FOR357/557 – 07
Due: See schedule
Exercise 7a v1.5
Experimenting with Analysis Tools – ANSWER SHEET
NAME ON BACK OF EACH PAGE!
Overview
The objective of this exercise is to have you experiment with some of the analysis tools available in ArcGIS using
simple features so that you can easily see what the tools do. The ability to select the correct tool to carry out an
analysis is an ability you must have if you are to succeed in the use of GIS technology. The first step to being
able to do that is to thoroughly understand what these tools produce in the resulting shapefiles. Experiment
beyond what is in the exercise and make a summary of what the tools do in your notebook! Also look in the
textbook for information. We will look for this summary! In the exercise you will start with selecting features by
location that meet given criteria which could then be exported as new FCs and then move on to the true overlay
tools. The data set is on the schedule page as an .exe file.
What gets turned in
1. The answer sheet at the end of the exercise.
2. The requested simple maps (You can put more than one to a page).
The Assignment
1) Getting started
To label the features do the following
a) Download the data from esf1. Properties/labels
Academic5 (see list below)
b) Check projections etc.
2. Click on the Expression button
c) Create a GDB
3. Make sure the field name is either [name]
d) Import the data into the GDB
or [Id] depending on layer
e) Add all the data into ArcMap
4. Construct VB code like
2) Label all of the layers using the
a. "Id "+ [Id]
OR
following fields (see box )
b. "Name "+[Name]
a) Points , Id ; Arcs, Name;
5. Verify that the syntax is correct
Little_polys, Id; Poly_Circle,
6. Click OK
Name;
7. If the labels don’t appear then right click
b) Poly_hroz_bars1, Name;
the layer an turn labels on.
poly_Vert_bars1, Name
3) Selection of features by location is
often the first step to carrying out an
analysis. This is a powerful tool with lots of options and you have to keep your wits about you when using it.
The best procedure is to set it up and then go back and read what the dialog says to be sure that you are doing
what you wanted.
4) TURN ALL LAYERS OFF! (Right click the data frame)
a) SELECT BY LOCATION
i) Turn on Poly_Circle and Arcs (line FC). Label the Arcs.
ii) Select the Arc features that intersect Poly_Circle1.
Q1: The names of the selected lines (they are numbers)
are:______________________________________________
iii) Turn off layer not used!
iv) Q2a: Now select the points features that intersect Poly. What are their labels?
________________________________________________
v) Now clear all selected features
1
Poly_Circle is really a blob of a polygon and not a set of circles.
FOR357/557 – 07
Due: See schedule
Exercise 7a v1.5
Experimenting with Analysis Tools – ANSWER SHEET
NAME ON BACK OF EACH PAGE!
b) Turn all layers off and clear selections
i) See if you can select all the Little_polys that are completely within Poly_Horz_bars1
ii) Q2b. Describe your experience and why you got the results that you did on the back of the answer
sheet.
c) Turn all Layers off and clear selections
i) See if you can select all the points that appear to be attached to the Arcs.
ii) Q2c Describe how you did it on the back of the answer sheet.
d) SELECT BY ATTRIBUTE
i) Select the Poly-circle feature named ‘Poly’.
ii) Now use SELECT BY LOCATION USING SELECTED FEATURES to select all the points that
intersect Poly-circle.
iii) Q3: Sketch the result in the answer sheet.
iv) Q4: Hummm – why is the point in the middle of “Pete” selected??? Use the “i” query tool. Well,
that could be misleading couldn’t it!
v) Clear all selections and select the Poly_Circle feature named Pete. Do the intersection again.
vi) Q5: What was selected? (type of feature) ___________________________
vii) Q6: How do you explain the fact that intersecting points with Poly_Circle selects all the points
within Poly_Circle and you only get the one point when you intersect with Pete? Is “Pete” in a hole
in Poly or is it a part of “Poly”?
5) Select using WITHIN A DISTANCE OF (when you do these observe the graphic at the side of the dialog
window – do this so that you understand what the graphic is telling you!) (Circle number on answer sheet).
Here you are going to find all the Little_Polys that are within 250 meters of Poly_Circle.
a) Clear all selections and turn off all layers except those needed!
b) Turn on Little_Polys and Poly_Circle. (Little_Polys on top of Poly_Circle).
c) Q7: Select all the Little_Polys that “are within a distance of “ 250 meters of Poly-circle. Which of the
Little_Polys were selected? Circle labels (numbers) selected on answer sheet.
d) Now Buffer Poly_Circle by 250 meters to see if you get the same result as in Q7.
i) Create a 250 meter buffer2 around Poly_Circle (Toolbox – did you set the environment?)
(1) Open the toolbox.
(2) Click on the buffer tool under Analysis/Proximity.
(3) Make a 250 meter buffer around Poly-circle. STOP! Check that the name given to the buffer
makes sense. You want to be able to tell what it is a month later!
e) Q8:What does “within a distance of” mean?
f) Q9: Now do the same thing for Completely within. Which Little_Polys are selected and what does that
mean?
g) Q10: How about Touch the boundary of. Which are selected and what does that mean?
h) Q11: How about Are crossed by the boundary of. Which are selected and what does that mean?
i) These all do slightly different things in the selection process and you have to be careful that you have
picked the right process for what you want to do and then check the results to be sure that was what you
wanted!
Summary:
As stated in the introduction the purpose of this exercise was to have you experiment with the various analysis
tools available in ArcGIS and most other GISs. In particular note that Intersect in the Select by Location dialog
does not give the same results as buffering by a specific distance and then using the intersect tool from the
ToolBox. A real Booby Trap! The real problem is to learn when to use the various tools in performing an
analysis! Practice on that is coming!
2
Buffer is a tool in Analysis Tools/proximity/Buffer
FOR357/557 – 07
Due: See schedule
Exercise 7a v1.5
Experimenting with Analysis Tools – ANSWER SHEET
NAME ON BACK OF EACH PAGE!
Q1. Names of selected features ______________________________________________(4)
Q2a. Labels of selected feature______________________________________________(4)
Q2b: (4)
Q3 (4)
Q4(4)
Q2c on back (4)
Q5 Type of feature selected
Q6
4pts
8pts
Q7 - 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 none (4)
4pts
Q8 – 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 none (4) what does “within a distance of” mean? (4)
8pts
Q9 – 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 none (4) What does “completely within” Mean? (4)
8pts
FOR357/557 – 07
Due: See schedule
Exercise 7a v1.5
Experimenting with Analysis Tools – ANSWER SHEET
NAME ON BACK OF EACH PAGE!
Q10 - 10 20 30 40 50 60 none (4) What does “Touch the boundary of” Mean? (4)
8pts
Q11 - 10 20 30 40 50 60 none (4) What does “are crossed by the boundary of”
8pts
Mean? (4)
Total points____72______
Points off______________
Score_________________