Book Image

Learning ArcGIS Pro 2 - Second Edition

By : Tripp Corbin GISP
Book Image

Learning ArcGIS Pro 2 - Second Edition

By: Tripp Corbin GISP

Overview of this book

Armed with powerful tools to visualize, maintain, and analyze data, ArcGIS Pro 2 is Esri's newest desktop geographic information system (GIS) application that uses the modern ribbon interface and a 64-bit processor to make using GIS faster and more efficient. This second edition of Learning ArcGIS Pro will show you how you can use this powerful desktop GIS application to create maps, perform spatial analysis, and maintain data. The book begins by showing you how to install ArcGIS and listing the software and hardware prerequisites. You’ll then understand the concept of named user licensing and learn how to navigate the new ribbon interface to leverage the power of ArcGIS Pro for managing geospatial data. Once you’ve got to grips with the new interface, you’ll build your first GIS project and understand how to use the different project resources available. The book shows you how to create 2D and 3D maps by adding layers and setting and managing the symbology and labeling. You’ll also discover how to use the analysis tool to visualize geospatial data. In later chapters, you’ll be introduced to Arcade, the new lightweight expression language for ArcGIS, and then advance to creating complex labels using Arcade expressions. Finally, you'll use Python scripts to automate and standardize tasks and models in ArcGIS Pro. By the end of this ArcGIS Pro book, you’ll have developed the core skills needed for using ArcGIS Pro 2.x competently.

