Karin Ebert, Martin Dahl, Han Knapen HT2024
NMT, Södertörns högskola
GIS Exercise10: GIS and reality
In this exercise, you will collect datapoints outside and manually insert them into GIS in a
point vector layer. For this exercise you will need your mobile phone to collect coordinates
and take photos. You will create a clear map that allows other people to easily find your
points and think about how (well) real objects are represented in GIS.
The aim is to collect at least four datapoints (coordinates) and use your phone’s camera to
take photos of these four points. For this, you need to go outside. It does not really matter
where, but the aim is not to use satellite photos, images from the internet, or pictures you
took a while ago. The reason you need to go out is to get a good understanding of the larger
landscape surrounding your datapoints. Even if you feel you know the place well enough
already: go out and, while walking, consider what elements you want to show (or not show)
on your final map. Remember that you are going to create a map that should be easy to use
by someone else who does not know the area. As part of the submission for this exercise,
you will reflect on how well you think you have succeeded in this.
Download background map
Before going out, download the background data for your map from GET, covering the area
that you select for this exercise.
Choose a suitable map, for instance the Topographic map (Terrängkartan). You are not
allowed to choose the area of Södertörn University (using the data of previous exercises).
Also, do not use any of the standard ESRI background maps in your submission. (For distance
students working from abroad, please use a source similar to GET to download data for your
area).
Note: In case you are looking at a very small area, it is possible that the Topographic map
(Terrängkartan) does not show enough detail (for instance, the smaller roads may not be
there). In that case, try the Property map (Fastighetskartan), which is also available on GET.
The Property map Transport networks contains a very detailed road network, while the
Property map Built-up areas contains polygons of every single building.
Collecting your datapoints and add them to the map
• Now, go outside and look around. To collect the coordinates of your datapoints, open
Google Maps on your phone, zoom to the place of interest (i.e. the place where you are
and take the photo and for which you need the coordinates). Hold your finger on that
place on the map. A pushpin (kartnål) appears on that place and on top of the Google
Maps field, the coordinates appear in decimal degrees. This is what you need.
• Write down the coordinates and a name for each photo point (e.g. bus stop, pine tree…)
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Karin Ebert, Martin Dahl, Han Knapen HT2024
NMT, Södertörns högskola
• When you have collected four points and documented them by taking photos, you are
ready to add them to your background map in ArcGIS.
• In the folder with the background data, create a new point vector layer (as in the
previous exercise: run “Create Feature Class” under Tools, or, alternatively, right click on
the folder in Catalog, New – Shapefile. Make sure that the coordinate system is
SWEREF99_TM). Then as usual go to Edit – Create.
To create a point on the right spot, RIGHT-click anywhere on the map, choose Absolute X,Y,Z
and manually insert your coordinates:
Note that the decimal commas in the example above may be points in your case, depending
on your regional settings in Windows.
Confirm each coordinate by pressing Enter.
Your new point jumps to the correct spot (in case Google Maps gave you the correct
coordinates. In case the place is very wrong, you can move your point manually).
Do this for all your new points. Then do not forget to save your Edits.
When you are done with that, open the Attribute Table of your point layer. Now you want to
add a column with the names of your points. Click Add Field:
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Karin Ebert, Martin Dahl, Han Knapen HT2024
NMT, Södertörns högskola
Change the Field Name to Kategori, and the Data Type to text (you probably need to click a
couple of times on the fields to change them):
Save your edits in the upper Field menu:
Go back to the Attribute Table (click on the tab) and manually fill in the names for your
points in the table:
When you are done, click Save in the upper Edit menu. Save all edits. (In the case above, the
“kalkstensgrotta” would not be saved. You first have to click somewhere else before you
save, like this):
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Karin Ebert, Martin Dahl, Han Knapen HT2024
NMT, Södertörns högskola
Then, change the symbology for each point. Open Symbology for the points layer, change
Primary Symbology to Unique Values, and as Field 1 choose Kategori.
When you are done with your points layer, finalize your background map. Remember that
the background layers consist of the vector data you downloaded from GET, and they should
not include an ESRI standard background map. On your map, show those elements that are
important for someone else to easily navigate through the area and easily find your points
(depending on the area you have chosen, this could for example include roads, rivers,
forests, buildings, or other landmarks). Choose clear symbols and colours that match the
purpose of the map. Add a title to your map explaining where in Sweden (or elsewhere) this
is, which will furthermore help other people to find your points.
4
Karin Ebert, Martin Dahl, Han Knapen HT2024
NMT, Södertörns högskola
Submission:
Submit a full layout (scale bar, coordinate system, legend for all visible background map
items and all four points). Add textbox(es) with your name, date, map title and the
reference to the data source(s) of the background map.
Insert the layout in a word file, and below the layout, add the photos you took at the
photo points and write below each photo which point it represents.
Then, write some sentences about the quality of your map: Do you think the background
data represents the area in a good way? Does it have a good resolution? Is the symbology
you used clear and does it help others to easily understand your map? Would someone
who is not familiar with the area (a total stranger) be able to find their way to the four
points, or would any additional information have been helpful to them?
Submit everything in the submission folder for Exercise 10.
