Graphical Information System (ArcGIS)

Geographic Information System (GIS) data software is now available at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). GIS combines layers of information about a place to give you a better understanding of that place. What layers of information you combine depends on your purpose—finding the best location for a new store, analyzing environmental damage, viewing similar crimes in a city to detect a pattern, and so on.

GIS System Requirements

• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• People
• Training

Hardware (computers and peripherals to store the GIS data)

VCU has a license server running so that faculty, staff, and students can connect and run ESRI's ArcGIS suite.

• This license is restricted to on-campus use by VCU students, faculty, and staff.
• The license server is running FlexLM software with codes to allow a user to retrieve a license and actually 'run' ArcGIS.
• If the server or network goes down, so does the ability for anyone to run ArcGIS. The local user MUST be connected to the server at all times.

VCU also has an ArcIMS server that is managed by Technology Services.

• This service allows users to perform GIS analyses and functions without installing software on a user's computer.
• Currently, from this machine, GIS information is available on the Inger and Walter Rice Center for the Environmental Life Sciences.

Software (to access, query, manage, present and analyze GIS data)

All ArcGIS products (ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo) are comprised of the ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and ArcToolbox applications.

These products can be thought of at different levels:

• ArcView level allows editing of personal geodatabases and shapefile, where you can:
  • Create high-quality maps, graphs, and reports.
  • Perform geographic queries and analysis.
  • Geocode addresses.
• ArcEditor level allows a user to create, edit and manage ArcInfo coverages and ArcSDE geodatabases, where you can
  • Create and edit geometric networks.
  • Create and edit custom features.
• ArcInfo level allows a user to create, edit, and analyze coverages using ArcInfo Workstation. This is the most powerful level of ArcGIS. For this to run ArcInfo workstation must be loaded on the machine. This is the foundation of ArcGIS.
  • Run AML (Arc Macro Language) programs from ArcToolbox.
  • Convert from multiple GIS data formats into ArcInfo coverage formats.
  • Use the geoprocessing server to perform ArcToolbox operations on a designated computer (a remote server).

Note: A user can change the 'level' of the software by using the desktop administrator.

• ArcMap is the primary ArcGIS application for displaying, querying, editing, creating, and analyzing data.
  • This application provides tools for creating visual displays of your data, querying, and creating presentation-quality maps.
  • ArcMap makes it easy to layout your maps for printing, embedding in other documents, or electronic publishing.
  • It also includes analysis, charting, and reporting functions and a comprehensive suite of editing tools for creating and editing geographic data.
  • When you save a map, all of your layout work, symbols, text, and graphics are automatically preserved.
• ArcCatalog is a tool for accessing and managing your data.
  • This application helps you organize and manage all your GIS data.
  • It includes tools for browsing and finding geographic information, recording and viewing metadata, quickly viewing any dataset, and defining the schema structure for your geographic data layers.
• ArcToolbox contains tools for data conversion and management.
  • This application provides you with tools for data conversion, managing coordinate systems, and changing map projections.
  • It supports user-friendly drag-and-drop operations from ArcCatalog.
  • For ArcInfo users, ArcToolbox provides additional and more sophisticated data conversion and spatial analysis tools.

Data

Data such as standard map and graphics file formats, images, CAD files, spreadsheets, relational databases, census data.

• A GIS stores information about the world as a collection of themed layers that can be used together. A layer can be anything that contains similar features such as customers, buildings, streets, lakes, or postal codes.
• This data includes either an explicit geographic reference, such as a latitude and longitude coordinate, or an implicit reference such as an address, postal code, census tract name, forest stand identifier, or road name.
• Data can be free or fee-based. The source of this data comes from a variety of places.
• Link to potential data sources.
• Data types supported in ArcGIS.

The license server is running FlexLM software with codes to allow a user to retrieve a license and actually 'run' ArcGIS. If the server or network goes down, so does the ability to run ArcGIS. The local user MUST be connected ('pointed') to the server at all times.

Restricted Access - Access to this server is only available to VCU students, faculty, and staff.

The ArcGIS suite consists of ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and ArcToolbox, which is the core collection of applications that provide data visualization, query, analysis, and integration capabilities along with the ability to create and edit simple geographic features.

There are different levels of the software, such as ArcView (for beginners), ArcEditor, and ArcInfo (for the more advanced user). ArcPad software is mobile mapping and geographic information system technology, which provides database access, mapping, GIS, and global positioning system (GPS) integration to users out in the field via handheld and mobile devices.

Register, download, and install ArcGIS Suite or ArcPad

Please read all of the information before downloading and installing the ESRI software.  By downloading and installing the GIS software, you agree to abide by the licensing agreement VCU has with ESRI.

• This agreement restricts the use of the software to VCU students, faculty, or staff.
• To register and obtain a copy of the software: Submit an ESRI\GIS\ArcView Request.
• To run the software: the license server must be running to 'boot up' the software on your PC.
  
  The process goes like this:
  
  
  • In the installation, choose the local installation and specify the name of the existing license server that your computer is going to point to. You must type in the name of this server, which is magi.vcu.edu.
  • The installation will validate that the service is currently running and will proceed to allow installation.
  • If the license server goes down, so does ArcGIS. It must have a 'constant' connection to the server to use it.

Note: For more information regarding installation, please contact Terry Leonard.

People (to collect, manage and analyze data)

Several VCU individuals are active in GIS projects. Some are in the system management role, keeping the GIS servers running; some collect data and create the layers to specific geographic areas, while others provide training on using GIS.

Training

• The VCU Libraries supports spatial and numeric data research with technology, training, and data resources. For more information, please visit: http://guides.library.vcu.edu/gis
• Authorized ESRI Instruction at VCU.
• Other links from ESRI:
  • ESRI Homepage
  • Discussion Forums
  • Scripts & Tools