Mark Smithgall
Recent Posts
Well Count map template for ArcGIS 10.1 available for download
The Well Count Aggregation map template for ArcGIS 10.1 is available for download. This template was designed to allow you to create your own version of the Well Count web map using the provided sample data as well as your own data. The ZIP file contains map documents, sample data, an ArcGIS style file, and documentation. The Well Count map shows how a complex data source, such as gas wells in a producing field, can be aggregated and portrayed in an easy-to-understand manner. Continue reading
Well count aggregation web map
By Mark Smithgall, Esri Cartographer
This well count aggregation web map shows how a complex data source, such as gas wells in a producing field, can be aggregated and portrayed in an easy-to-understand manner. This was designed as an ArcGIS Online web map to show the aggregation number as a proportional symbol of wells per administrative area. In this case, three levels of aggregation were used based on the most logical administrative areas: parishes, Public Land Survey System (PLSS) townships, and PLSS sections. Continue reading
Using the Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Shoreline (GSHHS) database
By Mark Smithgall, Cartographic Product Engineer
Where can you find the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake on the largest island in the largest lake in the world? I stumbled across a rather unique Wikipedia factoid the other day: “When Moose Flats is temporarily submerged, Moose Boulder becomes the largest island in the largest lake [Moose Flats] on the largest island [Ryan Island] in the largest lake [Siskiwit Lake] on the largest island [Isle Royale] in the largest lake [Lake Superior] in the world.” This geographical tongue-twister led me to explore the Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Shoreline Database (GSHHS) to see if this fact was true. I couldn’t actually confirm it using these data because they only contain enough detail to see ponds on islands in lakes on continents, but in the process I did find out what a great resource these data are, so I wanted to share that with you in this blog entry.
X-raying your ArcMap documents
By Mark Smithgall, Esri Cartographic Product Engineer
One of the projects I am currently working on is updating the World Topographic Basemap. My map document contains several hundred layers (361 to be precise) distributed among twelve scale-dependent group layers. In order to add this to the online topo map, I will need to cache it, which will take approximately eight days. So I need to be confident I am not overlooking any minor details that will result in me having to re-cache; such as having the labels turned off for a particular label class in order to speed up labeling time when I’m adjusting the labels for another layer, or missing the “m” for “meters” at the end of the summit point elevations (the author is guilty on both accounts). Continue reading
