Characteristics and Examples of Spatial Data - Introducing Geographic Information Systems with ArcGIS - page 168

18. In the T/C click on the word Basemap, wait a second, and click again. You can now change its
name to Basemap_NatGeo. Click the minus sign in front of the name to collapse the entry.

19. Zoom to the GPS layer again. Again add a basemap—this time picking Imagery. In the T/C
change its name from Basemap to Basemap_Imagery and collapse the entry. In the T/C, drag
the Basemap_Imagery layer above the Basemap_NatGeo layer. The imagery layer will block the
NatGeo layer. Pan the image down slightly so that you can see the water treatment plant.

20. Suppose you would like to see both layers at the same time. Right-click the Basemap_Imagery
layer and pick Properties > Display. Set the Transparency to 70%. Now you can see names
of the roads that are present on the NatGeo layer as you look through the imagery layer.
What is the name of the road to the south of the river that appears to parallel the
river? ____________________________________________.

21. Start a new map. Add the GPS track. Using the dropdown menu next to the Add Data button
click on Add Data From ArcGIS Online. Experiment with some of the basemaps, starting with
USA Topo Maps. That's right, all of the more than 55,000 7.5 minute topographic quadrangles
of the United States are available to you! You could use combinations of these basemaps to
find an area of interest and see considerable detail of any place in the U.S. For example, you
could zoom way out on a DeLorme map (add from ArcGIS Online), locate an area of interest
(your home town?), and zoom in on it—getting a good topo image of the area at a scale of
1:4000 and a scale of 1:2000 on an imagery basemap. The same approach could be used to
look worldwide, depending on the data available.

In Chapter 3 you will learn how to add your own data to basemaps like these and publish the results so
that others can call them up.

Next Steps on Your Own

Of course, there is a long story behind each of the types of data that we have looked at briefly here. If you
are interested in a particular type or source of data, I suggest that you look first at the Web for sources
and then study Web pages or texts for more detail.

Exercise 2-7 (Review)

Checking, Updating, and Organizing Your Fast Facts File

The Fast Facts File that you are developing should contain references to items in the following checklist.
The checklist represents the abilities to use the software you should have upon completing Chapter 2.

❏ To initiate ArcMap:

❏ Square feet in an acre; acres in a square mile

❏ To move toolbars by double-clicking

❏ To turn toolbars on or off

❏ To include extensions in the software