Designed for

This course is designed for those who are new to GIS and ArcGIS, or those who are infrequent users of ArcGIS who do not have a GIS background.

Learning outcome

• Explain what a GIS is and what it can do
• Work with and create GIS maps in ArcMap
• Access and query a GIS database
• Describe two common GIS data structures
• Explain what geographic data is, how it is made, and where to get it
• Explain what spatial analysis is and solve geographic problems using ArcGIS analysis tools

Course content

The big picture of GIS

• Basic functions of a GIS
• Real-world applications

Exploring GIS maps

• Defining features, layers, and data frames
• Exploring map scale
• Understanding the relationship between features and attributes

Exploring a GIS database

• Exploring attribute tables
• Identifying features
• Symbolising features based on their attributes
• Labelling features based on their attributes

Creating map layouts

• Understanding data view and layout view
• Using map templates
• Modifying map elements
• Printing maps

Understanding location

• Defining coordinate systems and map projections
• Reading and finding location coordinates on a map
• Measuring area and distance on a map

Understanding raster and vector data

• Representing geography
• Storing real-world locations
• Symbolising rasters
• Understanding geodatabases

Acquiring geographic data

• Data formats
• Methods of creating geographic data
• Using ArcCatalog™ to explore geographic data
• Using metadata

Querying data

• Understanding and performing attribute queries
• Understanding and performing spatial queries

Analysing spatial relationships

• Understanding overlay and buffer
• Accessing tools in ArcToolbox™
• Performing Union and Intersect

Solving problems with GIS

• Applying the geographic inquiry process
• Creating a map to show results