• Introduction.
• Definition and basic concepts.
• Uses of Geographic Information Systems.
• Geographic information: vector data models, raster data models and other data models (CAD, TIN, etc.). Main features of each data module, advantages and disadvantages.
• Introduction to ArcGIS Desktop: ArcMap, ArCatalog, ArcToolbox, ArcScene and ArcGlobe.
• Arcmap interface, extensions and tools.

Guided exercise: Verification of the correct functioning of the software and assessment.

• Information layers: how to add layers, features and attribute tables.
• Data tools: search and queries.
• Selection tools: selection per feature, selection by spatial location and capture information.
• Layer symbology: basic symbology, by category, by quantity and through graphics.
• Other display options: labelling and transparencies.

Guided exercise: (load layers, types of selection, symbology) and assessment.

• Introduction to Coordinate systems and projections.
• Defining Coordinate Systems.
• Coordinate system transformation. Reprojection of ED50 or ETRS89 geographic databases.
• Image, layer and CAD files georeferencing.

Guided exercise: (define, project, image georeferencing and CAD) and assessment.

• Creation and editing of spatial data
  – Creating of spatial data: Editing tools bar. Digitization techniques
  – Exporting and importing spatial information files from different formats (CAD, DGN, Shp, ASCII, etc.). Create layers from CAD files
  – Modifying existing layers
  – Creating layers from coordinates
• Creation and editing of data in Attribute tables
  – Structure of an Attribute table.
  – Types of data included in an attribute table.
  – Modify information from an attribute table.
  – Calculate geometric information (Surface, perimeter, length, etc.).
  – Creation of statistics from an Attribute table.
  – Export tables to Excel and other formats. Report and graph creation.

Guided exercise (create layers, digitize, modify attribute tables, add fields, geometric calculations, field calculator) and assessment.

• Designing databases.
• Joining and relating databases.
• Spatial joins. Obtain statistics from database information and spatial position of elements in a layer.

Guided exercise: (join database and spatial relations) and assessment.

• Extract Toolset (Clip, Split).
• Overlay toolset (intersect, union).
• Proximity toolset (buffer analysis, Thiessen polygons).
• Multi-criteria analysis. Obtaining optimum areas according to several criteria.

Guided exercise: (spatial analysis) and assessment.

• Adjusting the size and type of sheet.
• Inserting elements: north, scale bar, numeric scale, map legend.
• Including other elements: images, graphs and tables.
• Adding several data frameworks
• Creation and use of templates.
• Printing options

Guided exercise: Creation of a map.

• Introduction.
• Definition and basic concepts.
• Purposes and uses.

• File conversion
  – Converting files from vector to raster, and vice versa
  – Converting ASCII or html files to raster
  – Converting vector files to TIN
  – Converting TIN to Raster formats
  – Exporting files to KML (Google Earth) and CAD
  – Creating Digital Elevation Models from vector data, ASCII and TIN files
• Extracting information from raster files
  – By query
  – By mask or entity
• Joining raster files

Guided exercise: (convert files, create digital elevation models) and assessment.

• Raster files reclassification. Building Boolean layers, adding values to intervals or categories, and data conversion.
• Grouping several raster layers. Algebra map, math calculations between raster layers, field statistics.
• Data interpolation. Exploring different interpolation tools (IDW, Kriging, Natural neighbor).
• Euclidean distances.
• Surface: contour, slope calculation, hillshade, orientation and visibility.
• Use in hydrology:  obtaining a drainage system, flow direction, outlets, and identification of drainage basins or sub-basins.
• Volume calculation.
• Raster multi-criteria analysis: Basic concept and weighting.
• Least-cost routes.

Practical exercises: Interpolation of radiation data, volume calculations, complex multi-criteria analysis and least-cost route calculation.

• Converting vector files from 2D to 3D.
• Vector and raster layers display in 3D.
• Virtual flights.

Practical exercises: Visibility of fire protection towers, volume of soil extracted from a quarry and 3D representation.

• Use.
• Linking geoprocessing models using ModelBuilder.
• Creating custom tools using ArcToolBox.

Practical exercise: (creating geoprocessing models with ModelBuilder) and assessment.

• Geodatabase: advantages. Properties.
• Loading data to the geodatabase.
• Domains and subtypes.

Practical exercise: (creating a geodatabase and its management) and assessment.

Massive correction of geospatial data errors.

• Topology considerations.
• Cluster tolerance.
• Most common rules in topology.
• Validating a topology.
• Topology errors.
• Management of errors.

Practical exercise: (error management and massive correction) and assessment.

• Definition
• Network categories
  – Geometric networks
  – Transportation networks
• Network components
  – Nodes
  – Axis
  – Flow
• Creating network datasets
  – Operators
  – Optimal route.
  – Service areas.
  – Closest facility.
  – Origin destination (OD) cost matrix.

Guided exercise: (creating a network dataset, route calculation, buffer areas) and assessment.

The usage of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is rapidly growing, becoming an essential tool in a variety of business sectors like engineering, environment, geography, mining or geomarketing.

Among GIS tools, ArcGIS is one of the most used GIS software worldwide, the most stable and versatile, comprised by a set of integrated applications, with a solid documentation over a wide range of tools being also supported by a large community.

ArcGIS provides contextual tools for data visualization, mapping and spatial analysis, connecting and combining information from varied sources (local and online), offering complex capabilities in order to explore, gain and enquire knowledge, that will lead to the best decisions. It can be also handled using a user interface as well as in command line using specific programming languages, like Python.

No, the training course starts from the very beginning.

Due to changes in the ESRI licensing policy, the trial version of 60 days for ArcGIS – ArcMap it is not available anymore. You can get access to the full capabilities of ArcGIS platform with the new ArcGIS for Personal Use option available at the following link.