GIS 215 - Project Work-flow and Geodatabase Creation

Purpose 

Create a geodatabase for Buncombe County.

Requirements 

• Your database must have at least 8 feature classes.
• All feature classes must be clipped to Buncombe County.
• You must use a file geodatabase.
• Name all of your feature classes in a consistent and descriptive manner.
• The feature classes must come from the following 2 sources:

• NCDOT - https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/gis/Pages/default.aspx
• Buncombe County - https://www.buncombecounty.org/Governing/Depts/GIS/DataDownload.aspx

• All of your feature classes must be in the same coordinate system.
• You must cite the original source of all your data.
• One map document in transportable format

• Relative paths
• Set your default GDB

Where can I find help?

• Creating a geodatabase - http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.3/index.cfm?TopicName=Creating_a_new_geodatabase
• Importing data into a geodatabase - http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.3/index.cfm?TopicName=Importing_features

Notes:

File management counts. You must have the following directory structure as a base for your project. All transportable or self-contained GIS projects should have a similar directory structure and your map documents should ALWAYS be saved with relative paths. 

Technically, you would always define the purpose of your database before starting any work. For now, start with base layers you would need in a county database and then choose several others you find interesting.

What to turn in:

• Entire directory structure, zipped and uploaded to Moodle.

• Clean out your \Shapefile directory that contains many ‘intermediate’ datasets that are now represented in your geodatabase. Keep a backup copy of that data in case you need it but DO NOT upload all of that to Moodle as part of your zip file. It will make it very large and is unnecessary.

• Map document with all data from geodatabase complete with a map created with all the map elements. Keep it relatively simple. A beautiful map is not the point of this exercise but I do want to see you can create a transportable project including a map document.

• Relative paths
• Default geodatabase

• Map exported to PDF and JPG.
• Documentation - short document including where you acquired each dataset.