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Table of Contents (20 chapters)
Preface
Preface
Who this book is for
What this book covers
To get the most out of this book
Download the example code files
Download the color images
Conventions used
Get in touch
Reviews
1
Section 1: Introducing and Navigating ArcGIS Pro
Section 1: Introducing and Navigating ArcGIS Pro
Free Chapter
2
Introducing ArcGIS Pro
Introducing ArcGIS Pro
Technical requirements
Checking requirements for installing ArcGIS Pro
Understanding ArcGIS Pro minimum system requirements
Learning about OS requirements
Understanding the hardware requirements
Other supporting software requirements
Author system recommendations
Testing to see whether your computer can run ArcGIS Pro
Downloading and installing ArcGIS Pro
How to download the installation files
Installing ArcGIS Pro
Installing ArcGIS Pro offline help files
Managing and assigning ArcGIS Pro licenses
Understanding the number and level of ArcGIS Pro licenses
Assigning ArcGIS Pro licenses
Downloading and installing the exercise data
Launching ArcGIS Pro
Opening an ArcGIS Pro Project
Summary
Further reading
3
Navigating the Ribbon Interface
Navigating the Ribbon Interface
Technical requirements
Understanding the new interface terminology
ArcGIS Pro interface terminology
Introducing the user interface
Using the interface
Navigating the ribbon
Project tab
Map tab
Navigate group
Layer group
Selection group
Inquiry group
Exercise 2A – Working with the Map tab
Step 1 – Opening a project
Step 2 – Navigating the map
Step 3 – Using the Infographics tool (optional)
Learning about contextual tabs
Understanding the Feature Layer contextual tab set
Learning about the Appearance tab
Visibility Range group
Effects group
Drawing group
Extrusion and Faces groups
Learning about the Labeling tab
Layer group
Label Class group
Text Symbol group
Label Placement group
Map group
Learning about the Data tab
Definition Query group
Table group
Selection group
Export group
Exercise 2B – Working with 2D and 3D layers
Step 1 – Opening the project and adding layers
Step 2 – Changing symbology
Step 3 – Labeling
Step 4 – Working with a 3D layer
Challenge
Summary
4
Section 2: Visualizing, Maintaining, and Analyzing Data
Section 2: Visualizing, Maintaining, and Analyzing Data
5
Creating 2D Maps
Creating 2D Maps
Technical requirements
Creating and configuring 2D maps
Creating a new map
Exercise 3A – Adding and configuring layers in a map
Step 1 – Creating the project
Step 2 – Connecting data sources
Step 3 – Adding layers
Step 4 – Saving a layer file
Step 5 – Renaming your map
Exercise 3B – Adding a new map to a project
Step 1 – Creating the new map in a project
Step 2 – Filtering a layer with a definition query
Step 3 – Adding annotations to the map
Exercise 3C – Using map and layer files
Step 1 – Adding a new map using a map file
Step 2 – Creating and using a layer file
Step 3 – Labeling the pipe sizes
Step 4 – Configuring label conflict and placement options
Skill challenge
Summary
Further reading
6
Creating 3D Scenes
Creating 3D Scenes
Technical requirements
Understanding 3D Scenes
Exercise 4A – Creating a simple 3D Scene
Step 1 – Creating a project and 3D Scene
Step 2 – Adding a layer
Step 3 – Making a 3D layer 
Step 4 – Combining types of symbology
Learning about elevations and how to use them
Establishing ground elevations
Understanding DEMs
Understanding TINs
Understanding extruding features
Other methods to display 3D data
Exercise 4B – Creating a Local Scene
Step 1 – Opening a project and adding a Local Scene
Step 2 – Setting the ground surface
Step 3 – Adding layers and setting symbology
Summary
Further reading
7
Creating and Working with Projects
Creating and Working with Projects
Technical requirements
Working with an ArcGIS Pro project
Understanding project terminology
Using the Catalog pane
The Project tab
The Portal tab
The Favorites tab
Exercise 5A – Using the Catalog pane
Step 1 – Opening and saving a project
Step 2 – Navigating the Catalog pane
Step 3 – Adding a database connection
Step 4 – Adjusting the layers
Step 5 – Accessing and adding a layer from a portal (optional)
Step 6 – Adding a folder connection as a favorite
Step 7 – Adding a favorite to a project
Creating a new project and project templates
Creating a new project with Esri templates
Exercise 5B – Using an Esri template to create a new project
Step 1 – Creating a new project using the Local Scene template
Step 2 – Connecting to data sources and adding your surface
Creating custom project templates
Exercise 5C – Creating a custom project template
Step 1 – Creating a project
Step 2 – Setting up a default map in the template
Step 3 – Adding a layout from an existing map document
Step 4 – Saving a project as a template
Step 5 – Creating a new project using a custom template
Word of warning
Summary
8
Creating a Layout
Creating a Layout
Technical requirements
Understanding the considerations of designing a layout
Understanding the purpose
Practice exercise – Determining the purpose
Understanding the audience for the map
Learning about the age factor
