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CE547 Index > Experiments in Projection

Steps for World map:

  1. Open ArcMap, Add new layers (World Continents and Map Background) from the ESRI template geodatabase. 
  2. In Map Backgroud layer, changed fill and outline to blue symbolizing water. 
  3. In World Continents layer, changed fill to tan symbolizing land.
  4. In Data Frame, changed projection to Goode's Homolosine Land. This is a projection designed to reduce distortion for the entire world. Goode's method of splitting the map results in an equal area projection. Additional benefit is that it looks cool.
  5. In layout I added title and supplemental text.
  6. Exported map to JPEG and PDF, click image to see PDF.

World Map

 

Steps for USA map #1:

  1. Open ArcMap, Add new layers (US Cities and US States in Data Frame 1 and World Continents and Map Background in Data Frame 2) from the ESRI template geodatabase. 
  2. In Data Frame 1, entered "CAPITAL" = 'Y' AND "CITY_NAME" = 'Augusta' OR "CITY_NAME" = 'Olympia' in Definition Query to isolate specific cities for analysis and changed symbol to red star.
  3. In Data Frame 2, changed parameters to match previous world map.
  4. In Layout Mode, drew lines connecting cities for distance measurement, then using measure tool, measured distance in kilometers and converted to feet.
  5. In Layout Mode, I added extend rectangle, title and supplemental text.
  6. Exported map to JPEG and PDF, click image to see PDF.

No Projection USA

 

Steps for USA map #2:

  1. Using existing un-projected map, I projected the US Data Frame to Albers Equal Area Conic.
  2. In Layout Mode, re-drew lines connecting cities for distance measurement, then using measure tool, measured distance in kilometers and converted to feet.
  3. In Layout Mode, I resized USA map and updated distances.
  4. Exported map to JPEG and PDF, click image to see PDF.

Projected USA

 

Steps for USA map #3:

  1. Using existing projected map, I changed the Definition Query to "CAPITAL" = 'Y' isolating state capitals.
  2. While in the layer properties, I changed the symbology of the cities to show stars of increasing size for differences in city size.
  3. Investigating the Attribute table for the cities I sorted the POP1990 field in ascending order to find the city with lowest and highed population. Similar process on the elevation field revealed the city with highest elevation.
  4. In Layout Mode, I added a legend for all cities and typed details regarding the lowest and highest populations and highest elevation.
  5. Exported map to JPEG and PDF, click image to see PDF.

USA Capital Cities

 

Steps for New Mexico map:

  1. Using existing projected map, I added another Data Frame for the New Mexico data and proceeded to add two identical US States layers.
  2. In first states layer, I entered "STATE_NAME" = 'New Mexico' in Selection>Select by Attributes to isolate New Mexico.
  3. Right clicking on States layer, I selected Data>Export and saved the layer as nmgeo.shp
  4. In the second states layer I changed the symbology to show just the state outlines to show states around New Mexico.
  5. In both of the states layers I projected the layers to Albers Equal Area Conic using Data Managment Tools>Projections and Transformations>Feature>Project
  6. The Project tool saved the output from the New Mexico map to nmgeo_Project.shp and the second states layer to states_Project.shp.
  7. Loading the saved layers back in to the Data Frame, I changed the Central Meridian to -106.5, centering the map view on Albuquerque, NM.
  8. In Layout Mode, I added a text box with Projection Parameters and added extent rectangles to US and World inset maps.
  9. Exported map to JPEG and PDF, click image to see PDF.

New Mexico Map