Symbology and vector visualisation
Session 3 in the course: "Introduction to ArcGIS"Geographical information systems (GIS) have become a widely used part of the scientific software field. Some employers value GIS as part a core key skill set in their applicants, and many scientists would benefit from being able to conduct simple analysis and data visualisation for research and publication. In this course, we will be covering an introduction to the ArcGIS software, with worksheets, video tutorials and example assignments.
You require:
- A computer with Microsoft Windows installed.
- ArcGIS version 10.
- Most Bangor University computers have this installed.
- If you are a Bangor University student, you can download a copy for your own machine from IT services.
- This session should take about 30 minutes.
If there are any areas that you are stuck on, I suggest you try to figure it out yourself. This is the best learning tool possible. The last resort, should be contacting someone for help, here’s why and how I do it:
- Follow instructions first, and try to achieve the end product you want. If you can’t get something to work that way, try doing it in a different way. Randomly trying things using similar tools or approaches might yield your end product, but if it doesn’t…
- Search online using particular search terms around the area you want, this might yield some tips that you can follow to achieve your end product. Great tools to use are Google, stackoverflow and particular forums relating to the software or process you’re using. Still stuck?
- Go back to 2 and try again, but this time use different search terms, i.e. more specific or vague, but keep the software you’re using in the search to try to locate a solution. If that fails, then drop the software search term and try to find a workflow from a similar program.
- Final resort, throw your hands up and either write a forum post or contact an expert to help.
You might ask why I have written the above, well, it’s for several reasons but foremost is the value that you gain from finding your own answer is that over time you will be able to use very specific searches to find workflows or solutions that directly help you achieve your end product, and you will hardly ever require anyone else’s direct assistance. This speeds up your work, and increases your self reliance.
Symbology and Vector Visualisation – Session 3 in the Introduction to ArcGIS series
In this session we will alter the look of the Anglesey OpenStreetMap data in our GIS, and construct a clearer visualisation by altering the Symbology of our data. Symbology is the main way that we alter the look and feel of our data, and can be applied to all the different types of spatial data used in the GIS, including both vector and raster data. In this session, we will work with vector data and we follow on from the previous session (Session 2 – Vector Data), so if you have already done that, skip step 1 in the worksheet.
You can either follow the worksheet below in your own time, or you can follow the video tutorial to the left and work alongside it (make sure you are watching in HD mode for best quality):