit the attributes
  for the feature(s) you just added. Right-click on
  the shapefile you just created and select open
  attribute table.

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21. Click Options, Add Field.
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• In the Name blank, type Name. In my example this
  will represent the name of the open-space,
  digitized on the map. The type should be Text.

• Now you will see the Name column in your table.

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Function

• Repeat the process of adding fields. Add a new
  text field called Function.

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Function

• Go to the Editor and click on Start Editing.
  With your table up front and your map, click on
  the square to the left of your first record in
  the table. Notice it turns blue. Note also that
  the feature is outlined in blue as well.

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Function

• Type in the name and type of feature you have in
  the table. After you have typed in all of the
  fields, go to your Editor button and Stop
  Editing. Save your edits when prompted.

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If you are in need of adding a feature to an
existing layer (such as buildings) which you
collected with the GPS, you will need to edit
your existing data.
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• Click on the Editor button and Start Editing.
  If you do not see this button, then click on the
  button that looks like a pencil and four squares.

• In the editor toolbar make sure the task is to
  Create New Feature, and the target is the one
  to which you would like to add the feature. Use
  the pencil tool to trace out the feature in the
  same manner as before.

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At times you may need to correct a feature which
may not appear properly from your GPS data.
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• Click on the Editor button and Start Editing.

• In the editor toolbar make sure the task is to
  modify feature, and the target is the one to
  which you would like to edit. Use the edit tool
  (looks like an arrow without a tail).

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• Click on the vertex you wish to move. Hold and
  drag to the place you want it.
• Right-click and select Finish sketch when you
  have completed your edits.

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• If you would like to add a vertex, right-click
  and select Insert Vertex.
• When you have completed all of your edits, go to
  Editorgt Stop Editing.

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At this point we should have mapped 1. An
athletic field 2. A flagpole 3. The
buildings around campus Now, you need to decide
how you will finish your work. You can use
either GPS or heads-up digitizing to map. You
will need to map All the athletic fields on
your campus Parking lots around campus Any
gyms or assembly locations Any other buildings
that havent been mapped Other features that
are important on your school grounds
We want you to take some time to develop your
skills and a final product that you can be proud
of. When you are done with this, move onto
chapter 10.