Characteristics and Examples of Spatial Data - Introducing Geographic Information Systems with ArcGIS - page 146

FIGURE 2-28
and add it to the data frame. Make it bright green, width 2. You should see a line crossing the
DOQ. You will notice that it doesn't fit the road in the image very well—which is sometimes
characteristic of TIGER/Line data. That census application is less concerned with geographic
accuracy than with the topology—that is, the main emphasis is on what connects to what. Try
to ignore the fact that the TIGER-depicted road takes a little detour through the plant machinery.
See Figure 2-28.
29. Start the Identify tool. Click somewhere in the data frame to bring up the Identify window.
Select ROADS from the “Identify from:” drop-down menu box. Click on the green line to
determine the name of the road. ____________________. What would you say the zip code for
the plant was? ___________. The TIGER/Line files contain several attribute fields, which we will
explore later. Dismiss the Identify window.
30. Just to get an idea of the volume of data in Roads, zoom to that layer. Use the Zoom In tool to
look at the level of detail. Lexington has a (mostly) limited-access “ring road” that circles the
central part of the city; its “diameter” is about 5 to 7 miles, depending on where you measure.
Can you determine its name? _________________. Zoom in or out as necessary.
31. Zoom to the DRG, then to a small square in its northwest corner that includes the
southernmost interchange of New circle Road. Look at the fit, or lack of fit, of the Roads feature
class with those shown on the DRG. See Figure 2-29.