BUILD DATA
GeoFIRM contains a set of powerful mapping tools that allow the user to:
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Initiate a project
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Perform the primary data production and management tasks
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Create the final project deliverables.
The tools used for data production ("build data") in the GeoFIRM environment are focused enhancements to the advanced editing tools made possible by ArcGIS 9.0.
Effective Data Capture
GeoFIRM is used to georeference scanned, effective FIRM images. Effective features not already in digital form can then be captured and edited directly in the GeoFIRM ArcSDE environment; there is no intermediate data capture format (e.g. shapefiles or personal geodatabases). Our use of attribute domains greatly speeds the process of populating feature attributes because many fields use predefined domain lists.
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Annotation
The GeoFIRM toolkit includes robust annotation tools. All annotation is stored in the ArcSDE geodatabase, and most annotation is feature-linked; that is, it is linked to the feature the annotation is describing. In this way, when the attributes of a particular feature change (e.g., a cross-section letter) the annotation itself changes automatically. We have developed tools that automatically place and manage annotation for BFEs, cross-sections, joins panel notations, and other spatial and cartographic features. All annotation is placed and managed on a per-panel basis so that it can be properly scaled and displayed when the cartographic product is created.
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Create Grids and Tics
Graticule information can also be created automatically for the study (state plane and UTM grids, tic marks, and grid annotation). Grids and tic information is created for the entire study at once, using the parameters the GeoFIRM user specifies (e.g., grid spacing, placement of annotation, etc.) The results are stored in a set of point, line, and annotation layers, which are then symbolized and placed on the map during the map generation phase.
