GEOG 3813    GIS       Fall 2005        NSU      

ArcGIS ArcView 9.1 Homework Exercise #2

Assigned:  September 14, 2005        Due:  October 3, 2005 by 5 p.m. 


Use ArcGIS ArcView 9.1 software to accomplish the following GIS tasks and to answer the following questions.  You will need to have completed Chapters 1-6 (including the tutorials) in Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop in order to do this exercise efficiently and effectively.  This exercise will require the use of many of the same skills as used in Exercise #1, plus new ones covered in Chapter 6 and/or discussed in class.  You will be using the spatial datasets available on the student i: drive in the \ziehr\MEXICO folder; these datasets have the following filenames:  cities, rivers, roads, roads_rt, and states.  They should all fit easily on a 3.5" floppy disk.  Please copy these files onto a floppy disk, CD, or your L: drive since you will be making changes to some of these files.   Turn in your work (map documents and written document file) on a 3.5" floppy disk, CD, or as attachments to an e-mail.  Make sure that the file paths that are stored in your map documents (.mxd) are such that I will be able to access all of the necessary files when I open your map document in my office.

Problem 1   [10 points]

    1. a.  Create two choropleth maps (graduated color) showing the population in 1990 (POP1990) in the states of Mexico.  These maps should be in separate data frames in a single map document.  Make the name of the data frames descriptive of the variable and classification method that is being displayed.  Use a different the classification method in the two maps; you're decision on classification methods should be based on a specific purpose for each of your maps. So, propose a specific application for how each map will be used and determine which classification method, the number of classes, and which color ramp (color scheme) is most appropriate for this purpose.  Display these maps in a single layout with an appropriate title and/or captions.  

    1. b.  List the purpose (application) that you propose for each map, and then explain why you chose the classification method, number of classes, and color ramp.

The maps that you create will be stored in a map document (.mxd) that will be turned in--you must use the following filename for your map document:  yourlastname-hw2-prob1.mxd (of course, use your actual last name in place of yourlastname).  Your written answers (Problems 1-5) should be in a WordPerfect or Word document that will be turned in--you must use the following filename for your written document:   yourlastname-hw2-answers.



Problem 2   [10 points]  

    2. a.  Create two maps showing the percentage of the total population of Mexico in 1990 (PerPop90) in the states of Mexico.  Use graduated symbols for one map and proportional symbols for the other map.  Make your decisions about how to construct these two maps by thinking of a use (application) in which each technique would be appropriate for displaying these quantitites.   Display these maps in a single layout with an appropriate title and/or captions.  

    2. b.  Explain how you decided upon the appropriate use of these two techniques, giving particular attention to how these two methods differ.

The maps that you create will be stored in a map document (.mxd) that will be turned in--you must use the following filename for your map document:  yourlastname-hw2-prob2.mxd (of course, use your actual last name in place of yourlastname).   Your written answer to 2.b. will be in the same wordprocessed document that you created for Problem 1.



Problem 3   [10 points]
 
Create two maps of the road network in Mexico.  The first map must show the roads for the entire country distinguished by type.  The second map must show the area around Mexico City (75-100 mile radius or so) at a larger scale (clue: bookmark).  Display these two maps in the same layout with an appropriate title and/or captions.  Clue:  notice the differences and similarities in the two road files.

The maps that you create will be stored in a map document (.mxd) that will be turned in--you must use the following filename for your map document:  yourlastname-hw2-prob3.mxd (of course, use your actual last name in place of yourlastname).  
  



Problem 4  [10 ponts]

Create two maps of the states of Mexico using bar charts to indicate the percentage of the population that speaks an indigenous language (P_ing_lang) and the percentage of the population that is employed in industrial jobs (P_empl_sec); these include mining, petroleum and gas, manufacturing, electric energy generation, and construction .  The first map should show the entire country.   The second map must show central Mexico (use your judgment as to what's "central Mexico) at a larger scale (clue: bookmark).  Display these two maps in the same layout with an appropriate title and/or captions.  

The maps that you create will be stored in a map document (.mxd) that will be turned in--you must use the following filename for your map document:  yourlastname-hw2-prob4.mxd (of course, use your actual last name in place of yourlastname).  

[If you're using a floppy disk for storing your work, you may run out of disk space on one floppy and have to use a second floppy disk.]



Problem 5  [10 ponts]

Go to ArcGIS Desktop Help --> Contents --> ArcMap --> Working with styles and symbols.  Read how to create your own style file to accompany the maps you created in Problem 3 above.  Save your customized style file that will be turned in--you must use the following filename for your style:  yourlastname-hw2-prob5.style (of course, use your actual last name in place of yourlastname).


Revised September 14, 2005.