How to Create a Similar Exercise
This page outlines the general methods used in creating these exercises and GIS maps. This information is predicated on the use of ArcView GIS software, although with minor changes should work in other GIS programs.
This page outlines the general methods used in creating these exercises and GIS maps. This information is predicated on the use of ArcView GIS software, although with minor changes should work in other GIS programs.
Step 1: Open a new project in ArcView
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Step 2: Load a world-view base map (comes with ArcView). To make your project similar to this one, load the "Country.shp" and the "World30.shp" themes now. Make the "Country.shp" theme active and double-click the theme to bring up the "Legend Editor" dialog box. Change the "legend type" to "single symbol" from "unique value" using the pull-down menu. Assign a pastel color to the "Country.shp" theme; click "Apply", and then click "OK" to complete your changes. | Step 3: collect data from various sources
on earthquake epicenters and volcano locations-two good possibilities are:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/neis/qed/qed.html http://www.nmnh.si.edu/gvp/volcano/volcdata.htm |
| Step 4: import (copy) data into MS Excel | Step 5: "massage" data as necessary; latitude and longitude coordinates must be in decimal degrees, without NS or EW tags | Step 6: save data in dBASE IV form (with .dbf extension); this can be read by ArcView |
| Step 7: return to ArcView and add your data table to your project window | Step 8: return to the project view and "add event theme" from the View menu (this creates a new theme in your view menu) | Step 9: change theme symbols if desired; make theme active and draw symbols to see your data |
| Step 10: iterate as necessary to import all data | Step 11: if desired, copy specific data tables and add copy to project; this will enable you to create "subthemes", for instance, by picking out only the shallow-focus earthquakes | Step 12: create desired "subthemes" following steps 7-9 above. |
| Step 13: if you wish to create a "Plate Boundaries" theme, choose "new theme" from the "view" menu (when view window is active). | Step 14: pull-down to the "line" feature type from the dialog box that pops up after step 13; click "OK" | Step 15: name the theme and store in the project directory folder |
| Step 16: choose the line tool (if not already highlighted), and begin drawing your plate boundaries | Step 17: when all boundaries are drawn, choose "stop editing" from the Theme menu | Step 18: SAVE your project! and you're ready to go |
page created by C. Summa, 7/15/99