Field Activity #6: Microclimate Geodatabase Construction for Deployment to ArcPad

Introduction

The goal of this lab is learn how to create a geodatabase, its domains (rules), add a feature class and import a background image. It is important to know how to build a geodatabase and its surrounding features because it is one of the essential tools for data collection and manipulation. The use of GIS in the lab and out in the field is a big part of the future of Geography. The creation of a geodatabase and understanding of how to use it is incredibly important when working with GPS devices and especially the ArcPad device which will be described in detail below. Knowing how to pre-plan for a trip is also an invaluable tool for working in the field so as to allow for the best results in the field.

Part 1:

In order to begin this activity it is important to understand exactly what the project entails. In the case of this microclimate research it is important to understand exactly what that means. A microclimate can be described as that of a small or restricted area that may be different from the surrounding climate. This field activity aims at the creation of the database that will be utilized to map the microclimates of the Eau Claire campus. There could even be a difference from upper to lower campus when it comes to elevation and a small area of interest. Before any of this can be done there is some planning that must take place.

Pre-planning for any field operation is paramount for a successful data collection session. Pre-planning spans from checking the weather, to wearing the right clothes, to checking your gear, and more. Pre-planning is what harbors a great field experience versus one befuddled with errors. A large portion of pre-planning starts in the lab. Creating a working geodatabase for your data is paramount to lessening the amount of errors that may be present in your data. Pre-planning evolves from the database and moves into domains where basic rules  for the database are created. Finally, especially for this activity, creating a feature class with several attributes that will be mapped on the spot and aligning them with the domains created before will help to foster an easy data collection.

In order to collect this microclimate data the device known as ArcPad must be used. ArcPad is a type of GPS device that allows for the updating of fields within a geodatabase. The device ties GPS points to specific pieces of information that are added into the database. The link provided here goes to the ArcPad official website which contains data about how use and purchase a Trimble ArcPad device. Image 1 below shows the ArcPad device that will be used to create the microclimate maps.

Image 1: The above image shows the Juno 3D ArcPad device which is a common device for tracking data in the field. The device allows for the use and transfer of a geodatabase from ArcMap to and from ArcPad. It is important to create the geodatabase and its domains before importing the database into the ArcPad device.

Part 2:

Tasks for this lab exercise:
1. Construction of a Geodatabase
2. Development of Geodatabase domains
3. Development of domain ranges
4. Construction of a feature class for later deployment to ArcPad
5. Importation of a raster background data set

To begin this project a geodatabase must be created. A database is used to store data that is needed to produce a project/outcome. Databases can contain many different kinds of data, such as documents, tables, images, etc. A geodatabase contains data that has a spatial context and is used for the creation of maps that display a desired outcome. To learn more about geodatabases click here. The geodatabase is where all of the layers and shapefiles will be stored and worked on within. In order to ensure a properly working geodatabase, domains and subtypes must be created to monitor variables entered into the dataset.

A domain is a set of rules that are implemented within a geodatabase to ensure data integrity as values are added to the dataset. Domains are used to keep track of data and to not allow errors to occur. Domains allow the user to set fields up with specific units so that data that is input into the fields doesn't go beyond the allowed outputs. Image 2 below shows the domain page where domains are created and implemented. To learn more about domains and how they work then click here.

Image 2: The above image shows the page that allows the user to create domains. The initial steps of creating a domain involve giving it a name and description. After this is completed the domain properties tab allows the creation of the domain properties such as the field type and range. Some fields also require codes with descriptions as well.

Field Types allowed for Domains:
1. Short—Short integers
2. Long—Long integers
3. Float—Single-precision floating point numbers
4. Double—Double-precision floating point numbers
5. Text (Coded domains only)—Alphanumeric characters
6. Date—Date and time data

The domains that need to be created for the microclimate geodatabase include temperature, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, dew point, snow depth, notes and time. All of these different variables need differing field types in order to work properly. For example, the notes field needs the field type of text so that words can be added to it. All of these variables needed to be inputted into the geodatabase in order to be able to properly add data to each field while in the field using the ArcPad.

Image 3: This image shows the creation of a feature class that will be used for the microclimate data. Each feature was added as an attribute into the feature class. When looking at the field properties section near the end of image there is a section called domain where a user can pick one of the domains that were created for the attribute.

After finding the domains for the geodatabase the user can decide which and how many feature classes need to be added to the database. The microclimate database really only requires one feature class with multiple attributes because when the database is added to the ArcPad device it is much easier to navigate from attribute to attribute rather than from feature class to feature class. Along with adding feature classes to the geodatabase it is important to add a background that would suit the data well. Professor Joe Hupy provided the class with a satellite image of Eau Claire via the Project drive. Image 4 below is of the satellite image that Professor Hupy provided for the microclimate map.

Image 4: The above satellite image was provided by Professor Joe Hupy through his project folder. The image shows the campus and surrounding city. The image is the area of interest that will examined for the microclimate project.

At this point in this tutorial the geodatabase is ready to enter the field for data collection. The geodatabase can be transferred to the ArcPad device. Refer to part 1 above about the ArcPad device in order to learn more about it and how it is utilized.

Conclusion

This field activity really helped to embolden the GIS aspect of field work. Knowing how to create a geodatabase is essential for any geographer in the 21st century. Knowing how to make a geodatabase with domains to ensure integrity is even better. This skill translates very well to field when using the ArcPad devices. Being able to import your own geodatabase into the device then add data to it is very powerful. I found this activity to be very helpful in many senses since it not only could help a surveyor, but also someone who is collecting data for research. GIS is a very powerful tool that will continue to grow, so any time that a student can learn more about it is time spent well.