Mastering ArcGIS Desktop

Module 1:

Objectives:
This module explains fundamental GIS concepts and the difference between GIS and cartography (drawing). It introduces the overall ArcGIS architecture and optimal working practices, particularly personal libraries. The second part focuses on using ArcCatalog to manage and search for data.

Topics covered:

• GIS concepts: representing the real world through geographic objects; geometry and attributes; scale, data and symbology.
• ArcGIS overview: the product family and the ArcMap and ArcCatalog applications.
• ArcGIS data models: geodatabases, shapefiles, coverages and others.
• Using personal libraries to optimise recurring work.
• Accessing and searching a data catalogue.

Module 2:

Objectives:
This module provides the essentials for understanding coordinate systems and working with data created in different systems. It explains theoretical geodesy concepts essential to using coordinate systems in ArcGIS. Participants explore how geodetic concepts are implemented in ArcGIS, including geodetic systems, ellipsoids and projections, and how to manage the different systems they use.

Topics covered:

• General geodesy concepts: geodetic system, ellipsoid and projection.
• Coordinate systems: Cartesian, geographic and projected.
• Systems commonly used by participants.
• Projection systems in ArcGIS: defining and changing the system.

Module 3:

Objectives:
This module enables participants to display any type of data in ArcMap and apply appropriate, professional symbology. It also teaches how to query data to create subsets, extract data or update it.

Topics covered:

• Displaying a layer in ArcMap.
• Changing layer symbology.
• Creating custom symbols.
• Selecting features on screen.
• Selecting features by attributes.
• Selecting features by location using spatial queries.

Module 4:

Objectives:
This module explains relational data management tools: spatially enabling non-geographic data through joins, creating new layers through spatial analysis with the Toolbox, and using ArcGIS geodatabases for data storage and management. It also covers importing files from other software, including Excel, AutoCAD and MapInfo.

Topics covered:

• Viewing tables and connecting to an external database with ArcCatalog.
• Displaying tabular data in ArcMap.
• Creating a join between a layer and a table.
• Spatial joins between two layers.
• Creating and loading geodatabases in ArcCatalog.
• Geoprocessing in ArcGIS: the Toolbox.
• Using data import tools (Data Interoperability).

Module 5:

Objective:
This module enables participants to create professional-quality cartographic documents. It explains layout in ArcMap, ways to save and reuse layouts, and how to use templates provided by other users.

Topics covered:

• Designing a map from layer files.
• Defining a reference scale.
• Defining a clipping extent for a data frame.
• Positioning layout elements.
• Creating a locator map.
• Rotating a data frame.
• Using layout templates.

Module 6:

Objective:
This module explores 3D and video representations as GIS data communication tools. Participants learn to use ArcScene to display 3D data and ArcMap's time slider to animate chronological data and export animations to video formats.

Topics covered:

• 3D concepts.
• ArcScene: principles of use.
• Creating 3D views.
• Managing time for chronological layers.
• Using the time slider to create an animation.