Assignment 8 procedure Log
for zearcaro NR531 Fall 2006
Looking
for a rare species of fern that grows near streams in
Data:
A
shapefile of roads within the forest: roads.shp, roads.shx, roads.dbf
A
shapefile of trails within the forest: trails.shp, trails.shx, trails.dbf
A
shapefile of streams within the forest: streams.shp, streams.shx, streams.dbf
A
shapefile of soils within the forest: soils.shp, soils.shx, soils.dbf
This
data is in NAD 83 StatePlane FIPS 3200 feet.
Data Source:
Ostensible Data Source: Manager
of the NC
Actual Data Source: NR531
website http://courses.ncsu.edu/nr531/lec/001/Assignments_F06/assignment_08/assign8_data.exe
Procedure Log:
Define the spatial reference
for streams shapefile
Target layers: roads,
trails, streams, soils
Double
click to open shapefile properties.
Click
the Shape row
In
Field Properties select correct coordinate system:
NAD 83 StatePlane
FIPS 3200 feet
Result: Layers now in correct
projection
Using ArcCatalog create a
Personal Geodatabase containing a feature dataset
Target
layers: roads, trails, streams, soils
Right
click > new > personal Geodatabase
Right
click new Geodatabase > new > feature dataset
Import
projection from streams layer
Widen
y range by 30000 on each side of domain > no domain errors
Import
roads, trails, streams, soils shapefiles into feature
dataset
Result:
feature dataset created and loaded with needed files
Now
Arcmap will calculate areas
Open ArcMap
and save mxd with relative path names
Target
layers roads, trails, streams, soils
File
> map properties > Data source options > Store relative path names
File
> save
Result:
mxd file save for project
Buffer streams layer
Target
Layers:streams
Analysis Tools > Proximity >
Buffer
Buffer 35 feet, Dissolve: All
Result: buffer layer (streams_buffer)
created
Select nonhydric
soils and create new layer
Target
Layers: soils
Select
by attributes using [HYDRIC] = ' '
Right
click soils layer > Data > Export Data
Result:
new layer created (soils_export)
Use intersect to find area
that meets both criteria
Target
Layers: streams_buffer, soils_export
Analysis
Tools > Overlay > Intersect
Result:
new layer created (streams_soils_intersect)
Answer Questions
What
is the total area (in square feet) of suitable fern habitat in
Target
Layers: streams_soils_intersect
Select all of streams_soils_intersect layer
Go
to selection statistics >Shape_Area > Sum
>517987 sqft
Result:
517987 sqft
What
is the total area of non-hydric soils in
Target
Layers: soils
Select all of soils_export layer
Go
to selection statistics >Shape_Area > Sum >9673864
sqft
Result:
9673864 sqft
What is the total length of streams with a STREAMS_ID value of 1, 2, 3, or
4?
Target
Layers: streams
Select
by attributes: [STREAMS_ID] = 1 OR [STREAMS_ID] = 2 OR [STREAMS_ID] = 3 OR
[STREAMS_ID] = 4
Go
to selection statistics >streams > length> sum >9257 ft
Result:
9257 ft
What
is the total number of roads and trails that come within 150 feet of a stream?
Target
Layers:streams, roads
Select
by location > I want to select features from the following layer (roads,
trails) that are within a distance of the features in this layer: streams. Buffer 150 feet
Open
attribute tables and view how many are selected
Result:
two roads and six trails for a total of eight
What
is the total length of roads and trails that fall within a 35-foot stream
buffer?
Merge roads and trails layers
Target
Layers: roads and trails
Data
management tools > General > Merge
Result:
New layer created (trails_merge)
Clip
trails_merge using streams_buffer
layer
Target
Layers: trails_merge, streams_buffer
Analysis
tools > Extract > clip
Result:
New layer created (trails_merge_clip)
Select
layer and find answer
Target
Layers: trails_merge_clip
Select
all of trails_merge_clip layer
Selection
Statistics > total length > sum >1516 feet
Result:
1516 feet
Create Layout to display map
Layout view editing
Rename layers and add them to legend
Add scale bar
Activate map
Click Insert > Scale Bar
Ensure units are in miles
Choose appropriate bar
Make sure bar display has nice numbers (ie 2000, not 1950)
Result: scale bar now present
Add North Arrow
Activate map
Insert > North Arrow
Choose appropriate arrow
Result: North arrow now present
Add Title
Click new text button
Enter appropriate information
Format to large size by changing symbol to font size 22
Result: Title now present
Add name and date
Click new text button
Enter appropriate information
Result: name and date now present
Add Neatline
Click Insert > Neatline
Select Place inside margins
Result: neatline now present
Add legend
Click Insert > Legend
Set border line at 1.0 point
Set background color to white
Result: legend now present
Format legend
Double click legend to get legend properties dialog open
Click Frame tab
Set both X and Y gap for both border and background to 5
points
Click Legend tab
Result: legend now more visually appealing
Resize all items to reduce
clutter and improve readability
Select items individually, place and resize appropriately
Result: layout now more visually appealing