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Understanding Spatial Data: Map Projections

This workshop is intended to familiarize participants with foundational knowledge for working with spatial data. By the end of the workshop participants will be able to:

  • describe what a coordinate reference system is
  • describe what a map projection is
  • know how to find the coordinate reference system of your data
  • know to how project your data into a different coordinate system
  • find additional resources

Outline

  • Video introducing projections
  • Coordinate Reference Systems
  • Datums
  • Geographic and Projected Coordinate Systems
  • Map Projections
  • Choosing the Right Projection
  • Exercises using ArcMap

Things to do before arriving.

The exercises in this workshop will use Esri’s ArcGIS Desktop software, which is accessible through remotelabs.ubc.ca, or available for download from UBC Forestry IT.

Using remotelabs.ubc.ca

ArcGIS is available on UBC Library's lab computers via VM's on a first-come-first-serve basis. Log in with your CWL to access remote labs here: remotelabs.ubc.ca

Labs with ArcGIS:

  • Library Lab - Koerner Library Computer Lab (RM 217)
  • Library Lab - Data/GIS Lab (RM 218 A)
  • Library Lab - Digital Scholarship Lab (RM 497)

Downloading

Please see this information for downloading ArcGIS from UBC Forestry IT: gis.ubc.ca/software

If you have a Mac, it will be more challenging to download ArcGIS software, which is more compatible with a Windows operating system.

Please consult this article to learn more.

Students are able to download ArcGIS Desktop for $30 a year.

If you don’t want to pay to use the software, you can sign up for a free trial, although there may be a pause on free trials during the pandemic unless your work is related to COVID-19.

If neither of these are an option for you and you are attending this workshop from home, you can still follow along and apply the principles learned in this workshop to the GIS software of your choice.

There will be three applications that come with your download of ArcGIS Desktop.

  • ArcCatalog: file browser for managing and organizing your data
  • ArcMap: program to view, edit, and analyze data and create maps
  • ArcGIS Pro: newer program that has similar functionality to ArcMap but more 3D capability and better communication with ArcGIS Online

For the purposes of this workshop, we will only be using ArcMap.

Data

You will also need to download data and 3 MXD (maps).

Download

Download the data and extract the compressed files into your Downloads folder.

Location Details

Location:
*ONLINE*

If you have any questions, concerns, or accessibility needs please email [email address of workshop co-host].

To keep up-to-date with all of the workshops, consults, and events subscribe to the UBC Library Research Commons monthly newsletter.

This event is online. Registrants receive the link 24 hours before the event. Registration closes at the same time.
Date:
Friday, October 23, 2020
Time:
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Audience:
  All     All UBC Students     Faculty     Staff  
Categories:
  GIS     Research Commons  
Registration has closed.

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