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

Searching for GIS Data

In the 1990s and 2000s, the major issue related to spatial data and GIS was how to create the data sets you wanted—either directly from the environment or by converting maps. Now the initial emphasis has turned, in many instances, to finding already-existing data—on the Internet and elsewhere. Tremendous stores of spatial data exist, and more comes in every day from satellites and ongoing projects. But you may discover that the data set you want is buried with a lot of other data; it may have an obscure name; the data sets you find may not meet your standards, even if they cover the correct subject and correct geographical area. A major feature of ArcCatalog is the capability to help you discover spatial data sets and, through inspection of their metadata, determine if they meet your needs. Assume that a client or your supervisor asks you to find all the geographic data that could apply to the Wildcat Boat project. You begin by setting up ArcGIS to search your personal folder.

____ 4. In ArcCatalog, use the Up One Level arrow to get to the top of the Catalog Tree—that’s where it says Folder Connections. Collapse any folder designations that are expanded. The catalog can provide the basis for a search for geographic data, which you will now illustrate to yourself. Click the Contents tab.

____ 5. There are several ways to initiate a search in ArcCatalog: the Windows menu item has a drop-down menu with Search in it; there is a Search icon on the Standard ...