Collecting GIS data (Workbook 4)

The purpose of this exercise is to teach the collection of GIS attribute data
with Penmap. It is assumed that you have already completed the first
exercise which concerns the basic operation of Penmap, covering things like
graphics and methods. This will cover the following areas

Collecting Symbol (Point) Databases

Collecting Linear databases
Collecting Area (Polygon) Databases
Capturing Digital Images into GIS

The setting up of the GIS and the structure of Penmap will not be covered, it
will be addressed in the following exercise however.

Before Starting this exercise please load the data from the Penmap CDROM.

Collecting Symbol (Point objects)

If you have started Penmap from the CDROM you should be presented with
the following screen.

If the drawing appears on the screen without the nodes displaying. Then

Select Options - Display Configuration and turn the node on by

checking the nodes check box.

Since we are going over the GIS functionality we do not need to concentrate
on positioning accuracy so for the remainder of this exercise
Select the method as Free Node. This will allow us to position everything
with the pen or mouse.

Some aspects of Symbol Databases were covered in the first exercise but
lets review a few items.

Press the Tree Icon.

Touch the screen any place you feel a tree might be appropraitly placed. The
Middle of the building or River is most peoples first choice, but we might use
those areas later.

This should bring up the Symbol placement controls.

Try all of the placement controls to learn of their use. Then press the circle
with the check in it. This is OK.

That will place the symbol and bring up the GIS data entry form.

Fill out the Height and Species fields. The String field at the bottom is an
extra comment field.

Press OK to leave the GIS database record dialog.

Your Tree should now be on the screen with a GIS Table next to it.
If the Table does not appear then there is a posibility that you are zoomed out
so far that it does not display, Zoom in closer to the tree and see.

If it still does not display or you want to change the size of the table

Select GIS Setup

This will bring up the GIS setup Dialog

This dialog controls how the databases are displayed. The Text size portion
of the dialog on the middle right side of the dialog will make the Table bigger if
the text size is increased.

Make sure that the Display Status section is set to ALL this will display all
databases.
Collecting Linear Database Information
Notice that there is a fence drawn on the plan in green. Right now that fence
is defined as a fence because its lines are in the layer fence. There is no GIS
data or attributes attached to the fence and infact all of the line segments are
individual segments and not attached.

Now lets turn the Fence into a GIS record.

Press the Fence Database Icon

This will bring up the Fence Database Record

The Graphical Elements field contains the graphic items that make up the
fence. Basically it is asking for all of the line segments that make up this
particular fence.

Press Add (under Graphics Elements)

Then touch the Pen or the Mouse to the First line segment of the Fence. That
Line segment should then be represented in the Graphics Elements Field.

Repeat this process until all of the lines are added.

Fill out the Type and Height Field

Then Press OK.

The Fence Database Table should now appear.

Select Polyline and draw freehand another Fence on the screen. Make it at
least 6 line segments long. End the Fence by either selecting Graphics - No
Item or pressing the END graphic button at the bottom of the screen.

Select the Fence Icon again.

This time instead of collecting the Graphics Elements individually Select

AutoAdd and then touch one of the nodes on the fence. The line will
automatically trace its way through and select all of the fence.

Collecting Area (Polygon) Databases

Collecting Area databases is very simmilar to Linear databases, except that a

Polygon can be filled.

Select the Building Icon to collect a building database

Touch Autoadd on the GIS Record Form

Select one of the corners of the building on the screen.

The building will then be gathered into the database.

Fill in the other fields and press OK

If the Polygon does not fill with a colour Select GIS setup and select Fill Area.
This will bring the Area Filling Dialog onto the screen.
Select the Database that you want to change the filling for, in this case the
house database. Under hatch fills choose a patern and then a colour by
touching the colour selector.

Press Ok to exit and then redraw the screen.

Try drawing a new polygon on the screen and turning it into a house GIS
record

Collecting Information with a Digital Camera

The digital camera option is a very popular Penmap feature. This allows
Penmap to attach digital images directly to database records.

Select the Camera Icon from the Button bar.

Place the Camera Symbol on the screen so that it is on the imaginary spot
where you were standing when you took the picture.

Then rotate the camera to point in the direction that the picture was taken.

Select the Check mark on the symbol and the camera GIS database record
will appear.

This only has one field (the picture field) and there are two buttons (View and
Capture) to the left.
Pressing the Capture button will activate the software to capture the image.

The Photowallet software will then appear. This is an option on Penmap so if

it does not then please contact your dealer. Images are selected for use in
Penmap by touching the image with the pen or mouse and then selecting the
Penmap icon.

The following are the commonly used functions in the Photowallet

Select which type of camera and port to download from

Download Image from Camera

Rotate Selected Image 90 degrees

Export Selected image to Penmap and then Close Photowallet.

Download you images and then select the Penmap Icon.
When you return to the Camera GIS Record select the View button for
viewing the image in full size.