Understanding the education and knowledge level
Learning about the situation
Creating a layout in ArcGIS Pro
Understanding the general workflow to create a layout
Exercise 6A – Creating a simple layout
Step 1 – Opening ArcGIS Pro and your project
Step 2 – Adding a new blank layout
Step 3 – Displaying the desired area
Step 4 – Adding other elements
Challenge 1
Exercise 6B – Creating and using a layout template
Step 1 – Saving a template file
Step 2 – Creating a new layout using the layout file
Step 3 – Configuring the new layout
Challenge 2
Summary
9
Creating Map Books Using Map Series
Creating Map Books Using Map Series
Technical requirements
What is a map series? 
Understanding and creating a map series
Learning about indexes
Creating grid and strip indexes
Understanding the Grid Index Features tool
Learning about the Strip Map Index Features tool
Exercise 7A – Creating a grid index
Step 1 – Opening ArcGIS Pro and your project
Step 2 – Creating the grid index
Enabling the Map Series functionality
Exercise 7B – Enabling the map series
Step 1 – Opening the project and layout
Step 2 – Enabling and configuring the map series
Step 3 – Adding a page name to your layout
Step 4 – Viewing pages in a series
Step 5 – Printing a map series
Summary
10
Learning to Edit Spatial Data
Learning to Edit Spatial Data
Technical requirements
Understanding the editable data formats
Data formats – editable or not
Understanding geodatabases
Identifying your data format
Editing data using ArcGIS Pro
How to start editing features and attributes
Preparing ArcGIS Pro to edit data
Learning about the Edit tab
Clipboard group
Manage Edits group
Snapping group
Features group
Selection group
Creating new features
Learning about feature templates
Exercise 8A – Creating new features
Step 1 – Opening your project and preparing to edit
Step 2 – Adding your source data
Step 3 – Drawing a new sewer line
Step 4 – Updating attributes
Challenge
Step 5 – Drawing the manholes
Step 6 – Adding the street centerlines
Step 7 – Creating the street rights-of-way
Exercise 8B – Splitting polygons
Step 1 – Splitting out the rights-of-way
Step 2 – Splitting out individual lot polygons
Summary
Further reading
11
Learning about Editing Tabular Data
Learning about Editing Tabular Data
Technical requirements
Editing your schema
Adding a field
Field name
Alias
Field types
Exercise 9A – Adding a field and populating values    
Importing a new feature class
Exercise 9B – Importing a shapefile
Step 1 – Opening the project and adding a layer
Step 2 – Exporting to a geodatabase
Populating field values in a database
Understanding methods to edit or add single values
Attributes window
Editing directly in the attribute table
Exercise 9C – Editing attributes
Step 1 – Opening the project and zooming to the correct location
Step 2 – Adding Street_Centerline attribute values
Mass-populating table values by using tools
Calculate Field tool
Calculate Geometry tool
Exercise 9D – Using tools to mass-populate field values
Step 1 – Populating the field using the Field Calculator tool
Step 2 – Using the Calculate Geometry tool
Summary
Further reading
12
Performing Analysis with Geoprocessing Tools
Performing Analysis with Geoprocessing Tools
Technical requirements
Determining which tools to use
Understanding licensing levels
Learning about extensions for ArcGIS Pro
Spatial Analyst
3D Analyst
Network Analyst
Exercise 10A – Determining your license level and extensions
Step 1 – Opening ArcGIS Pro
Step 2 – Determining the license level and extension
Understanding the analysis process
Preparing data for analysis
Clip geoprocessing tool
Dissolve tool
Project tool
Merge tool
Append tool
Exercise 10B – Using the Clip and Dissolve tools
Step 1 – Evaluating the data
Step 2 – Clipping the streets
Step 3 – Simplifying the data and calculating the total length
Step 4 – Exporting a table to Excel
Using other common geoprocessing analysis tools
Overlay analysis
Union
Intersect
Proximity analysis
Buffer tool
Multiple Ring Buffer tool
Exercise 10C – Performing analysis
Step 1 – Locating commercial properties near sewer lines
Step 2 – Exporting selected parcels
Step 3 – Determining how much of each commercial property is in the floodplain
Step 4 – Selecting commercial parcels that are not in the floodplain
Step 5 – Reviewing your geoprocessing history
Summary
13
Section 3: Sharing Data and Automating processes
Section 3: Sharing Data and Automating processes
14
Creating and Using Tasks
Creating and Using Tasks
Technical requirements
Understanding what a task is
Components of a task
Running a task
Exercise 11A – Running a simple task
Step 1 – Starting ArcGIS Pro and opening a project
Step 2 – Opening and running a task
Learning how to create tasks
Exercise 11B – Exploring a task
Step 1 – Opening a project
Step 2 – Opening a task in the Task Designer
Step 3 – Reviewing a task's steps
Things to consider when creating a task
Understanding the purpose of the task
Determining the workflow to support the purpose
Using tasks in different ways
Determining the audience for a task
Creating a task yourself
