Symbol set for Memorial Highway segments and/or points ?

[DanielBrenner]

I am currently working on a Memorial Highways project map showing points and segements of highways dedicated to CalTrans system workers.  While I have created a very basic set of symbols (using points from default symbology set with different colors), I would like to put out a higher level end-product.

I have looked at other states' maps, but haven't seen a uniform symbology.  Is there a symbol set of some kind that applies to this that I can download?   Or are there standards/protocol for something like this.  I have seen how Blue Star Memorial segments have a certain style but there isn't anything downloadable. 

Daniel T. Brenner
Research Analyst I (Geographic Information Systems)
Office of Highway System Information and Performance (OHSIP)
Headquarters, State of California Department of Transportation
1120 N Street, 5th floor
Sacramento, CA  95814
(916) 657-4277
dbrenner@dot.ca.gov

[AlexeyTereshenkov]

Hi Daniel,

You might take a look at Esri styles and map templates which are coming with some predefined symbology and special styles. I am not sure if there will be the symbols you are looking for (since I am not sure what you mean by Blue Star Memorial segments), but you could at least check and see.

Esri Mapping Center:
http://mappingcenter.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=arcgisResources.gateway

Esri Map Template Gallery:
http://resources.arcgis.com/gallery/file/map-templates

Local Government Templates:
http://localgovtemplates2.esri.com/gallery/gallery.html (I would look into Basemaps and Infrastructure here first)

I guess you know that you have a lot of various symbols that are within ArcGIS Desktop, but just in case you missed this: ArcMap > Customize > Style Manager > Styles button. Enable the styles you want to appear in the Symbol Selector dialog box when you choose the symbol for your layer).

[DanielBrenner]

Alex,

I have seen the links that you sent but none of them have a symbol for a Memorial point.  

An example of what I need:  I have a great number of "Memorial Bridges" for the maps I am putting out.  While I am sure there are bridge symbols in the standard ArcGIS palettes, I don't recall any of them being Memorial bridge symbols.   Is there something more specific along these lines?

Thank you,

Daniel T. Brenner
Research Analyst I (Geographic Information Systems)
Office of Highway System Information and Performance (OHSIP)
Headquarters, State of California Department of Transportation
1120 N Street, 5th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 657-4277
dbrenner@dot.ca.gov

[AlexeyTereshenkov]

Daniel,

Have you checked most of the Esri styles which are available in ArcGIS Desktop from the Style Manager window? There are *a lot* of the styles available to you.

If they are of no help, you can always import a picture symbol into ArcMap and use it for the layer symbology. You can even create your own symbols in any graphic editor or go even further and use cartographic representations to build up a vector symbol in ArcMap.
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/About_creating_new_symbols/00s60000000...
The symbol you can build can be adopted from the USGS government mapping standards (in case you find something similar to the symbol you are looking for).
http://nationalmap.gov/standards/pdf/5psym202.pdf

I've just googled for "Memorial bridge symbol" and there are many Google images available to you which you can use as a reference when creating new symbol in ArcGIS too.

[DanielBrenner]

Alex,

Would you please post the links that you found when Googling "Memorial bridge symbol?"

I have tried numerous combinations of search terms, especially those involving 'download' and "GIS" in them and while I did find an icon site that even allowed for custom icon making, they still didn't meet my needs.

Dan Brenner

[AlexeyTereshenkov]

Dan,

This is quite bizarre. Yesterday, I've got plenty of useful symbols when googling on images "Memorial bridge symbol". Today, it is mostly photos. I've tried different combinations and ended with using this link:

http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&q=Memorial+b...

Check the USGS .pdf file I've attached, there should be at least some symbols that are similar to what you are looking.

[DanielBrenner]

Let's try this:

You go to Google Earth or a website application based in it.  Say you know someone from High School who is a Highway Patrol person who got shot doing his job, and you knew that person to be a good person who wouldn't be looking to create hell.  (Full Disclosure:  I DO).  

You go to the website and see all sorts of layers that show different things, but you don't know which one will bring up the Memorial Point or Segment for the place where you would think there would be a Memorial.  (Let's assume/know there are people like this).   Or if you do know how, what icon would look appropriate for a personal Memorial button?  (better than an "i" button?) 

From a GIS standpoint, if there are shapefiles associated with the individual points that are shown in the photos, what is the most appropriate symbol for each particular type that should be on the Google Earth website as well?

I need SYMBOLS in Shapefiles, not Photos! 

Please tell me if there is something you don't understand.  I have looked at the ESRI palettes and there is precious hardly little symbology that will suffice.

Help!