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Friday, June 3, 2011

Geographic Information Systems GIS: Resources for the old (and wise) ArcView GIS

Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG): Recursos para el viejo y sabio Arcview GIS

Although the commercial software ArcView GIS by ESRI is quite old respect its new version the ArcGIS, it has demonstrated to be a quite useful tool for the processing of information that has geographic attributes, i.e., information with qualitative or quantitative value that has a geographical position (Latitude, Longitude, Elevation), and it is still being used in several educational institutions. Why? because buying it and/or upgrading it into the new ArcGIS version is not cheap!!!

GIS are fundamental tools for the generation of input maps (e.g., catchment delineation, land use maps, vegetation type maps, etc) for environmental models. We may also process geographical data using C++, Fortran and others (maps are just arrays). However, the advantage of using GIS software packages is that they have several functions already programmed. By the way, Matlab is also an alternative.

In this post I am showing some links on resources related to the use of ArcView in environmental modelling.


ArcView is the basic easy-to-use version of the ArcInfo software. From my (engineering) perspective, when ArcView is used together with the modules Image Analyst, 3D Analyst, and Spatial Analyst, which used to sold separately, it can provide almost all the tools needed to carry qualitative and quantitative geographical analysis. Perhaps the principal disadvantage that ArcView has had is the particular programming language used (named Avenue), contrary to ArcGIS which is connected to the well known Basic programming language.

Tutorials for Arcview GIS

- Free ArcGIS viewer. You may try this before buying the software. You may try trial versions as well.

- Jeff´s page, Prof. Jeff Hemphill, UCSB Dpt.of Geography. Very interesting tutorials on Arcview, ArcGIS. Check out the links on GIS, and the links on the lecture G151.

- Tutorial of the Spatial Analysis Lab, University of Washington. You will find tutorials on ArcGIS, Erdas, ENVI, and HTML as well.

- Links on ArcGIS tutorials, summarized by the Spatial Analysis Lab, Huxley College of Engineering. The links on ArcView seemed to be obsolete.

- GIS/RS Helpdesk, by the Corvallis Forestry Research Community, with some information, tips and links for GIS and remote sensing resources.

-GIS instructional resources (Stanfor University). Several links are provided. 

- Global GIS, from the USGS. General tutorials.


ArcScripts developed by enthusiastic third-parties

- ArcScripts at ESRI: It is the largest source of scripts (ArcScripts) and Avenue programmes developed by several ArcView users. Scripts and Avenue programmes can be installed into ArcView. Buttons can be associated to each action as well. Thus, the combination of several tools will provide the means to process any map. Besides, crawling inside each code will help you to learn the basics of the Avenue language. Your Imagination will set the boundaries. The use intended is for non-commercial purposes. In addition, source-citing is always a good practice.

- Jenness Enterprises: Extensions and tools for ArcView GIS and ArcGIS.

- Chris Garrard: Extension for spatial statistics.

- ET Spatial Techniques: A private company that offers some free extensions.

- Geospatial Designs: Free resources (scripts, software utilities) for ArcView, ArcGIS, Golden Software.

Surface hydrologic modelling

- Surface hydrological modelling and watershed delineation (University of Washington) in ArcMap.

- Hydrological modelling using GIS. It is the site of Prof. Maidment (author of e.g., Handbook of Hydrology). Several resources on this topic and other related to hydrology.

- Introduction to GIS and hydrological modelling using Arcview 3x. Material developed for the Difpolmine Conference, Budapest 2005.

- Terrain modelling with ArcView 3D Analyst. An article from Esri ArcUser Magazine, March 1999.

- Terrain analysis with raster data in ArcView (Oregon State University).

- ArcView commands for computing RUSLE.

Programming

- Programming in ArcView 3x using Avenue. A document from Durham University.

Miscellaneous and how to`s

- IKONOS DEM overlays: How to overlay satellite imagery with DEMs.

- Convert USGS SDTS DEM files to GRID files (Kent Braddy).

- Importing DEMs into ArcView and ArcGIS (Stanford University). For example for GTOPO 30 DEMs.

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