Exploring ArcToolbox Presented by: Isaac Johnson

Exploring Exploring ArcToolboxArcToolbox

Presented by: Isaac Johnson

Session Overview

• Introduction to ArcToolbox• Geoprocessing Methods• Exercises

(Sample data used: Orange Unified School District)

• Questions & Comments

Geoprocessing…

…is the processing of geographic information to generate a desired geographical datasetINPUT GEODATA 1INPUT GEODATA 1

INPUT GEODATA 2INPUT GEODATA 2

INPUT GEODATA 3INPUT GEODATA 3

GEOPROCESSGEOPROCESSOUTPUT DATASETOUTPUT DATASET

ArcToolbox contains all of the Geoprocessing tools

Geoprocessing Methods

Common Geoprocessing tasks include:• Converting data (converting a shapefile to a

geodatabase feature class or converting geometry types)

• Overlaying data (uniting or intersecting datasets)

• Extracting data (clipping a subset of data, or selecting data with certain characteristics)

• Managing data (joining fields, copying datasets or creating new datasets)

• Finding what's nearby (buffering data or finding points near other features)

• Finding suitable locations or paths (running Spatial Analyst tools such as Weighted Overlay and Cost Path)

Overlaying Data (Union vs. Intersect)

• Union operation computes a geometric intersection of the Input Features. All features will be written to the Output feature with the attributes from the Input Features, which it overlaps.

• Intersect operation computes a geometric intersection of the Input Features. The Feature or portions of features which overlap in all layers and/or feature classes will be written to the Output Feature Class

Extracting Data

• Extraction by shape: extracts or selects cells based on the specified shape. You have the option to extract the cells that fall within or outside the shape. You can extract by a circle, rectangle, or polygon.

• Extraction by attribute: allows you to extract or select a set of records/features that meet a

specified attribute query.

INTRODUCTION TO ARCTOOLBOX

The ArcToolbox Windows

• Variety of Geoprocessing tasks are completed easily and efficiently using ArcToolbox.

• You can open ArcToolbox from ArcCatalog or an ArcMap document by clicking the icon.

• You can have your own Geoprocessing setting by creating a customized ArcToolbox and rename it to your name.

Right click on ArcToolbox New Toolbox Type in name

Geoprocessing Tasks

You can perform Geoprocessing tasks by:• Directly using tools from the

ArcToolbox• Building Models (Expanding

ArcToolbox)

ARCTOOLS FOR GEOPROCESSING

• Analysis Tools• Conversion Tools • Data Management

Tools• My Tools

The Dissolve Tool

Dissolve Example

Dissolved high school attendance boundaries

High school attendance boundaries

ORANGE’S HIGH SCHOOL BOUNDARIES

The Union Tool

Double-click on Union tool to open the Union dialog box

Union Example

Elementary School Boundary

All Boundaries

Middle School Boundary

High School Boundary

ORANGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES

The Clip Tool

• Can be found in the Analysis Toolbox

• The Clip Tool can handle a variety of data types such as shapefiles, personal geodatabase feature classes, ArcSDE feature classes and coverages

• Can be used to exclude unwanted data from a dataset.

Clipping Example

The Buffer Tool

• Can be found in the Analysis Toolbox and Coverage Toolbox

• The Buffer Tool can handle a variety of data types such as shapefiles, personal geodatabase feature classes, ArcSDE feature classes and coverages

• You can use the Buffer tool to identify an area within a specified distance around a feature

The Buffer Tool (cont’)

•School layer is used as an input dataset.•Specified distance is defined as 1 mile around the school point.•Dissolve all the buffers into 1 feature and remove all overlaps.

Buffer Example

QUESTIONS & COMMENTS