Latest Contributions by ChrisDonohue__GISP

Also, if you are new to Network Analyst, this tutorial may help in understanding the workflows. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CCYQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhelp.arcgis.com%2Fen… Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Just to confirm, you specifically created a new Network Dataset for this?  Or are you using a pre-existing Network Dataset? Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

1. How often do you log questions on Geonet on monthly basis? (1-10 or > 10.) 1-10. 2. If you are on maintenance how often do you contact esri technical support for unanswered questions on Geonet? (often, sometimes, rarely) Sometimes. 3. How many days you would like to wait before contacting technical support? 1-3 days, depending upon how important the issue is. 4. If you rarely contact technical support for unanswered questions on Geonet, any particular reason? n/a. 5. Would you like esri technical support staff contact you for your unanswered questions? Hard to say.  For issues that are critical, I usually call Tech Support fairly soon.  For less critical issues I may opt for a work-around.  Also, there are some questions I post on GeoNet in an attempt to glean other users advice on an issue, as they may have a different perspective/workaround than Tech Support. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

There are a variety of things that can go awry when bringing in X,Y data.  Some suggestions: Data preparation / advice: 1.  ArcMap sets the coordinate system based on the first layer added.  It is usually best to add the known data before bringing in the unknown data (in your case, the GPS data). 2.  Oftentimes what goes awry when bringing in GPS data is that the GPS data was collected in a different projection/coordinate system than your base data.  It can be converted to the same coordinate system as your base data, but you will need to know precisely which system it was originally collected in so the correct conversion can be done. 3.  Another aspect that comes into play is how data gets read into ArcGIS from Excel.  Excel is not always read cleanly by ArcGIS, so it is best to do some cleanup of the Excel data beforehand.  First, make sure the field names don't have spaces or restricted characters.  Second, define the fields explicitly instead of leaving them as "General".  For example, for attribute text, highlight the field, select Format Cells, and then select "Text". For numbers, select "Numbers" and make sure the "Decimal Places" is set appropriately. Troubleshooting: 1.  After checking the above, bring in your data again.  First bring in the known layers, then the GPS data.  If the GPS data is not showing up where expected, you need to troubleshoot it. 2.  If it is only slightly off, the Datum may be incorrect.  For example, here in California we have about a 80 meter shift in the data when it is mis-assigned from a NAD27 to NAD83 datum. 3.  If the GPS data lands across the world from where you expect, there are is a major coordinate system issue. If the GPS data is in a Geographic Coordinate System (GCS), there are several things to check:      - When bringing in the data, was the Geographic Coordinate System explicitly defined when bringing in the data when given the option to choose a coordinate system?      - In some parts of the world the Coordinates in GCS are negative.  Did the negative sign get left out?      - If the GPS data is in Decimal Minutes (DM) or Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS), it needs to be converted to Decimal Degrees (DD) before it can be brought into ArcMap. If the GPS data was collected in a Projected Coordinate System (PCS), you will need to see that all the parameters in the coordinate system are exactly the same as expected by the specifications for the same in Arcmap.  It could be that one of the settings was changed.  For example, I've seen a California State Plane Zone 2 where the units were changed from the expected Feet to Meters, yet it still looked at first glance like it was the normal California State Plane Zone 2.  Dig into the details to see that everything matches up. Also, here's a link to an article on importing data which may help: Importing x,y data into ArcGIS | Geographic Information Science information and support Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

EDIT:  Check the suggestion I have after this one, as it is easier.   This one could still work too, but requires a higher license level. If you have an Advanced license (to check in ArcMap, Help, About), one workflow that could work would be this: Buffer the line version of your polygon, being sure to set the "Line Side" parameter as Left or Right (may have to experiment to see which one works).  Also, "Line End Type" should probably be "Flat" just to be safe (but probably doesn't matter). ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2) Note - this assumes the polygon was drawn with same directionality - i.e. all the linework was drawn clockwise or counter-clockwise.  If that is not the case, you will have to change the line directionality or redraw the polygon as a line all in the same direction. ArcGIS Desktop Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Something to try - put an underscore in the folder name if it currently has a space.  Hotlinking_Images Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

