Building Geodatabases

The geodatabase is the data storage and management framework for ArcGIS. This course teaches the essential concepts of the geodatabase and introduces its range of functionality. You will learn how to create a file geodatabase, migrate existing GIS data to a geodatabase, and edit data stored in a geodatabase. In course exercises, you will practice creating geodatabase components and rules that enforce data integrity.

This course is designed for experienced ArcGIS users who want to store and manage data in a geodatabase. Data managers will find this course of particular benefit. Those who will be working with a multiuser geodatabase may also wish to enroll in Introduction to the Multiuser Geodatabase, which pairs well with this course.

After completing this course, you will be able to

• Create a file geodatabase.
• Load data from shapefiles, CAD files, coverages and Excel spreadsheets into a file geodatabase.
• Store and manage raster data in a file geodatabase.
• Create and use attribute domains, subtypes, topology, and relationship classes to model data and ensure data integrity during editing.
• Create geodatabase annotation to store text and graphics describing features or areas on a map.
• Create and edit a geometric network.
• Perform analysis on a geometric network.
• Define a geodatabase schema.

• Introduction to the geodatabase: Advantages of the geodatabase; Focusing on the file geodatabase; Overview of elements within the geodatabase; Geodatabase tables in a database management system (DBMS).
• Attribute validation rules: Subtypes and domains; Creating subtypes; Editing subtypes in ArcMap; Creating domains; Editing with domains in ArcMap; Coded value versus range domains; Subtypes and relationship rules.
• Relationship classes: Creating relationship classes; Setting relationship class properties; Using relationships in ArcMap; Relationship rules; Validation; Simple versus composite relationships.
• Annotation: Creating, editing, and managing annotation features in the geodatabase.
• Geodatabase topology: Topology management in the geodatabase; Building a topology; Setting the properties of a topology; Setting appropriate topological rules; Fixing topological errors; Editing topological data.
• Geometric networks: Creating and editing geometric networks; Performing analysis; Setting and using connectivity rules.
• Building geodatabase schema: Different ways to define geodatabase schema; Creating tables, feature classes, and feature datasets.
• XML data interchange: Understanding XML schemas of the geodatabase; Exporting the contents of a geodatabase to XML; Importing an XML file into a geodatabase to define its schema.
• Vector data in the geodatabase: Loading data from shapefiles, CAD files, coverages, and Excel spreadsheets; Using ArcGIS vector data loading tools.
• Raster data in the geodatabase: Storing raster datasets, raster catalogs, and raster attributes in the geodatabase.

Completion of ArcGIS Desktop II: Tools and Functionality or Learning ArcGIS Desktop or equivalent knowledge is required.

This course is designed to work with the following software:

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