TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
CENTRAL CAMPUS, PULCHOWK, LALITPUR

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

REPORT

ON

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY

INU PRADHAN SALIKE ANIL WAIBA (070-BAE-204)

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

26TH JAN. 2018

WHAT IS GIS?
Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system build to capture, store,
manipulate, analyze, manage and display all kinds of spatial or geographical data. GIS applications
are tools that allow end users to perform spatial query, analysis, edit spatial data and create hard copy
maps. In simple way GIS can be define as an image that is referenced to the earth or has x and y
coordinate and its attribute values are stored in the table. These x and y coordinates are based on
different projection system and there are various types of projection system. Most of the time GIS is
used to create maps and to print. To perform the basic task in GIS, layers are combined, edited and
designed.

GIS can be used to solve the location-based question such as “What is located here” or Where
to find particular features? GIS User can retrieve the value from the map, such as how much is the
forest area on the land use map. This is done using the query builder tool. Next important features of
the GIS are the capability to combine different layers to show new information. For example, you can
combine elevation data, river data, land use data and many more to show information about the
landscape of the area. From map, you can tell where high lands are or where is the best place to build
house, which has the river view. GIS helps to find new information.1

How GIS Works:

 Visualizing Data: The geographic data that is stored in the databases are displayed in the GIS
software.
 Combining Data: Layers are combined to form maps of desire.
 The Query: To search the value in the layer or making geographic queries.

A geographic information system (GIS) lets us visualize, question, analyze, and interpret data to
understand relationships, patterns, and trends. (ESRI- Environmental Systems Research Institute)

In the strictest sense, a GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and
displaying geographically referenced information (that is data identified according to their
locations). (USGS- United States Geological Survey)

1
http://grindgis.com/what-is-gis/what-is-gis-definition
Types of GIS Data

Raster Data: Raster data store information of features in cell-based manner. Satellite images,
photogrammetry and scanned maps are all raster based data. Raster model are used to store data which
varies continuously as in aerial photography, a satellite image or elevation values (DEM- Digital
Elevation Model).

Vector Data: There are three types of vector data, points, lines and polygons. These data are created
by digitizing the base data. They store information in x, y coordinates. Vectors models are used to
store data which have discrete boundaries like country borders, land parcels and roads.

WHAT IS ARCMAP?
ArcMap is the main component of Esri's ArcGIS suite of geospatial processing programs,
and is used primarily to view, edit, create, and analyze geospatial data. ArcMap allows the user to
explore data within a data set, symbolize features accordingly, and create maps. This is done through
two distinct sections of the program, the table of contents and the data frame.

Advantage of GIS

 Better decision made by government people

 Improve decision making with the help of layered information
 Citizen engagement due to better system
 Help to identify communities that is under risk or
lacking infrastructure
 Helps in identifying criminology matters
 Better management of natural resources
 Better communication during emergency situation
 Cost savings due to better decision
 Finding different kinds of trends within the
community
 Planning the demographic changes
TUTORIAL TO ARCMAP
Basic user interface elements

Esri applications all have a Main menu and Standard toolbar that appear by default. Both are referred
to as toolbars, although the Main menu toolbar contains menus only.

The Main menu and Standard toolbar

Data frames

ArcMap displays map contents in one of two views:

 Data view
 Layout view

Each view lets you look at and interact with the map in a specific way.

In ArcMap data view, the map is the data frame. The active data frame is presented as a geographic
window in which map layers are displayed and used. Within a data frame, you work with GIS
information presented through map layers using geographic (real-world) coordinates. These will
typically be ground measurements in units such as feet, meters, or measures of latitude-longitude
(such as decimal degrees). The data view hides all the map elements on the layout, such as titles, north
arrows, and scale bars, and lets you focus on the data in a single data frame, for instance, editing or
analysis.
Map layers

Within the data frame, you display geographic datasets as layers, where each layer represents a
particular dataset overlaid in the map. Map layers help convey information through:

 Discrete feature classes such as collections of points, lines, and polygons

 Continuous surfaces, such as elevation, which can be represented in a number of ways—for
example, as a collection of contour lines and elevation points or as shaded relief
 Aerial photography or satellite imagery that covers the map extent

Example map layers include streams and lakes, terrain, roads, political boundaries, parcels, building
footprints, utility lines, and orthophoto imagery.

The Table of Contents

The Table of Contents lists all the

layers on the map and shows what the
features in each layer represent. The
check box next to each layer indicates
whether its display is currently turned
on or off. The order of layers within
the Table of Contents specifies their
drawing order in the data frame.

