How to create your own Geoscience Data Project
Getting started
The first thing to do when starting your own Geoscience Data Project is to have an understanding of ArcGIS, ArcMap, and ArcCatalog. If you do not own or have access to this software, the following steps are not going to be useful. Continue only if you have access to the software. These tools were used extensively in the creation of our Geoscience Database. If you are not familiar with GIS software, it may be helpful to enroll in an Arc GIS class or take their on-line tutorial.
Base Layer
Our base DEM map was taken from the Jules Verne Voyager - Earth site and then converted to fit our needs. You can view an example of the resolution and clarity of our DEM (opens in new window). You can also find DEM maps for the state of Montana through the NRIS website.
Creating your own data layers from published material
The USGS has created digital PDF and Arc data for their published maps. For a list of available maps, visit the USGS Publications Warehouse Basic Search.
The USGS digital data in Arc format can be used to make data layers for your own database. The instructions below will explain the process of how to create your own data layers from published maps. The following example illustrates how to create data layers for the Precambrian Basement Geologic Map of Montana.
- The first thing that you need to do is find the online map that contains the information you want to work with. From the USGS Publications Warehouse Basic Search (opens in new window) enter the title of the map or the USGS abbreviated name for the map you are searching for in the 'search' box, and then click 'go.'
- For this example, enter 'Precambrian Basement Geologic Map of Montana' in the search box and click go. The website opens to a basic search page that should only contain the appropriate map.
- Click on 'More Info' to open the Precambrian Basement Geologic Map of Montana.
- Next click on 'View the document as HTML.' Once the new page opens you will have the desired website for the SIM 2829 map for the Precambrian Basement Geologic Map of Montana . On the page you will find a link for downloading the entire map in PDF format, the metadata for the Arc file, and the download directory where you can download the data.
- Click on the 'Downloads Directory.' There are two types of compressed files that are available for download. The .tar.gz and the .zip, click on the file ending in '.zip.'
- Then click 'save' and select the location in which you want the file saved. It is best to save the file on the desktop and then create a specific location when you unzip the file.
- Now that you have successfully downloaded the data, you need to unzip it by double-clicking the zipped folder. Once it is unzipped store these new files in a location that you will be using for the entire database project.
- Open ArcMap, click on 'new empty map,' and then click on 'File' and 'Add Data.'
- Locate through the directory where you stored the unzipped SIM 2829 file and select the features that you want to add, remember that you can use the 'ctrl' key to select more than one feature, and finally click 'Add button.' The features that you will be adding are shape files labeled .shp.
- The layers are now visible in ArcMap and the features mtpt, faults2l, rocks2l, rocks2p, and supr_grp, are visible on both the map and the layers panel located along the left side of the screen.
- The next step is to separate out the features in each layer that you want for your database. We are going to separate out the Yb units from the Yy units under the supr_grp layer. To do this move the mouse over to the name of the layer that you want and right click on the name, then select ' Open Attribute Table.'
- The attribute table will now appear, use the mouse to select all of the Yb layers by clicking once and dragging the mouse over all of the Yb attributes until you have selected all of the Yb units. When they are selected they are highlighted in color.
- Close the attributes window and return the mouse to the supr_grp label along the left side of the screen and right click, now select 'Data, Export Data' and a new window will appear for you to determine the location that you want this new data layer to be stored, you can also name it at this point.
- Once you have named the new layer and directed the location click 'OK' and then 'Yes' to have the new layer added to the map.
- Repeat this process for all of the layers that you would like from any of the published layers in the map.
- Once you have all of the new layers added to your map, you can delete the published layers by right clicking on the name and then click 'Remove.'
- To change the color of each of your new layers, double-click on the color box below the name and select the new color.
- To change the transparency of the layer, double-click on the name of the layer, select the 'Display ' tab, and enter in a percentage. We used 20% for our data which allows the underlying DEM to show up. Experiment with transparency values to see what you like.
- Now you have successfully created your own layer of data from published work.
Remember, when taking information from published material you should be mindful of citing the original sources of published information. If you are using a public domain such as the USGS then the material is free to use; if you are using any other data make sure that you have permission to use it.
Creating your own data layers from your material
The following instructions will help you use data from your own research that you would like to include in the database.
- First open ArcCatalog, select the location where the data layers are stored, and make sure that the folder that you are adding the new layer to is highlighted in the list on the left of the screen.
- Next go to 'File,' 'New,' then click on 'shapefile.' A new window will open. Create the name of this new shapefile, select the feature type that correctly represents your data.
- Now you need to set the 'Spatial Reference.' Click on 'edit' below the box for spatial reference, click 'select,' and then find the type of reference you were using when you collected your data during your research.
- After you have selected your reference, click 'apply,' 'ok,' and 'ok.'
- Now you have finished making your shapefile in ArcCatalog. If you have more shapefiles to make follow the steps above and complete all the necessary layers.
- Once all of your shapefiles are created, close ArcCatalog.
- Now that you have all of the shapefiles created, open ArcMap and add the new layers to the new empty map that you just opened.
- If you are adding these layers to an existing map, then select that map and open it.
- You are now going to create the data points for the layers that you just created.
- Under the 'Tools menu,' click on 'Editor Toolbar.' This is the toolbar that you will use to create your data.
- Click on 'Editor,' then 'start editing.' The target window now has all of your layers in it, click on the layer that you want to make edits in.
- Now click on the pencil icon and move the mouse to the location that you wish to include in your data.
- If the layer you are working on is a point feature then click once at the location and move to the next one.
- If the layer you are working on is a polyline or polygon, then click once and move to the next location and click again.
- To end the polyline or polygon, you need to close it by double-clicking at the end of the poly feature you are editing.
- Once you are done with adding your data, click on 'Editor' again, then 'save edits,' and finally 'stop editing.'
- If you click on 'stop editing' before you save the edits, you will lose the data that you just added.
- To change the icon that is now on your map, double-click the symbol below the name along the left side of the screen and select the color and new symbol.
- Repeat these steps for all of your data layers.
Adding your research data to your newly created layers
Now that you have created your own layers for your data, you will probably want to add the values into the attributes.
- Open ArcCatalog, select the layer that you wish to add values to, click on the 'Preview' tab, then at the bottom of the screen click on 'Preview: Table.'
- This now shows the values for this layer.
- To add a new attribute column, click 'options' then 'add field.'
- This will only work if no other program is currently using the layer you wish to add to. If another Arc program is open with the desired layers in use, save your data and close the program.
- Name the column and 'select text.' If the text that you wish to add is longer than 50 characters, change the value to a larger number, if it is not then click 'ok.' Repeat this step until you have the entire attribute columns added for this layer.
- Once these columns are added to the attribute table, close ArcCatalog and open ArcMap.
- Add these layers back in to the map that you were working on. On the left side of the screen the layers are listed, right-click on the desired layer, and then click 'Open Attribute Table.'
- Next you'll need to add the data values to your new features. Select the features that you would like to add the values to and right click the top of the column then select 'Calculate Values' then click 'yes.'
- The window that is now showing will allow you to type in the values you wish to add. The values must start with a double quote and end with a double quote.
- Once you have done this click 'ok.' The values should now appear in your attribute table.
- Repeat these steps until you have all of your data entered and then close the attribute table.
- To verify that this has worked, click on the 'info tool' located at the top in the toolbars.
- Move the mouse to a point and click on that point. A smaller version of the attribute table should appear with the correct values for that point.
The maps below are examples of what can be done with GIS data layers. These examples are from our Geoscience Database.
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