Tracing polygons to create feature classes from a PDF that is not geo referrenced.

[NJ2021]

Basically I have a work site that I have created an arcgis PRO map for. I have an old screen shot of the site as a PDF that has polygons and hand drawn data on it of site areas. All I want to do is upload this PDF into my map, manually move and zoom the layer so it matches my current map and trace the hand drawn lines to create feature classes. 

When I bring it into the map as a pdf it opens on the map but it is not clear where, it is somewhere in the known universe but not located on planet earth, zooming to the layer takes me off the world map and is in white space somewhere.

Is there a simple way to just manipulate an image as a layer and trace it? Possibly I need to georeference the old PDF which I have never done, and was hoping for a quick simple work a round.

Any thought gratefully received

Thanks

[ValerieCaden-Baptiste]

I would recommend converting your PDF File to a TIFF File, you may use the PDF to TIFF Geoprocessing Tool. 

Once you have added your TIFF into ArcGIS Pro, you can use the Fit To Display tool in the Georeferencing options to fit your image to your intended area. I've shared a short video to demonstrate the tool. From there, you can georeference your image, create your feature class, and use the editing tools to create polygon the features. 

I would also recommend looking at the following ArcGIS Pro Idea:  https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/georeferencing-pdfs-in-arcgis-pro/idi-p/923669 

Additional resources:

Georeference a raster to a referenced layer: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/data/imagery/georeferencing-a-raster-to-a-referenced-l... 

Georeferencing tools: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/3.1/help/data/imagery/georeferencing-tools.htm 

Create a feature class: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/data/feature-classes/create-a-feature-class.htm 

Create features: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/3.1/help/editing/get-started-editing.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_C1B13691802... 

[NJ2021]

Thank you so much ValerieCaden-Baptiste - your solution was exactly what I needed to get me out of trouble and finish the map. Using fit to scale then georeferencing tools to manipulate image was spot on - I appreciated such a comprehensive reply.

I will now take the time to figure out georeferencing pdfs but I just needed that workaround to finish the map. 

Thanks again - this forum is invaluable for people like me who are not particularly IT literate.

[BobBooth1]

There is a free tutorial here that shows how to georeference an image.

https://learn.arcgis.com/en/projects/georeference-imagery-in-arcgis-pro/

[NJ2021]

Thank you very much for the link - I will take some time this weekend to finally learn georeferencing of PDFS! much appreciated