Lab 5
Lab 5 involved importing the file generated in Lab 3 into ArcGIS, where I then linked it to a base map of my state. I then used the ArcGIS’s spreadsheet/database capabilities to calculate the data on population change thatwill eventually be mapped.
Lab 5 was not a too difficult lab for me to complete. The most difficult part of this lab was probably trying to figure out the field calculator, it reminds me of a math class that I had takend in high school, and to be honest I am not a huge fan of math, so that made it minorly difficult. But after I figured out the first couple calculations the rest because relatively easy.
Here are some definitions that could help those reading this to better understand some different tools within ArcGIS that we in GEOG 353 are using to complete this project.
Select by Attributes- This function brings up the attributes table which is a table that shows all of the attributes you selected to be seen in this table. You are able to select any attributes that you would like to be seen in the table.
Query- A request to select features or records from a database. A query is often written as a statement or logical expression
Fields (in a Table) – A column in a table that stores the values for a single attribute
Records (in a Table)- A set of related data fields, often a row in a database, containing all the attribute values for a single feature. For example, in an address database, the fields that together provide the address for a specific individual comprise one record. In the SQL query language, a record is analogous to a tuple
Attributes- Nonspatial information about a geographic feature in a GIS, usually stored in a table and linked to the feature by a unique identifier. For example, attributes of a river might include its name, length, and sediment load at a gauging station
Relational Database- A data structure in which collections of tables are logically associated with each other by shared fields.
Join function- The joining of two different files into one common database
Monitor Fire- When the monitor catches fire because your two files do not match up nicely when trying to join them.
Calculate / Field Calculator- Used like normal calculator. But you are able to take different fields on the attributes table and find the differences between them.