As Neil pointed out, your data currently is in a Geographic Coordinate System (GCS).  However, for what you want to do, a Projected Coordinate System is the way to go. Here's how I recommend you proceed: The first step then is to understand projected coordinate systems.  Start with the links that Neil provided. Then choose an appropriate projected coordinate system - one that works well for spatial extent of your project and minimizes distortion for your analysis. Then there is the data preparation stage, where all your data is reprojected to the chosen system. Once all this is done, you can proceed with your analysis.  This all may sound like a lot of work, but it is well worth it to get solid results and to avoid issues like you have been encountering. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Some things to check right from the start: 1.  What is the Data Frame coordinate system?  I ask as the Data frame inherits the coordinate system of the first layer you loaded into the mxd, so may have inherited a different coordinate system than what you want. 2.  Are you specifying the coordinate system in the Environments settings when running the tools?  Doing so will ensure that the coordinate system remains constant. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Actually, a surprising percentage of GIS people are not Geography grads.  Most GIS professionals I know have a  Natural Science or Environmental Science background, and transitioned into the field. I worked in the Environmental Science/Hazardous Materials field for 15 years before switching to GIS.  While doing the transition, I took GIS classes at night at a local community college and most of the GIS students there were likewise middle-aged professionals making the transition from other fields while working full-time.  That can be one option for your transition - picking up a Certificate or Associates in GIS at night.  It can be affordable and might fit your schedule.  Plus, the program required an Internship, which at first seemed intimidating, but ended up being a paid position and led to a first job (they kept me on)! Keep in mind you can market your existing skills to make the transition.  I got the internship in part because the company was an Environmental firm that needed GIS help.  So if you can locate an organization that needs GIS and does some of what you have done in the past, that can be a step up. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

I run into this sometimes and when I do I find it is best to fall back on an overview of the whole process to make sure a step was not skipped.  More times than not I realize then that I have skipped a necessary step or did a process out of sequence.  So to start, check out the diagram here and see if you did all the steps, and in the correct sequence: Deriving Runoff Characteristics ArcGIS Help 10.1 Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

That is odd. If your data and/or mxd resides on a network, another thing to try is to make a copy of the mxd and put it on your computers C: drive.  Then copy all the data and put in on the C: drive. Then relink everything and try again.  It's a pain, but sometimes that gets around network issues which trigger the Memory error. If that doesn't work, I'd contact ESRI Technical Support. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

As Lisa suggested, rebooting the computer often resolves this. If that doesnt' work, If you are using ArcGIS and "File, Export Map" to make the bitmap, you can try adjusting the settings. First, open the Options by clicking on the triangle (see below).  This will expand the window and the settings will now be visible.  Then try reducing the "Resolution". Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Glad to be of help. One other tidbit about Network Analyst that may help understand it a bit - it was NOT originally developed by ESRI, but instead purchased from a software firm.  This explains the odd wording seen in parts of it. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

I tried the direct "Add Data" approach result and got the same less-than-desirable results you got.  Luckily, there are several other ways to get the data in. Excel might be a way to go, if you have access to it.  I brought it in to Excel 2010 fine via "File, Open" (I made a csv first from your sample posted above).  While in Excel, the field was changed from "General" to "Number", and then the file saved as an .xls.  It then worked to bring it into ArcMap via "Add Data". Related note - you may have to change the display characteristics of the table in ArcMap to see all the significant digits, as it defaults to less characters than you have in your data.  To do that, right-click on the Fieldname in the table (in my case, "Value"), then choose "Properties".  Then click on the "Numeric" elipsis button ... to get the Number Format window.  Increase the "Number of significant digits" to match what is needed for your data. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more