Geodatabase

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Digital Mapping Techniques 04
MIGRATING FROM ARCINFO WORKSTATION TO ARCGIS
By Vic Dohar, Natural Resources Canada
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Scope

• Managing datasets in a map production environment
• No intention to create a data model or replicate
  NADM
• Geodatabase used for map production
• Snapshot of current migration strategies from
  workstation to ArcGIS (work in progress)

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Current Map Production at GSC

• A-series and Open File geology maps since 1994,
  50 to 70 maps per year
• Data is managed in the coverage model using
  ArcInfo Workstation 8.3
• GEMS application
• Digital data adheres to Cartographic Digital
  Standards (CDS)
• Stored/archived in ArcSDE (not in a geodatabase)

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Migrating to ArcGIS

• Change in ESRI technology forces us to change
• Geodatabases provide domains and custom topology,
  used to validate features
• ArcGIS is not restricted to coverages model,
  various formats from various sources
• ArcGIS provides connections to databases
• Open development for customizing ArcMap
• Tiered license ArcView, ArcEditor, ArcInfo

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Migration Goals

• Develop a geodatabase schema for managing spatial
  geology data
• Make use of domains for standardizing feature
  names and validating features
• Produce similar maps with ArcMap as with
  workstation, faster and more efficiently

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Migration Strategy

• Three stages (ArcGIS Help)
• Use existing data with ArcMap
• Data management and editing using the geodatabase
• Convert to geo-processing tools, ArcGIS 9.0
• Decided to bundle stages 1 and 2, due to
  available resources, training, and managing a
  production environment

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What is a Geodatabase?

• ArcGIS Help
• ESRI press
• Publications Modeling Our World
• Resources available from www.esri.com
• Download sample geodatabases

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Geodatabase Case Studies
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Designing a Geodatabase

• Several different methods1) ArcCatalog menus and
  wizards2) CASE tools using Visio (UML) 3)
  Geodatabase Designer (XML)
• Experimented with importing existing coverages
  into a personal geodatabase.
• Organizing data into manageable features

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Geodatabase Designer

• Export schema to XML. Edit, modify using an XML
  editor
• XML schema can be imported or distributed
• Integrated with ArcCatalog
• Free!

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Geodatabase for Map Production

• Separate geodatabase schemas for bedrock geology
  data, surficial geology data and cartographic
  elements
• Store datasets, simple features and tables
• Domains and topology used to validate features
• Sub-types used with domains to group/categorize
  simple features
• Use relationship classes to define relates

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Surficial Units Feature Class

• Single field used to differentiate geology
  polygon units

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Surficial Geodatabase

• Map with compound units and veneers

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Surficial Unit Composition Table
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Surficial Unit Composition Table
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Surficial Legend Table
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Surficial Unit Composition Table
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Complex IDs Table

• Description of relationship involving complex
  units for all surficial maps

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Surficial Geodatabase

• Labeling polygons using a table

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Surficial Unit Label Table
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How it all fits together!
Feature class
Unit labels table

MAPUNIT
MAPUNIT MAPLABEL
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Unit composition table
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MAPUNIT VENEER PRIMARY_UNIT SECONDARY_UNIT COMPLEX_ID




Complex ID table
Legend table
1
1
COMPLEX_ID DESCRIPTION
LEGUNIT DESCRIPTION
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How it all fits together!

• Expressed in relationship classes

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How it all fits together!

• Shown when performing a query or identify

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Surficial Geology Topology

• Topology can only exist for participating
  features within a dataset
• Implementing two simple rules
• Surficial units polygons must not overlap
• Contacts must overlap boundary of surficial units

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Geomorphology Line, Point and Area Features

• Remaining surficial features are classified into
  point, line and area simple feature classes
• Each of the feature classes contains a sub-type
  field used to classify or categorize the features
• Features are assigned a coded value from a domain
  that pertains to the sub-type to which it belongs

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Coded Value Domain

• Domains are propertiesof the geodatabase

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Sub-Type Field

• Sub-types are properties of the feature class

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Geomorphology Line Feature Class
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Making Maps with ArcMap
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Style Files and Symbols

• Symbolsets from Workstation that utilize custom
  fonts (IGL, TrueType) do not import into style
  files
• All line, marker, and pattern symbols require to
  be created from scratch
• Thus far have converted all shade colours, and
  most line and marker symbols
• Created true type font of point symbols

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Map Surround Generation

• Insert Word, CorelDraw, other files as objects
• Custom application for generating title block,
  and recommended citation, and other surround
  information
• Design specifications and content are XML based
• Uses metadata that user enters in forms
• Ensures consistent high quality map product,
  facilitates map production

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Legend Generation

• Current legend generation using ArcInfo
  workstation is accomplished using a text file and
  an AML
• Proposing to store legend information in an XML
  file
• Contain units, minerals, lithology, and symbols
• Contain description as well as hierarchical
  levels
• Currently developing a XML schema to store this
  information

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Legend Generation

• Design interface to populate XML file
• VBA script to render legend in ArcMap using
  native graphics (boxes, lines, text, etc)
• XML file is portable and can be used for other
  applications

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Connections to Databases

• Connect to geochronology database to display
  point data
• Script to generate graphic
• Not required to store age data
• Minerals database
• Use of table for labeling point data
• Field observations database, others ???

GSC lab Elevation
Age Material
x Mn
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Remaining Issues and Goals

• The verdict is not in on a final geodatabase
  schema
• Better labeling of features to avoid
  managing/editing annotation (Maplex)
• Implement in map production
• Next year have all pieces/connections in place
  (GDR, SDE geodatabase, NADM)

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Acknowledgements

• Parm Dhesi, GIS Specialist SymbolsRoger
  MacLeod, GIS Specialist SymbolsNorah Brown,
  ArcObjects XMLDave Everett, GIS
  SpecialistSheila Hynes, GIS SpecialistBarb
  Szlavko, ArcSDE/Oracle AdminTerry Houlahan,
  ArcSDE/Oracle Admin

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Contact me at

• Vic Dohar Cartographic Applications Specialist
  Publishing Services Subdivision ESS Info
  Division Earth Sciences Sector Natural
  Resources Canada 601 Booth Street Ottawa,
  Ontario, Canada K1A 0E8 telephone [phone]
  fax [phone] email vdohar_at_NRCan.gc.ca
• web www.nrcan.gc.ca/ess/carto