Introduction to ArcGis

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Introduction to ArcGis

ArcGis Earth Software allows users to interact with Geospatial data using different basemaps, live satellite data, map layers, terrain information, and general topographical information. In Relation to mission planning ArcGis can be a very useful tool in surveying the mission area prior to stepping foot in the field. Within ArcGis Earth we can Zoom in on a specific area and with the basemap "Terrain with Labels" we can find the elevation of the area and what it will look like. 

Two more useful tools contained within ArcGis are Viewshed and Line of Sight. Line of sight allows the PIC to choose a point at which they will be standing during flight and then add points that will show whether or not the PIC or VO will be able to see beyond a certain point due to the terrain or any obstructions. The next is Viewshed which is an analytical tool that shows the area that is visible from a certain point. You can change the color scheme or parameters in order to see the visible area that is being flown. When using this tool you can add parameters and the software will let you know which areas are visible according to the color scheme chosen. 


ArcGis

When entering ArcGis, one of the first things you will see is a toolbar with icons that give you access to things like:

  • Show layer list, Add Data, Draw, Measure, Interactive Analysis, Bookmarks, Share, Settings, Basemap and Terrain. 

                             

Figure 1: Toolbar

  • ArcGis gives users access to many different base maps including topographic, USA Topo Maps, Imagery, USGS National Map, OpenStreetMap, National Geographic, Oceans, Imagery with labels, Street, Terrain With Labels, Dark Gray Canvas, Light Gray Canvas.




Figure 2: Profile line Elevation which can be useful in surveying the mission area and finding the optimal elevation to operate. The Elevation tool is essential to ensuring there will be no surprises in elevation or terrain upon arrival to the mission area. 



Figure 3: In this image you can see the green areas where the vegetation is healthy. These are normally in wooded areas or forests. The large areas of red are mostly urban areas and farmland where there is mostly just open land, or land populated with buildings. 

Figure 4: NDVI and Infrared are just opposite in what the colors stand for. In NDVI, Green areas mean healthy vegetation and red areas mean Urban/Bare land. In Infrared, Red areas mean healthy vegetation and urban and bare ground is seen in blueish gray. I think the Infrared is easier to look at because the healthy areas tend to stand out a little better and aren’t so overlaid with the urban areas like NDVI. 

Figure 5: ArcGis also allows the use of thermal maps. This is a picture of Martell Forest area and you can see where the bare ground is visible and it shows as being warmer than other areas like the tops of trees. 






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