Tag Archives: ArcMap
3D Analyst Toolset Recommended Workflow: Consider the geometry of the features being used
With the release of ArcGIS 10, new tools were made available, allowing you to use 3D objects in geoprocessing tools, and opening up new possibilities for proximity analysis. One of the new tools is the Near 3D tool, which calculates the three-dimensional distance from each input feature to the nearest feature residing in or more nearby feature classes. However, when using the new 3D analysis tools, it’s always important to consider the geometry of the features being used. Continue reading
Converting Between Coordinate Formats Without Using Code
It is always challenging when your coordinates are in Decimal Degrees (DD) format and you need them in Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (DMS). Amidst this challenge is determining how to do the conversion. Is it best to open the table in Microsoft … Continue reading
Which version of ArcPad should I install?
In Support Services, as we answer various types of ArcPad calls throughout the day, we are often asked the magical question:
Which version of ArcPad should I install onto my desktop and mobile device?
Which is always followed up with:
Where can I get the latest version of ArcPad?
5 Minute Troubleshooting: Unable to Export Event Layer to Shapefile
As we all know there is no “magic” button in ArcGIS for Desktop that will fix all the issues that you are having. In my time working in support, however, I have found that exporting data comes quite close and often returns magical results when working with corrupted data. Today we will be looking at using this method to resolve issues with an X,Y Event Layer.
Have you ever had an event layer show up beautifully in your map, but when exporting it to a shapefile you ran into an issue? Some of these issues could be receiving an error (such as “the data you are exporting contains one or more blob field”), getting a blank attribute table, or finding that not all of your fields are coming through to the shapefile. The steps below work, in most instances, to help resolve this issue. These steps walk you through the process of exporting a table to a DBF, displaying that DBF as an event layer, and then exporting that event layer to a shapefile.
New ArcGIS Performance calibration tool
Ever wonder how long your Desktop application takes to render mapped features on a layer to layer basis? Or have you ever needed to know the time it takes to edit mapped features from a particular edit version?
Is your raster so bright you have to wear shades?
Have you ever added a raster to an MXD and noticed that it looked different? Or created a mosaic dataset or raster catalog and suddenly, the rasters are so bright, you think, “What did ArcMap do to my raster?!”
Lacking intensity? Don’t worry, I know how to find it.
Hey, I’m Jeff and a member of the Raster support team with Esri Support Services located in Charlotte, NC. Lidar data is growing in popularity as a data form for DEM creation as the access and availability increases. Flood plain mapping, watershed analysis and tree canopy analysis are just some of the more popular uses of lidar data. Understanding the data being used to create these analyses is something you definitely want to do. Knowing the coverage area, average point spacing and intensity can provide important information about the lidar data that should be considered during the DEM production process.
There are many tools and workflows in ArcGIS 10 that can be used to process lidar data in order to create digital elevation models in a terrain or even, a raster. Between training , help and blog posts, there are tons of resources out there with information on the steps to create DEM rasters out of lidar points.
One of the more interesting parts of the process is creating the intensity raster from the Lidar points. This blog post from the Geoprocessing Team states this can yield “a measure, collected for every point, of the return strength of the laser pulse that generated the point.” Reviewing the intensity is a good way to evaluate the quality of the lidar data being used.
In order to create the intensity raster, you’ll need the proper data form (either LAS or XYZI) and you’ll have to specify the option to “include the intensity field” when using the LAS to Multipoint tool or Ascii to 3d Feature Class.
For the Ascii to 3d Feature Class, be sure that you have changed the selection of “Input File Format” to XYZI.
Once you have the multipoint file set with the intensity, you’ll be ready to create your raster. The blog post recommends using the Point to Raster tool and then selecting the Intensity field. It sounds simple enough, but you may run into a problem if you are working in ArcMap. With the default at 10.0, you will not be able to see or select the intensity field in the tool or attribute table of the multipoint file in ArcMap. That’s because ArcMap does not display these BLOB fields automatically. In order to see the BLOB field, go into the layer properties and fields tab to turn on the Intensity field.
