Module 6: Georeferencing, Editing, & 3D

 Module 6: Georeferencing, Editing, and 3D

In this weeks lab assignment we were taught how to georeference jpg photo, editing those photos, and make a 3D scene from LiDAR data. 

Being in archaeology I have taken many jpg photos and georeferenced it to current landscape. In this module I learned about the RMS errors and the different transformations you can do when georeferencing photos. When georeferencing photos will always have a 0.0 RMS error because there is not enough information to know if it is on the landscape correctly. Also, when trying to do control points for the image it is important that the points are in different parts of the image so it can get the length and width of the whole image. Lastly, when georeferencing the photos they either need to be in a jpg or a tiff for the images to show up in ArcGIS Pro.

The second part of the module we learned how to edit features to add more data on to the map. When editing you want to make sure to hit the Create button under the Edit tab. Then you will click on the feature you want to create and can draw any image you want. After drawing the image you can edit the feature and put the data in the attribute table. Another feature we edited was the UWF Roads and used the snapping tool because it helped connect between two roads without going over the line. Knowing how to edit the features is important because you can add more data to your images without having to make a new feature class. Lastly, we needed to make a multi-ring buffer around the Eagle Nest that is on UWF campus. We needed to make a 330 foot and 660 foot buffer because conservationist wanted to make sure the eagles nest does not get bothered. Also, we were able to add an image on the GIS data point that in ArcGIS Pro. The image below represents three different georeferenced jpg photos and the edited features.

The third portion of this module was making a 3D Scene from LiDAR data. This LiDAR data was from USGS National Map Viewer. You need to go to the Insert tab and on the far right click New Map Arrow and click on the New Local Scene. It will open a new map that says Scene and will be blank. Make sure under the Contents Pane to uncheck the World Elevation3D/Terrain3D. Next you need to add UWF_lidar.lasd layer. This can be done by dragging it in from the Catalog Pane or by the add data button on the Map tab. Since it is LiDAR data it might take a second before loading on the page. It is likely that the data will show up as a blank red box. Make sure to click on the data in the contents pane and then the LAS Dataset Layer tab will show up after the share tab. Then under the Filters section on the right you will click LAS Points arrow and click on Ground. Afterwards you will click on the Analysis Tab and click the Tools button. That is when the Geoprocessing pane will open on the right.  In the search bar type in LAS Dataset to Raster to where you will input the data needed to get the LiDAR points to show up on the screen. Input LAS Dataset: UWF_Lidar.lasd and Output Raster: UWF_DEM. Then click Run at the bottom. You can change the color to what you want but to use common look of LiDAR data you want to right click on the data and change the symbology to “Surface” This is when the data will show up for you to see the information better.  Make sure to add the UWF DEM data on the scene map. The way to do this is by going to the Map tab and under the Layer group click on the Add Data arrow and click Elevation Source Layer. Then you need to go to where you saved the data. The UWF DEM view shows the LiDAR data but as a picture instead of specific dots on the page. It makes it easier to have a picture on top and still show the changes in the landscape. For this map we did add the other data such as buildings, UWF roads, uwf_n, and uwf_s1 to be on top of the UWF DEM map.  In order to get the buildings 3D we needed to click on the Buildings feature in the contents pane. Once that is clicked the Feature Layer tab will show up after the Share tab. On the far right in the Extrusion group click on the Type and select Max Height (third from the top). Lastly, to the right click on Field and select height as the option. Then the features will become 3D on the map.  Lastly, it is important to note that you can change your Elevations Surfaces in the Contents tab to be either UWF_DEM or World Elevation3D/Terrain3D. I chose the UWF_DEM one because it showed the elevation change better than the World Elevation3D/Terrain3D. The map below is showing all of the data above.