Assignment 7A procedure Log for zearcaro NR531 Fall 2006

 

Create a map of heavy metal and organic matter sample sites in Eastern North Carolina. Your map should differentiate between sample sites located in/on lakes, rivers, sounds, ocean, and islands.

 

Data:

nc100cb.shp: ArcView shapefile of NC counties

hvymtl.shp: ArcView shapefile of heavy metal & organic matter (toxin) sample sites in the eastern NC study area.

hydro.shp:  ArcView shapefile of hydrologic features (i.e. lakes, rivers, oceans, sounds, and islands) in NC.

This data is in NAD 83 StatePlane FIPS 3200 feet.

 

Data Source:

Ostensible Data Source: USEPA

Actual Data Source: NR531 website http://courses.ncsu.edu/nr531/lec/001/Assignments_F06/assignment_07/assign_7_A.exe

 

Procedure Log:

 

Using ArcCatalog define the spatial reference for each shapefile

Target layers: nc100cb.shp, hvymtl.shp, hydro.shp

For each layer 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

 

Open files to an ArcMap diplay, save as mxd file

 

Join Tables based on Maj_Hydro field

Target Layers: hvymtl.shp, hydro.shp

Right click on hvymtl in contents window

Navigate to Joins and Relates > Join…

In the 1 field choose Maj_Hydro

In the 2 field choose hydro

In the 3 field choose Maj_Hydro

Click OK

Result: Tables joined based on Maj_Hydro field

 

Change Symbology to show which water body type toxin sample sites are in.

            Target Layer: hvymtl.shp

            Double click hvymtl.shp to call up Layer Properties

            Click Categories > Unique Values

            Set Value Field: hydro.LU_TYPE

            Click Add All Values

            Change symbols to brighter colors

            Arrange layers using Symbol Levels so that rare sites can be seen

Result: Toxin Sample sites are now labeled according to land use

 

Answer Questions

 

How many toxin sample sites are located in rivers?

Selection > Select By Attributes

Selection Equation: "hydro.LU_TYPE" = 'River'

Open Attribute table and read selection count

Answer: 97

 

How many toxin sample sites are located in Pamlico Sound? (The MAJ_HYDRO code value for Pamlico Sound is 184)

Selection > Select By Attributes

Selection Equation: "hydro.MAJ_HYDRO" = 184

Open Attribute table and read selection count

Answer:437

 

 

Create Layout to display map

 

Layout view editing

            Rename layers and add them to legend

            nc100cb.shp > North Carolina

            hvymtl.shp > Toxin Sample Sites

            hydro.shp > Hydrological Features

 

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