ArcGIS Desktop

Ooooo, aaaah, Data Driven Pages! (ArcGIS 10.2)

November 21, 2013 by rjhale

For those readers out there who don’t know this, I really love making maps. More accurately, I love finding better ways to convey information/data to different audiences using maps. So though I do enjoy the aesthetics of a nicely “drawn” map, most of mine are rather simple in design. I want my maps, and the projects created to make them, to be used and useful. My absolute favorite kind of mapping involves developing a process for more automated mapping especially when we are talking a lot of maps.

So boiled down, I like to develop a process for making more uniform and consistent-looking maps through a map series that clearly convey the intended message. For those who were lucky enough to know my former JJG boss, Tom Mettille, I thank/curse him for my little obsession with consistency and attention to detail. Well, him, my supervisor at the time, Michelle Lee, and a couple projects our JJG GIS team did for the Legal Services Corporation Office of Inspector General (OIG) – Georgia Legal Services Program and Atlanta Legal Aid Society and the extended study that covered Atlanta, Georgia, Montana, and Southern California.

For a bit more background, I started working for their team as a GIS intern during the first GA/ATL project that was done in ArcView GIS 3.x. The extended study was done using ArcMap 8.x. They asked me to be the lead in the cartographic development for the extended study. The client wanted an “automated” mapping process that could be used for essentially any U.S. geography. Yeah, I know. I came up with the best solution I could. If you want to know more about that solution, leave a comment or email me.

Back in the ArcGIS Desktop 8.x and 9.x days, I made good use of the DS Mapbook tools. Seriously, I owe these guys and gals a beer or twenty. The tool was so popular that it eventually became Data Driven Pages in the 10.x versions. What’s weird about that last sentence is the use of “popular” because every time I would bring up DS Mapbook, or now bring up Data Driven Pages, I get this quizzical look of confusion and then the inevitable question, “What’s that do?” If you are asking that question right now, Data Driven Pages (and DS Mapbook) allows you to create a series of map pages based on a grid layer (polygon). The map pages are stored within a ArcMap project (MXD). You can find out more from ArcGIS Help 10.2 for Data Driven Pages.

This week, I’ve been helping Randy with one of our clients in forestry/timber. He asked me to create maps for all the tracts they have in their properties that will be used for getting edits from the timber guys. So far, I have 44 tracts falling within 4 main properties but I’m anticipating that they will get more. This needs to be done with topos then with aerial imagery in the background, so at least 88 maps so far. I also wanted to give them a cleaner, more consistent-looking product to share with their own clients. I need to make this easy and repeatable so hello, Data Driven Pages.

Here’s the meat of what I did to make my maps. (Click on the links to get more details):

Create a layer to be used as a grid. A grid is not always a bunch of rectangles. I created a dissolved layer of the land tracts data as my grid. This grid included the following fields: Layout Type (simple P for portrait and L for landscape will do), Property Name (4 main property boundaries), Tract Name (44 sub-boundaries within the properties), Count (n + 1 for tracts in each property), Page (For my example, I just did this: Left(UCase( [PropName] ), 3 ) & ” – ” & [Count])), and Scale (Started with base scale considered ideal but updated the attribute table with any exceptions when I found them).

This is a grid too! Map grid created from land tract polygon layer.

Template for each layout option. I created my portrait layout first after bringing in all my data layers and symbolizing/labeling them as I wanted. I like to nail down one MXD before creating other templates from it, especially when involving multiple layout options.

Group Layers separate the vector layers from the imagery layers.

Set up Group Layers in the Table of Contents. I separated my data in groups called Map Layers (Vector Layers from the forestry/timber folks) and Background Layers (ArcGIS Online Topos and Imagery layers). The grid layers just hover at the top above the group layers. You will find out why further down.

Design the portrait map layout. Get a good idea of how you want the map layout to look and feel. Before I get too crazy with my “decorating”, I like to make a kind of wire frame of everything, check the scales (next bullet), and make any adjustments needed to the data frame dimension.

