GIS Analysis - ArcGIS

A GIS analysis involves visualizing and combining geographic data to derive new information. GIS analysis does not solve problems directly; the information it produces is used by people to draw conclusions and make informed decisions. Listed below are key points you should remember about GIS analysis.

	GIS analysis is an iterative process that includes clearly defining a problem, identifying criteria and data, planning and executing the analysis, and evaluating and presenting the results.
	An analysis plan can help you identify necessary data and software tools, prevent mistakes, and save time.
	GIS analysis often involves creating queries to select features that meet attribute or locational criteria.
	To access feature attributes stored outside the layer attribute table, you can create a join between the attribute table and a nonspatial table.
	Maps, graphs, tables, and reports can be used to present analysis results.

Review questions

What three things should be identified on a workflow diagram?
How can you create a report that lists the attributes of only some of the features in a layer?
Why would you create a table join?

Answers

A workflow diagram should identify the sequence of steps, the specific tool to use at each step, and the data required and produced by each tool.
To show the attributes of only some features in a report, first create a selected set of features, then create the report.
You would join two tables if you want to query a layer based on an attribute that is stored outside the layer attribute table.

Key terms

	definition query
	join
	query
	query expression
	selected set
	workflow diagram