In ArcCatalog, the Intensity field can be seen in the table preview or when the Tool is run by default.
So, now the Point to Raster tool can see the field and the raster can be created as desired.
For more on this process, please see the related link below. The rest of the steps are also available online in the webhelp.
Related links:
Lidar Solutions in ArcGIS_part5: Creating Intensity Images from Lidar
http://blogs.esri.com/Dev/blogs/geoprocessing/archive/2009/05/12/Lidar-Solutions-in-ArcGIS_5F00_part5_3A00_-Creating-Intensity-Images-from-Lidar.aspx
In ArcGIS Desktop 10, Item Description launched from the ArcMap Table of Contents > Data > Item Description does not work
In ArcGIS Desktop 10, launching the Item Description for a layer by right-clicking on it from the ArcMap Table of Contents > Data > Item Description does not work.
Note: Launching the Item Description from the Catalog Window or ArcCatalog does work.
This is a known issue. For updates on the status, you can use bug number NIM057099. Esri is working on a permanent solution to this issue. In the meantime, please use the following workaround:
- Shut down ArcMap and ArcCatalog.
- Download the following ZIP file: Data Source Item Description window.zip.
- Extract the .reg file located in the ZIP file to your hard drive or desktop.
- Double-click the Data Source Item Description window.reg file. This adds a registry setting that enables the functionality.
- Open ArcMap.
- The Item Description launched from the ArcMap Table of Contents > Data > Item Description will now work.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please leave any comments in the comment section below this blog post. NOTE: You must be logged in to your Esri Global Account to leave comments.
- Jeff M., Desktop Development Lead – User Advocacy Group, Esri Support Services
After installing ArcGIS 9.3.1 SP2, there are issues opening map documents when clicking on them
After installing Service Pack 2 for ArcGIS Desktop 9.3.1, opening a map document from Windows Explorer, ArcCatalog, Windows Desktop, Windows Recent Documents, or the Web does not open it in a new ArcMap session. That is, if you open an existing map document, ArcMap opens as expected. However, if you now open another map document, it will not start a new instance of ArcMap. Instead, the map document is sent to the existing instance.
This is a known issue. For updates on the status, you can use bug number NIM059009. Esri is working on a permanent solution to this issue. In the meantime, please use the following workaround:
- Run C:Program FilesCommon FilesArcGISbinArcGISFileHandler.exe.
- Click OK to close the ArcGIS File Handler application.
Map documents should now open correctly.
Esri apologizes for any inconveniece this may have caused you.
- Jeff M., Desktop Development Lead – User Advocacy Group, Esri Support Services
The Catalog window: Falling in love all over again
Hello, this is Cassandra again, bringing you a blog post about my favorite thing about ArcGIS Desktop 10 – the Catalog window. In a nutshell, the Catalog window provides a tree view of file folders and geodatabases, just like in ArcCatalog, but directly within ArcMap. Need to add to add a feature class, but can’t quite remember where it is? Browse for it with ease in the Catalog window. Need to perform some geoprocessing and geodatabase organization but don’t want to shut down out of ArcMap? Do it in the Catalog window. Getting frustrated with schema locks on your geodatabases? Just stay in ArcMap and do your processes in the Catalog window.
The most common question concerning the Catalog window I’ve seen is ‘Where’s the preview tab?’. This question is easily understandable, especially since the Catalog button on the ArcMap Standard toolbar now opens the Catalog window, not ArcCatalog.
There is neither a Preview nor metadata tab directly available in the Catalog window. However, you can preview the data, view the metadata and more by right-clicking on the item and then select Item Description. The Item Description dialog box gives you access to view, print, edit, validate, export and import the metadata on the Description tab, as well as previewing the geography and table of the item on the Preview tab.
The Catalog Window includes a choice of three views as well. You can cycle through them by clicking the ‘Show Next View’ button.
For more information on the Catalog window, see the following help topic: What is the Catalog window?
Please leave any comments or questions that you may have under the Comments section below. NOTE: You must be logged in to your Esri Global Account to leave comments.
- Cassandra L., Desktop Support Analyst, Esri Support Services
