Vector Analysis

The Mighty and Dreaded Toolbox!

The Toolbox contains most of the "tools" that you'll be using to process and transform spatial data in ArcGIS. The tools you've already used, including Project, Clip, Erase, Dissolve, Intersection, are also in the Toolbox. In fact, you can find almost all the standard tools available in ArcGIS in the tool box.

Watch the video below to learn more about using the Toolbox:

 

Finding Tools

When finding tools, you must know the location or the name of the tool.
E.g., Union in a single layer --> "Dissolve"

To find the names:

• Browse the tool box
• "Search" the tool box
• Search the web: "ArcMap Union"

Once you find the tool you need:

• Write down it's name and/or location in the toolbox

Getting Help

ArcGIS has excellent help and you can access help for any tool by opening the tool and clicking the "Help" button. ArcGIS help is also avaialble on the Web but make sure you are looking at help for the same version (e.g. ArcGIS 10.2) that you are using.

Example Problems

Below are some typical spatial analysis problemc with vector data. Read the problem and see if you can create a flow chart with the tools you would use to solve the problem.

Problem 1

Find the area of potential over-spray from a farm into a conservation easement if:

• You have a shapefile for the farm and the conservation easement.
• The over-spray can be up to 50 meters.

Problem 2

Find the harvestable area of a forest given:

• Stream shapefile
• Forest shapefile
• You cannot harvest within 15 meters of a stream

Problem 3

What is the total length of roads that are within 20 meters of a stream, given:

• Stream shapefile
• Road shapefile

Problem 4

Find the area of a forest that should be persevered for owls given:

• Points for potential nest sites are in the forest
• Owls will hunt up to 1 kilometer from their nest
• Owls hunt in non-forested areas
• A shapefile showing forested and non-forested areas
• You have to cut 10 square kilometers or additional timber to maintain your forests or sell your land to a land developer

Test Your Knowledge

 

Additional Resources