Create the Data Driven Pages and scroll through the pages to update scale exceptions as well as determine the layout for each tract. This sounds like a lot of work, but it’s really a time saver.
Create selection layers from the Layout Type field then reset Data Driven Pages. I only wanted to generate the portrait maps in the portrait MXD and the landscape maps in the landscape MXD which is why I created the Layout Type field. Data Driven Pages doesn’t care what kind of polygon layer you are using so I took advantage of this by resetting it to use the selection layer created based on the Layout Type field.
Add field-linked text elements to the map layout. These text elements will change based on field attributes in your grid layer as you scroll through the Data Driven Pages created from it. My special text elements on these maps were for: Property Name, Tract Name, and Page.
Finish the map layout design.
Set up Clip Options in Layer Properties to limit the data shown on map. Clip Options can be used to mask out data based on a shapefile or even the Data Driven Pages grid once set. We wanted to ensure that edits coming back to us were only for the tract that the map was created for, not any adjacent tracts that might be in the same area. Therefore, I used this feature to only display the tract used for each page generated. I mentioned creating Group layers earlier. Here’s where those come in handy! Even though I only wanted to show one tract, I still wanted to see the topo/imagery layers in the background beyond the extent of the tract. With Layer Properties > Data Frame > Clip Options, you can also exclude data layers from being clipped. If you don’t have them in Group Layers, you will need to go through and check each one of them. When dealing with multiple MXDs, the Group Layers make keeping track of data layers easier.
Export maps as separate PDFs. Using the Export Map tool, I was able to either save all the Data Driven Pages into one PDF file or I could make a separate PDF for each page. I need the latter. Used File > Export Map > Pages (Export pages as: Multiple PDF Files – page name) to select the options for saving PDFs into a directory.

Portrait map layout for one of the tract pages.

Save a copy of the portrait MXD as the new landscape MXD. Once I had the landscape MXD saved, I was able to create the landscape selection layer from the grid layer, rearrange the map layout elements for the new map dimensions, create the Data Driven Pages from the landscape selection layer, adjust any scales in the selection layer after reviewing each page, refresh the Data Driven Pages, and finally export the maps to PDF.

Have questions or need more information than what is found here? Let me know!

Model Builder Class January 8th 2013 in Chattanooga TN

December 14, 2012 by rjhale

This one day class provides an introduction to ESRI’s Model Builder application found within the ArcGIS Desktop Software. ModelBuilder is an application you use to create, edit, and manage models. Models are workflows that string together sequences of geoprocessing tools, feeding the output of one tool into another tool as input. ModelBuilder can also be thought of as a visual programming language for building workflows.

Subjects covered:

Chapter 1. ArctoolBox basics
Chapter 2. Geoprocessing Basics
Chapter 3. ModelBuilder
Chapter 4. Variables and Parameters
Chapter 5. Connecting Models
Chapter 6. Iterators and Model Only tools
Chapter 7. Python and Arcpy
Chapter 8. Exporting a model to Python
Chapter 9. Document your work.

As always you get 1 year of Level III support.

Class Price:$350 dollars.
Location: Chattanooga TN
Date January 8th 2013

Contact me (rjhale@northrivergeographic.com) for more information.

Introduction to ArcMAP or ArcGIS Desktop

December 1, 2012 by rjhale

ESRI Training has been this mixed bag for me in 2012. With the CTP programing ending – I’ve been making some minor course corrections to the business. That started before I found out it was ending – but with that announcement it was time to do something different. NRGS training is changing – and in a good way. What? you expected me to say it’s getting worse?

I developed a Model Builder class – I’ve taught it once and once the Holidays are over I’ll be teaching it again. It will probably be a regular thing that is going to occur.Expect a Part II covering more python.

I developed a Quantum GIS class – it’s been taught once and I’m making changes to that – I’m really excited about this class. I think it has a ton of potential. Once I got through the first class I realized how excited I was about this class

I’m delving back into my old stomping grounds now – ArcGIS. I received an email from someone last week: I need a step 1 ArcGIS Class. I have no clue what I’m doing. I teach that – ArcGIS Desktop I. Except it’s so hard to get people into the class I rarely teach it. So – a new one day class is forming. This thing is based off numerous clients and 20 years working with the software. What will be covered:

GIS
ArcGIS Interface
Data
Projections
Symbolizing Data
Editing
Map Layouts

What do you get? A days worth of probably not me (see what I did there) babbling about GIS. A years worth of support over email (Level III) and access (finally) to the support website that finally became a reality over Thanksgiving. So hopefully that makes this class slightly more appealing than the other ArcMap classes out and about. it’s priced at $425 per person – but that’s all negotiable. I’ll bring the software and hardware if you can’t make it. Doughnuts are on NRGS. Possibly lunch. I’m not sure how popular this one will be – but – it will be there as an offering.

Bang your head against the Training Wall.

February 8, 2011 by rjhale

When you start a company you must have goals of some sort. You’re really supposed to have a business “plan”. Well – I built a plan in my head and pretty much stuck with it through all sorts of issues and problems. At any point when things got weird on my end (and they have a lot if you’ve been keeping up) I fell back on “the plan“. I grew to hate that plan toward the end of last year which made it hard to follow.

