Data Creation
Introduction to Geospatial Data
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Competency 3. Data Creation
Competency 3. Data Creation
Create, edit, and document geospatial data using point, line, and polygon construction tools, snapping, topology and metadata.
Begin this competency by expanding a Topic section to view its contents. For each topic, you will complete the following:
Learn about the topic by listening to and watching the lecture video.
Apply your knowledge and skills by completing the demos, exercises, and project summary tasks.
Assess your comprehension by completing the quiz.
Scroll to the bottom of this page and expand the competency-level project to access the project statement of work (SOW) with summary tasks, tasks, and step-by-step instructions along with accompanying project videos.
Topic 3.1. Data Creation
Topic 3.1. Data Creation
Create and edit geospatial data using basic point, line, and polygon construction tools.
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
3.1.1. Explain what manual heads-up digitization is
3.1.2. Explain what automated classification digitization is
3.1.3. Describe how vector points, lines, and polygons are structured
3.1.4. Describe how raster grids are structured
3.1.5. Explain the role of editing environment in creating and modifying vector and raster data
3.1.6. Create and modify vector data using GIS
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project summary task(s):
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project summary task(s):
Lecture Videos: C3T1PC1, C3T1PC2, C3T1PC3, C3T1PC4, C3T1PC5, C3T1PC6
Demonstration Videos & Data: C3T1D1a, C3T1D1b, C3T1D1c, C3T1D1d & Demo_3-1.ppkx
Exercise: ESRI Web Course - Editing Basics in ArcGIS Pro: Creating feature and attributes
Quiz: Data Creation
Project: Austin Streetcar Summary Task 1
References
References
Jha, Divyansh and Rohit Singh. Swimming pool detection and classification using deep learning. M GeoAI. 18 Jul. 2018.
Deep learning using the ArcGIS Image Analyst extension. ArcGIS Pro Help. 15 Oct. 2024.
Bloomberg, Jason. Digitization, Digitalization, And Digital Transformation: Confuse Them At Your Peril. Forbes. 29 Apr. 2018.
An overview of the Raster Creation toolset. ArcGIS Pro Help. 15 Oct. 2024.
Get started with image and raster processing. ArcGIS Pro Help. 15 Oct. 2024.
A quick tour of editing. ArcGIS Pro Help. 27 Sep. 2024.
Topic 3.2. Data Editing
Topic 3.2. Data Editing
Create and edit geospatial data using advanced point, line, and polygon construction tools.
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
3.2.1. Provide examples of common raster and vector editing tools
3.2.2. Explain how geodetic features differ from planar features
3.2.3. Explain how Z and M coordinates enhance vector feature geometry
3.2.4. Create geodatabase contingent values in GIS
3.2.5. Use COGO to create geospatial data
3.2.6. Use advanced point, line, and polygon construction tools to create and edit geospatial data
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project summary task(s):
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project summary task(s):
Demonstration Videos & Data: C3T2D2a, C3T2D2b, C3T2D2c, C3T2D2d & Demo_3-2.pdf
Exercise: ESRI Web Course - Editing Basics in ArcGIS Pro: Modify existing features and attributes
Quiz: Data Editing
Project: Austin Streetcar Summary Task 2
References:
References:
Pixel Editor in ArcGIS Pro. ArcGIS Pro Help. 15 Oct. 2024.
Segment construction methods. ArcMap Help. 22 May. 2019.
Segment construction tools. ArcGIS Pro Help. 27 Sep. 2024.
Construct geodetic features. ArcGIS Pro Help. 27 Sep. 2024.
Introduction to ground to grid correction. ArcGIS Pro Help. 27 Sep. 2024.
What is COGO (COordinate GeOmetry)? GISGeography. 1 Jan. 2025.
Introduction to COGO. ArcGIS Pro Help. 27 Sep. 2024.
Topic 3.3. Topology
Topic 3.3. Topology
Explain how network, geodatabase, and map topology are used in GIS.
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
3.3.1. Describe what topology is and how it’s used in GIS
3.3.2. List the topological elements that model connections between geospatial features
3.3.3. Differentiate between a directed and undirected network
3.3.4. Differentiate between geodatabase and map topology
3.3.5. Explain what metadata is
3.3.6. Create geodatabase and map topology in GIS
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project summary task(s):
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project summary task(s):
Lecture Videos: C3T3PC1, C3T3PC2, C3T3PC3, C3T3PC4, C3T3PC5-6
Demonstration Videos & Data: C3T3D3a, C3T3D3b & Demo_3-3.zip
Exercise: Penn State Web Course - GEOG 868 Spatial Database Management: Geodatabase Topology
Quiz: Topology
Project: Austin Streetcar Summary Tasks 3-4
References:
References:
Bruner, Robert. What is Topology? A short and idiosyncratic answer. 2000.
Topology. Wikipedia. 15 Feb. 2025.
Topology Basics. ArcGIS Pro Help. 4 Oct. 2024.
Topology in ArcGIS. ArcGIS Pro Help. 4 Oct. 2024.
What is a Utility Network? ArcGIS Pro Help. 15 Oct. 2024.
What is a Network Dataset? ArcGIS Pro Help. 2 Oct. 2024.
Map Topology. ArcGIS Pro Help. 4 Oct. 2024.
Geospatial metadata. Wikipedia. 28 Feb. 2024.
Project 3. Austin Streetcar
Project 3. Austin Streetcar
Students will plan an alternative streetcar rail system for Austin using population data and published as an interactive web map.
What’s old is new. Electric-powered streetcars are making a comeback in many American cities. These single-vehicle trains are powered by electricity and run on tracks embedded in roadways or along dedicated corridors. While the idea might seem new, streetcars were actually a major form of urban transportation before the automobile age. Between 1891 and 1940, Austin had an extensive network of streetcars that included 23 miles of track. Residents could travel from South Congress to Hyde Park and Tom Miller Dam to East Austin...all for a nickel. Getting around Austin is much more difficult today than in 1900, but Austin voters recently approved Project Connect’s new light rail initiative to improve mobility.
Step through the SOW, watch the videos, and complete the project deliverables:
Step through the SOW, watch the videos, and complete the project deliverables:
Statement of Work: Austin_Streetcar_Project_SOW.pdf
Project Videos: C3P3ST1a, C3P3ST1b, C3P3ST1c, C3P3ST2, C3P3ST3a, C3P3ST3b, C3P3ST4
ACC GISC 1479 Introduction to Geospatial Data Course © 2026 by Sean Moran, GISP is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International. You are free to share (i.e. copy and redistribute) the material in any medium or format with attribution to Sean Moran, GISP and Austin Community College.
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