The map's Table of Contents helps

you manage the display order of map
layers and symbol assignment, as
well as to set the display and other
properties of each map layer.

A typical map might have an image

or a terrain base (such as shaded
relief or elevation contours) near the
bottom. Above that layer are basemap
polygon features, line and point features, and then annotation and other reference information.

Saving and opening a map document

When you save a map you have created in ArcMap, it will be saved as a file on disk. A file name
extension (.mxd) will be automatically appended to your map document name. In later sessions, you
can work with an existing .mxd file by double-clicking the document to open it. This will start an
ArcMap session for that .mxd file.

The Catalog

ArcMap, ArcGlobe, and ArcScene include a Catalog that is used to organize and manage various
types of geographic information as logical collections—for example, the data, maps, and results of
your current GIS projects that you work with in ArcGIS.

The Catalog provides a tree view of file folders and geodatabases. File folders are used to organize
your ArcGIS documents and files. Geodatabases are used to organize your GIS datasets.

2
http://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/latest/get-started/introduction/a-quick-tour-of-arcmap.htm
GEO REFERENCING IN ARCMAP
At first, the user interface will be shown as below.

Here catalog window is missing. To show catalog window firstly go to window tab and click on
catalog.now catalog window as shown below will appear at right side of user interface.

Now we have to link the file to arc map in order to work on that file. The steps to link the required file
is shown below
Now we have to apply coordinate system to raster image as shown below
Now the raster image has coordinate system but it is not located at exact coordinates so we have to
locate the points and add control points as shown below

In this way geo referencing is done in ArcMap.

ADDING POINTS, POLYLINES AND POLYGON IN ARCMAP

Here shape file allows to add points, polyline and polygon. After clicking on shape file another
window will appear which is shown below
CREATING POINTS

After clicking on edit spatial reference properties window will appear then click on edit. In step 2
reference to any file as shown in figure and click on add. Now we will have spatial reference with
coordinate system as shown on step 3.

To add point first we have to click on editor tab and click on start editing which allows to add point,
poly line and polygon. In editor tab we have stop editing to finish editing and save edits to save edited
work as shown below.
At table of contents window we can see layer that we recently made (i.e. landmark). After clicking on
start editing we can see new window called create features. To add point we have to select respective
layer as shown in step 2 and new cursor will appear in data frame and add oint in required location.

ADDING ATTRIBUTES
After adding points we can save edits by clicking stop editing in editor tab and then clicking on save
edits. We can also add attributes to the layer. To add attribute table first go to layer to which attributes
to be added and right click and go to open attribute table. After clicking we can see new window of
attribute table as shown below.
ADDING FIELDS IN ATTRIBUTES
Also we can add fields in attribute table as shown in figure.

Step1:click on first icon

Step2: click on add field

Step3: new window of add field will appear.

Step4: Edit the name, type and field properties as required.

Step5: start editingby clicking from editor tab

Step6: edit on attribute table and save edits.

The attributes we have added is not shown in data frame so to enable that attribute we should go to
respective layer properties and edit some setting in label tab as shown below.

Step1: go to properties of respective layer by right clicking

Step2: layer properties window will appear

Step3: go to labels tab

Step4: tick on label features in the layer

Step5: edit label field to respective field

Step6: we can also edit font, color and size of the text

Step7: click on ok

The added field will appear as shown in data frame.

CREATING POLYLINE
To add poly line we have to create shape file which is already discussed above. After creating shape
file the window will appear as shown below.
Here we have to edit feature type to polyline and import spatial reference as shown in above section.
After this step go to respective layer and click on start editing from editor tab and start creating poly
line (for example, road) as shown below. Also we can add attributes and field as shown on above
steps.

CREATING POLYGON
To add polygon we have to create shape file which is already discussed above. After creating shape
file the window will appear as shown below.

Here we have to edit feature type to polygon and import spatial reference as shown in above section.
After this step go to respective layer and click on start editing from editor tab and start creating
polygon(for example, buildings) as shown below. Also we can add attributes and field as shown on
above steps.
Some times there will be error in create feature window. Some times it does not show layer we have
created. To fix this error steps are given below:

Step1: no templates shown

Step2: click on organize template

Step3: new window for organize template

Step4: click on new template

Step5: new template wizard will appear

Step6: click on template which have same name of the layer

And the layer will appear at create feature window.

CONCLUSION
In this way we can geo reference , create points, poly line and polygon in arcmap and also fix some of
the issues that may occur during the process.