GIS Data
https://sites.google.com/view/tab-inventories/2022/2022-tlef/activity-2
Once we have located geospatial data for our projects, how do we use the data files to create maps? There are a number of mapping platforms that we can use to visualize and analyze our data, and we don't need to be a GIS specialist to create the maps that we need. We will begin by discussing some of the choices that we have and the pros and cons of different tools and file types. We will do a hands-on activity where we will import GIS files into ArcGIS tools created by EPA to get a feel for what it is like to use the ArcGIS platform even if you do not have access to ArcGIS Online or Pro. Then we will import SHP files into Google Earth Pro and export them as KML/KMZ files that can be used on other mapping platforms, which gives you a free alternative for handling GIS files.
You can access data from federal mapping tools for your own work by following the tips on this page click here.
Our breakout room expert will be Brandy Fogg, who will provide help with projects you may have created (or plan to create) using ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro. Even if you do not have access to ArcGIS, you will have an opportunity to ask questions and see the platform in use in the breakout room. If you would like to see an excellent example of Brandy's work take a look at this Story Map Lower Missouri River: Flood Risk Data for the Future
The best format to use for mapping point data is CSV format (CSV is a more universal file type than XLS for spreadsheets). When you have a CSV file, you can open it in Excel or Google Sheets and look at the data to see if there are missing values or incorrect data. For example, the map below was made from a CSV file downloaded from CIMC imported into EnviroAtlas (same thing happens on all of the ESRI platform like ArcGIS Online). You can see that one of the locations is incorrectly placed in Italy rather than Oklahoma. When we look at the spreadsheet below we can see that the Saline Courthouse is missing a street address, and the ArcGIS platform cannot geolocate it when there is only a city, state, county and zip code but no street address available.
For suggestions on dealing with formatting Lat/Long coordinates so that they map properly click here
If you are mapping polygons or raster data, however, you will need to use KML/KMZ and SHP files.
Hands-on Activity #1
For this activity we will import a SHP file into EJScreen and use the EJScreen layers and tools to explore climate change, demographic and health data.
We will begin by downloading the files in the folder below to our desktop. Each one is actually a folder with several files. They will download as zipped files, which is the format that you will need to import into EJScreen.
Click on a file in the folder below and click the download icon on the upper right corner.
Current Fires in SHP file format
Downloaded from the US Forest Service/NASA website click here
2. Open EJScreen click here Use the slides to the right for instructions on how to use EJScreen.
3. Click on the Tools icon and click Add Shapefile
4. Click Add File and upload your SHP file
5. Now click on the Maps and Places icons and choose additional map layers - for example, Wildlife Hazard Potential which you can find under the Climate Change Data layer in the Maps panel or the EPA Regulated Facilities layer in the Places panel
Hands-on Activity #2
For this activity we will import the current fire data into Google Earth Pro in KML and CSV file formats. You can also import the SHP files (see Activity #3 below to see how to import SHP files).
Download the files in the two folders below to your desktop by clicking on the file in the folders below;
for the spreadsheet click File>Download
for the KML file click on the download icon. You do not need to sign in to download files.
CSV file
KML file
2. Make sure you have Google Earth Pro on your computer for this activity
download Google Earth Pro for free here
Open Google Earth Pro
3. Now we will import our files into Google Earth Pro. We have two file types, KML, which is a map file, and CSV, which is a spreadsheet file. You can see a sample of one of the CSV files below (it was imported into Google Sheets so that you can see it).
In Google Earth Pro Click File>Open and select one of the CSV files you downloaded
Here is what the CSV files look like - this one was imported into Google Sheets so that you could see the data
CSV is a good file type to use for point data since you can open it in a spreadsheet to inspect it and correct missing or incorrect data before you use it to build your map.
4. Once again in Google Earth Pro click File>Open and find your MODIS KML file and open it. This file has the same data as the CSV and SHP file, but is in a different file format. Although Google Earth Pro accepts all three file types, other mapping platforms are more limited and require specific file formats.
5. Click on the box in the Places panel to turn on the layers and look at the current fire locations in both KML and CSV files.
6. You can add points, lines and polygons, use historic imagery, Street View, and other tools in Google Earth Pro as well as importing your map data from BiT.
Hands-on Activity #3
In this activity we will take everything one step further: you will download SHP and KML files from federal websites, then you will import them into Google Earth Pro and style them.
We will begin by finding data files that visualize weather events and then import them into Google Earth Pro
Go to the US Census website click here and download the KML file that is called American Indian/Alaska Native Areas/Hawaiian Home Lands
Go to the NOAA Storm Prediction website click here and download the SHP file for tornado paths (it is the one under the red map), or if you are more interested in wind or hail damage you can use those files as well. Unzip the file and look in the folder, you should see several files: find the file that is called 1950-2021-torn-aspath.shp
Now we will import our files into Google Earth Pro. We have two file types, KML and SHP. The KML file will be very easy to open, but the SHP file will need to be imported and styled. Files in SHP format are typical in GIS and can be opened in Google Earth Pro (but not My Maps).
3. Open Google Earth Pro and zoom to the area you are interested in. Try to zoom in at a level that gives you several counties, but less than an entire state. This will keep the file size reasonable when you import your tornado tracks SHP file.
4. In Google Earth Pro click File>Open and find yourAI/AN areas/homeland KML file and open it. Click on the box in the Places panel to show the boundaries.
5. In Google Earth Pro click File>Import and find your tornado track SHP file and import it. This is the name of file you want: 1950-2021-torn-aspath.shp (not the entire folder as would be used in ArcGIS).
Now you have to format your SHP file
6. Click Restrict to view and click OK when it tells you how many features were imported (the entire file for the US is huge and we only want to import the tornado tracks for our area)
7. Click no when asked if you want to apply a style template - this file is very simple and we can change the thickness and color of the lines later.
Below is a screenshot of Oklahoma with the tribal lands formatted to be purple and the tornado tracks formatted in white.
To convert a SHP file in Google Earth to KML/KMZ for use in Google My Maps all you have to do is highlight the file in the Places panel and click File>Save >Place As and download it to your desktop.
You imported the tornado tracks into Google Earth Pro as a SHP file but you can export it as a KML file.
This is a more comprehensive guide to importing different types of GIS files into Google Earth Pro
What you'll need to use Google Earth Pro
You'll need to use a desktop or laptop computer (Google Earth Pro can not be used on a mobile device.
Connect your computer to the internet
Download and install Google Earth Pro (download for free here)