Introducing Geographic Information Systems with ArcGIS: A Workbook Approach to Learning GIS, 3rd Edition

Identifying Geographic Features and Coordinates

Coordinates are a big deal, and frequently a big headache, for those doing GIS work. HYDRANTS is referenced by a local (and, in this case, fictional) coordinate system devised by the village or perhaps by the county. The units are survey feet. Suppose the village enters into an agreement of some sort with a regional water system agency to maintain the pipes and hydrants. If the agency uses a different coordinate system, the question might arise as to what the latitude and longitude values, rather than the local coordinate system values, were for these hydrants. As mentioned previously, the latitude and longitude coordinate system is the primary basis for the most accurate geographic information.

____ 22. Select the Identify tool from the Geography toolbar. Write here the description of the tool that you see on the ToolTip. (In version 10.0 of ArcGIS this will be found on the Status Bar.) ____________________________________. Notice the appearance of the cursor as you move it around the geographic area. Click in a blank area of the window that shows the hydrants. An Identify Results window appears. (You can move the window around by dragging its title bar and resize it by dragging a side or corner to better see the geographic image – but don’t make it too small, since it will shortly display more information.)

____ 23. Click one of the points representing a hydrant. As you click the feature, it flashes momentarily. The relational ...