Creating a task item
Creating a task group
Creating a task
Exercise 11C – Creating a task
Step 1 – Opening a project and creating a task item
Step 2 – Creating a new task
Adding task steps
Learning about the components of a step
General
Actions
Views
Contents
Exercise 11D – Adding steps to a task
Step 1 – Opening the task in the Task Designer
Step 2 – Adding a step to zoom
Step 3 – Selecting the road segment
Step 4 – Selecting nearby parcels
Step 5 – Exporting the selection to an Excel spreadsheet
Step 6 – Running your task
Challenge
Summary
15
Automating Processes with ModelBuilder and Python
Automating Processes with ModelBuilder and Python
Technical requirements
Differentiating between tasks, geoprocessing models, and Python scripts
Learning about geoprocessing models
Understanding Python scripts
What is the difference between the three?
Creating geoprocessing models
Understanding model components and terminology
Saving a model
Exercise 12A – Creating a model
Step 1 – Opening the project and the ModelBuilder window
Step 2 – Adding model components
Step 3 – Adding another process
Running a model
Exercise 12B – Running a model
Step 1 – Running the model from ModelBuilder
Step 2 – Resetting the run state
Step 3 – Running the model from a toolbox
Making a model interactive
Exercise 12C – Allowing users to provide inputs to run models
Step 1 – Marking variables as parameters
Step 2 – Exposing hidden variables
Step 3 – Running the model
Learning about Python
Understanding Python basics
Commenting and documenting your scripts
Learning about variables
Understanding data paths
Learning about the ArcPy module
Locating Python syntax for a geoprocessing tool
Exercise 12D – Creating a Python script
Step 1 – Opening IDLE
Step 2 – Writing the script
Step 3 – Adding the script to ArcGIS Pro and running it
Summary
Further reading
16
Sharing Your Work with Others
Sharing Your Work with Others
Technical requirements
Sharing content with those on your network
Sharing data if users have ArcGIS Pro
Understanding the layer file
Exercise 13A – Creating a layer file and using it
Step 1 – Creating the layer file
Step 2 – Using the layer file to add a layer to a map
Learning about map files
Map file challenge
Understanding layout files
Layout file challenge
Sharing data if users don't have ArcGIS Pro
Exporting to other GIS formats
Exercise 13B – Exporting data to a shapefile
Step 1 – Opening the project and verifying the data
Step 2 – Creating a new map and adding the shapefile as a layer
Step 3 – Applying symbology using a layer file
Exporting data to non-GIS formats
Exporting maps and layouts
Exporting tables
Sharing content with those not on your network
Learning about the layer package
Exercise 13C – Creating a layer package
Step 1 – Creating the layer package
Step 2 – Testing the package
Understanding map packages
Map package challenge
Learning about project packages
Project package challenge
Publishing to ArcGIS Online
Exercise 13D – Publishing a map to ArcGIS Online
Step 1 – Optimizing your map
Step 2 – Publishing a map to ArcGIS Online
Step 3 – Viewing the new map in ArcGIS Online
Summary
Further reading
17
Using Arcade Expressions for Labeling and Symbology
Using Arcade Expressions for Labeling and Symbology
Technical requirements
Learning about Arcade
Understanding Arcade syntax
Understanding the text string syntax
Inserting comments into expressions
Adding data from a table
Defining a variable
Understanding labeling expressions
Configuring expressions to label with multiple field values
Making labels more readable
Exercise 14A – Creating an Arcade label expression
Step 1 – Opening your project and reviewing the available data
Step 2 – Creating a simple label expression
Understanding symbology expressions
Creating a symbology expression
Understanding the common operators
Exercise 14B – Creating a symbology expression
Step 1 – Evaluating the Street_Centerlines layer
Step 2 – Creating a symbology expression
Summary
Further reading
18
GIS glossary
GIS glossary
19
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Field name

In a database table, each field must have a unique name. That name cannot include spaces or special characters, though underscores are allowed. The allowed length of the field name will depend on the type of database. Is it adBase,Access, orSQL Servertable? Each of these has its own limitations.

As a rule of thumb, I have learned that keeping my field names limited to 7 to 8 characters works best. This will prevent field names from getting shortened if you export the data to a different format that does not support the name length of your native database.

This often happens when your GIS data is stored as a geodatabase that supports long field names, but you export to a shapefile that does not. Shapefiles store attributes in a dBase format that does not support long field names. Being an older database type, dBase only supports field names of 7 to 8 characters. So, a field that is named as parcel_indentification_number in your geodatabase may get renamed...

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