Training was always in the plan. I always thought aligning myself as an ESRI Business Partner and becoming an ESRI Authorized Trainer would be a step in the right direction. I’ve struggled with training. Mostly because it is (was) easy to get into the ATP program but nearly impossible as a new trainer to teach if you didn’t have connections into an organization. It’s tough…it’s competitive.

So last year ESRI changed from the ATP program to the CTP Program. There were a large number of hoop$ that needed to be jumped through. It was time-consuming and it was expensive…and mostly on purpose I think. Starvation is a great way to weed out trainers. So essentially from March of last year till now I haven’t trained. Over all looking back it was a good thing – because I had to scrounge up more work to fill in lost revenue. Last year was rough partially by design and partially I made it that way. I got introspective…I got annoyed and I developed The Plan Part II: Revenge of the Plan.

So I completed the last hoop – I’m temporarily Certified (or is it authorized) to teach ArcGIS Desktop I, II and III.

With all of that said please go to the training page and check out the prices. I am lowering them as low as I can even though materials have more or less doubled. I am currently working on a training facility as I type this. If prices are still too high – email me and we can work something out. If you can’t come to me, I go to you. I can’t keep the prices this low for long – they will go up. Yes it’s the same class as the big company teaches…yes this training will go toward your GISP. Yes – the last day (if held in town) is lunch on me. Yes – pay attention and take notes for it will help in your ESRI <fill in the blank> Certification

With that being said – I’m announcing a non ESRI class: Model Builder with a little bit of Python. I did a 1 hour workshop and had some interest so I decided to turn it into an 8 hour class. My price has yet to be determined because I have yet to finish putting it together.

Email me and let me know what you think. As updates roll in they will go to the training page and to the newsletter. The first newsletter will hopefully go out this week.

Diving into the Deep end….

November 30, 2010 by rjhale

At least I think it’s a bit deeper. I will not be worried about hitting my head in this pool.

I seem to be a lightening rod for questions these days. I apparently am faking it better than I thought. My niece came over the other day. She’s taken on a project and amazingly enough hasn’t had any GIS classes. As the GA URISA Education chair for a few more days that mostly horrified me….as me the mild-mannered GIS dude it completely horrified me. To me that is the equivalent of getting out of college and barely being able to turn on a computer (assuming your major has a component that will touch GIS).

Her project was simple enough…to me. To her it was a mountain. Two things needed to be done – generate random points and put those points on a GPS. I can do that in ArcGIS – at least the random point generator easy enough. I can load the data into a GPS several different ways. But I was bored and I…er we needed a challenge. A challenge that would get her close to finishing what she needed…and not going the ArcGIS route just yet.

I am currently a bit fascinated with Open Source GIS software….which you should be able to tell from the last few posts. I downloaded the OSSGeo4W installer from http://download.osgeo.org/osgeo4w/osgeo4w-setup.exe a few months back. Actually longer than that as I got to teach the Open Source GIS Workshop from URISA over the summer. Actually looking back over the year I’ve had two or three really good things that have happened. This being one of them.

I installed the basic setup on my niece’s computer. That basic setup gave her quite a few tools.

The best tool was QGIS – Quantum GIS. If you haven’t used it you should give it a try. It’s not ArcGIS. I consider that a good thing for now. If you’ve used ArcGIS it’s not going to be that hard to deal with. If you’ve never used any GIS – it’s not going to be that hard to deal with. QGOS 1.6 (Capiapo) was just released. For an open source project it’s quite robust. I actually used a search feature to pull in a WMS layer of Hamilton County TN in less than a minute. (I just searched for “WMS Tennessee” in the add WMS GUI).

In less than half an hour we had walked my street with a GPS unit. Used QGIS to download the data and symbolize it. Traced the empty lot at the end of the street and generated random points inside that lot. I have no doubt I ran through that too quickly and she will have questions. But the nice thing is I don’t have to worry about a 60 day timeout. At the end of this we will finish it up in ArcGIS. For all the niceties of Open Source GIS it still doesn’t make cartographically pleasing maps (In my opinion).

It does make me think though. A buffer is a buffer. Nodes are connected by a line. The science of GIS is the science – be it ESRI software or something else. I search for an answer…and really having more than one tool to get to that end point is a good thing…..Until I’m tossed out of the ESRI Business Partner Program for suggesting that. Hehe.

The real fun in all this…..I get to play the grumpy Uncle. The “just because we did it differently doesn’t make it any less right” Uncle if they are nuts enough to start asking questions on why she did it this way…..

At some point people are going to wise up and stop asking me questions.