LAB 3: Downloading GIS Data

Introduction: The overall goal of this lab was to retrieve data from the internet to portray Census Information for the state of Wisconsin. In order to achieve this goal I had to follow a series of objectives. I had to learn how to download census data, in this case it was the total population from the Census Bureau Website. Then I had to download shapefiles of Wisconsin counties from the same website so I could then represent the data on a Wisconsin map. After this I learned to join the actual data to shapefiles so I could then map it.

Methods:  the first step was to locate and download the actual data from the Census Bureau. In order to do this I had to do an advanced search to find the total population data. After I narrowed down my search to find the population data I checked the box next to the data I wanted to download and saved the zip file in a folder, where I then extracted it. After I had the population data I had to download the shapefiles that I was going to use to portray the information, in this case Wisconsin counties. Through the same website I downloaded Wisconsin counties as a shapefile into the same folder.

After I had all the data I needed I could then start using ArcMap to map the data. The first step was to add the Wisconsin counties shapefile to the map. After that I had to open the population data in an excel document where I could then save it as an excel workbook. Once it was saved as an excel workbook I could then use the table it in ArcMap and then join the data with the Wisconsin counties shapefile attribute table. To join the two tables, I had to find a common attribute between two tables which was the GEO#id attribute. I could then join the tables based on this attribute and thus represent the population data through the Wisconsin counties shapefile.

Because the tables were now joined by a common attribute I had to then create a map to portray the total population of Wisconsin by county. However I first had change the population data column in the attribute table of my counties shapefile to a number type. To do this I added a second column formatted by number type and essentially copied the data from the original population column to the one I recently added. This was necessary in order to be able to symbolize the data under the properties menu. I then opened the properties for the Wisconsin shapefile layer so I could symbolize the population data by a graduated colors map. I selected the value in which represented population and chose an appropriate color scheme and number of classes. Once the information was displayed appropriately through a graduated color symbol map I then added the appropriate tile, legend, and scale bar to the map in order to create a more aesthetically pleasing map.

After establishing a final product representing total population I then created a map similar to this using a different variable. Even though the steps used to produce the second map were the same, the data which was downloaded through the Census Bureau was different. Instead of total population for the state of Wisconsin, the second map portrays the number of households per county symbolized by a similar graduated colors map.

Results:  

       

















Sources:
US Census Bureau 

Lab 2: Esri Virtual Campus - Geodatabase

 

Geodatabase Created
Through Esri Training

Esri Virtual campus online training is a helpful tool when learning GIS. This particular lesson assigned in Lab 2 focuses on how to create a Geodatabase within ArcMap. Knowing how to create a geodatabase in ArcMap is a necessary skill to have in order to successfully create a map. This skill is necessary because a geodatabase is essentially a container that stores spatial attributes and data that is then reflected onto a map. In a geodatabase certain features and their associated attributes can be built in a unified system that enforces rules, relationships and topological relations. Basically a geodatabase is what allows you to model the real world the way you decide depending on the circumstances. Not only did the Esri virtual training describe what a geodatabase does and why it is important, it also teaching about the different types of geodatabases and the specific uses for them. After the training covered the background on geodatabases, the next step was to go step by step on how to create one.



Contents of Created
Geodatabase

The step by step training was helpful in learning how to create a geodatabase. Each step was clear and concise which made following along simple. If there was any confusion when following along with the steps a visual representation was provided. The visual representation provided a specific image as to exactly what the end product of the step should look like. In addition to the images there were brief descriptions explaining the material before each step by step scenario. For example, before going into the steps to “Create a geodatabase and add initial data” there were several lessons to read through and also a video. This helped to enhance the overall understanding when following the step by step process. Instead of simply following through the steps blindly, you could actually have some sort of understanding as to what each step was asking you to do. After completing the lesson I was successfully able to create and comprehend a geodatabase.



Certificate Received
Through Esri Training

In comparison to the MAG tutorials the Esri training is much different. The MAG tutorials provide much of the same information that the Esri online training provides. However, the way the information is displayed in what makes the two very different. The Esri training is much more simplistic compared to the tutorials in the MAG book, which makes the Esri training more beneficial to ArcMap beginners. Both give explanations to the step by step processes but it is much easier to get lost along the way when going through the MAG tutorials. Furthermore, when going through the Esri training I did not encounter any type of program errors. This is another reason I found the Esri training much more helpful. Often when going through the MAG tutorials I encounter several errors within the program along the way even when I follow each step exactly as it is stated. For an ArcMap beginner this is extremely difficult and frustrating because I am unfamiliar with how to fix the issue.  Even though both options are helpful in teaching ArcMap, I found that I preferred that instructions within the Esri online training over the MAG tutorials.