Introduction to GIS

Customization and Programming

 Course Requirements
• Credit hours: 4
• Course duration: 16 weeks
• Mid Term exam: After 8 weeks
1st week of April
• Final Term exam: After 16 weeks
1st week of June
• Assignments: 1 week before final term exam
Late submission: 1 mark less per day
Maximum delay: 5 days
• Attendance required: 75%

Less than 75% will not be eligible to set in final term exam.
 Course Requirements
• Marks distribution: Total marks 100
Mid: 30%
Final: 50%
Theory 20%
Practical/viva 30%
Sessional: 20%
Assignments/Quizzes: 15%
Attendance: 5%
60 – 69%: 2 marks
70 – 79%: 3 marks
80 – 89%: 4 marks
90% & +: 5 marks
 Course Requirements
• As this course will use ArcGIS software for
customization and programming therefore,
the students should be familiar with ArcGIS
basics functions and be able to carry out
basic spatial analysis
Introduction to GIS
and ArcGIS
Introduction to GIS
A GIS integrates five basic components

Software Hardware

GIS

Data People
methods
Data
 Types of datasets
Vector formats
(“feature classes”)

Points

Lines (”arcs”)

Polygons
 Types of datasets

Raster formats
Matrices of square
cells (grids, pixels)
 Types of datasets

Attribute tables:
tables of data describing
spatial features
Methods
Basic GIS Functions

Capture
Store
Query
Analyze
Display
Output
 Capturing data

Digital images Paper maps

GIS

Coordinate lists GPS output

 Query
Identifying specific features
Where is parcel No. 2945?

Identifying features based on conditions

Find all trees with DBH > 35 cm
 Analysis
Proximity: which roads are within a 100 ft
from a stream

Overlay: combines the features of two or

more layers to create a new layer
(intersections, unions…)

Network: examines how linear features

are connected
Analysis
Analysis
 Display

Maps
Graphs
Reports/Tables
 Examples of GIS maps
surface drapes & 3-D modeling
 Examples of GIS generated maps
detailed
topographic maps
 Output

Paper map
Internet
Image (cc.jpg, cc.pdf)
Document (cc.mxd)
Poster
Introduction to ArcGIS
 What is ArcGIS?
• ArcGIS is a geospatial software to view, edit,
manage and analyze geographic data.
• GIS integrates many different subjects using
geography as its common framework.
• It is the “Science of Where”, as such, the
focus for ArcGIS is on location intelligence and
analytics.

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 Who develops ArcGIS software?
• ESRI (Environmental Systems Research
Institute, Inc.) develops ArcGIS for mapping on
desktop, mobile, and web. The company’s
headquarters is in Redlands, California.
• In 1969, the company was first founded
primarily for land use development. With over
40% of the market share, ArcGIS is the leading
GIS software in the market today.
• Esri is the global leader in the development of
GIS, location intelligence, and mapping. 24
 Who uses ArcGIS?
• ArcGIS users are in a wide range of fields and
industries.
• For example, government, education, and
commercial industries use ArcGIS.
• But the largest user base is in the
environment, military, and land planning.
• Because most colleges use ArcGIS, graduates
are usually somewhat familiar with it.

25
 What software is part of ArcGIS?
ArcGIS is a set of software consisting of:

• ArcMap
• ArcCatalog
• Arc Toolbox
• ArcScene
• ArcGlobe

26
 What is ArcGIS?
E
E ArcGIS Desktop ArcGIS Engine X
T
X E
N
T ArcInfo
Custom
S
E Application I
ArcGIS Clients N
O
N
S ArcEditor S

I
O
ArcView Web
ArcReader N ArcPad
Browser
S

Components ArcObjects

Network

ArcGIS Server ArcIMS

Application/Data ArcSDE
Servers
RDBMS
 ArcGIS Desktop Products

ArcInfo

ArcEditor

ArcView

Increased Functionality
 The history of ESRI products

ArcInfo ArcView ArcGIS ArcInfo

ArcGIS Pro
ArcEditor
ArcView

time
 All ArcGIS products share common
applications
ArcInfo

ArcEditor

ArcView ArcCatalog-window to database

ArcMap-displaying

ArcToolbox-geographic processing functions

What is unique about ArcGIS GIS?

•GUI (Graphic User Interface)

•Customization & Programming

•Extensions to Increase Functionality

•Scalability
 GUI

Beware:
The ArcGIS GUI is complicated and many-
layered.
There is no command-line control; all
automation must be scripted.
 Customization & Programming

• Many functions are not available from the GUI

• Custom functions and operations can be created
with various programming languages
• Repetitive tasks can be automated
• New functions and operations can be added to
the GUI menus, buttons, and tools
• Entire new applications can be developed
• But:
Scripting is not easy to learn
Extensions -> Increase Functionality

 Functionality not included in the core

ArcGIS product can increase productivity
 Some extensions are built-in, but just need
to be enabled
 Other extensions are available for free
(web); some are available for sale
 ArcGIS
Scalability Desktop
ArcEditor
ArcInfo
Custom
Application

ArcView Web
ArcReader ArcPad
Browser
ArcObjects
Network
ArcGIS ArcIMS
Server ArcSDE
RDBMS

The ArcGIS suite contains

Desktop application
Data server application (ArcSDE)
Application servers (ArcGIS Server)
Internet mapping servers (ArcIMS)
GIS software