MIGRATING FROM ARCINFO WORKSTATION TO ARCGIS

By Vic Dohar, Natural Resources Canada

Digital Mapping Techniques ‘04

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)

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)

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

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

Migration Strategy

Three stages (ArcGIS Help):1. Use existing data with ArcMap

2. Data management and editing using the geodatabase

3. 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

What is a Geodatabase?

ArcGIS Help ESRI press

• Publications: Modeling Our World

Resources available from www.esri.com• Download sample geodatabases

Geodatabase Case Studies

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

Geodatabase Designer

Export schema to XML. Edit, modify using an XML editor

XML schema can be imported or distributed Integrated with ArcCatalog Free!

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

Surficial Units Feature Class

Single field used to differentiate geology polygon units

Surficial Geodatabase

Map with compound units and veneers

Surficial Unit Composition Table

Surficial Unit Composition Table

Surficial Legend Table

Surficial Unit Composition Table

Complex IDs Table

Description of relationship involving complex units for all surficial maps

Surficial Geodatabase

Labeling polygons using a table

Surficial Unit Label Table

How it all fits together!

MAPUNIT

MAPUNIT VENEER PRIMARY_UNIT SECONDARY_UNIT COMPLEX_ID

MAPUNIT MAPLABEL

LEGUNIT DESCRIPTION COMPLEX_ID DESCRIPTION

Feature class Unit labels table

Unit composition table

Legend table Complex ID table

1

* 1

1 1

* * * *

*

How it all fits together!

Expressed in relationship classes

How it all fits together!

Shown when performing a query or identify

Surficial Geology Topology

Topology can only exist for participating features within a dataset

Implementing two simple rules:1. Surficial units polygons must not overlap

2. Contacts must overlap boundary of surficial units

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

Coded Value

Domain

Domains are propertiesof the geodatabase

Sub-Type Field

Sub-types are properties of the feature class

Geomorphology Line Feature Class

Coded value from domainSub-type

Making Maps with ArcMap

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

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

Map Surround Generation

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

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

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

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)

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

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: 613-943-2693 fax: 613-952-7308 email: vdohar@NRCan.gc.caweb: www.nrcan.gc.ca/ess/carto

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