Geography 176B Lecture Home | Geography Home | UCSB Home | Geog176B Help and FAQs

Here are some resources that you may find useful if you're confused about a term, acronym, or topic in the lab.  We have gathered links to useful GIS dictionaries, acronym definitions, software help pages, and tutorials on general geography and cartography.  Also check out the GIS Resources Online page.

 ArcInfo 8.0.2/8.1 lab bug FAQ -- To be updated by Nick & Sarah or by TAs as software bugs are discovered/worked around.

Lab notes of interest

• Write locks - If you receive an error message that there is a "write lock" on data, this means that the dataset that you wish to use is currently in use in another ArcInfo operation.  This could mean that it is open in the preview windown in ArcCatalog, displayed in ArcMap (even if it isn't drawn, it is still "in use"), or being used in ArcToolbox processing.  To remove the write lock, the secondary use needs to be ended - that is, close down the ArcMap file, wait for the ArcToolbox processing to end, change to the contents tab in ArcCatalog, or otherwise stop using the data.  Sometimes, if the write lock is still not lifted, ArcInfo will need to be re-started.

GIS Glossaries and Dictionaries

     GIS Dictionary -- from AGI (The Association for Geographic Information)
         AGI's Other Sources of Terminology

     ESRI's GIS Glossary -- somewhat spotty coverage of terms.
         If that didn't work, you can Search ESRI's Web Site.

     The GIS Data Depot's Data HelpDesk - GIS Glossary

     Glossary of GIS Terms -- from the same guy who did the GIS-Related File Formats page.

     A Glossary of GIS Terminology from the NCGIA in pdf format.  Quite extensive, if dated.

     For general computing terms and hacker jargon, check out the FOLDOC: The Free Online Dictionary of Computing.
 

GIS Acronyms

     AGI's List of Acronyms -- a very good list defining BLOBs, BLPUs, CORBAs, and the like.

     Berkeley's truly massive Dictionary of Abbreviations and Acronyms in GIS, Cartography and Remote Sensing.
         (That'd be DAAGISCRS for short, I suspect)

    GIS-Related File Formats page.

    General Acronym Finder, e.g., ACRONYM and SRK, a "triple-nested" acronym.
        Tired of acronyms?  Join the  AAAAA.  Or the AAAA or AAAAAAA, if you prefer.
 

GIS Software Questions

     GIS User Assistance Page from Berkeley

     ESRI Software Support Page

     Information on Standard File Formats (e.g., the difference between a *.GIF and a *.TIF)
         GIS Related File Formats page

    Help!!!!

        Geography 176b Lab FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

        ESRI-L Archive Keyword Search

Online GIS Tutorials, Training, FAQs, etc.

     GIS Tutorials Page from Berkeley

     ESRI Virtual campus

     The Geographic Information Systems FAQ

Cartography (Projections, Datums, etc.)

     The Geographer's Craft -- hosted by CU Boulder Geography Department.  (Geographer's Craft Frontpage)
         Geodetic Datum Overview
         Map Projection Overview
         Coordinate Systems Overview
         Cartographic Communication
         Error, Accuracy, and Precision
         Global Positioning System Overview

      Color Use Guidelines for Mapping and Visualization from Cynthia A. Brewer at Penn State.

     Map Projection Basics
     Cartographical map projections
      Round Earth, Flat Maps from the NGS.
      Understanding Datums

      Scale in geography:

         Map Scale from geography.about.com.
         Map Scales from the USGS.
         Principles of Map Scale
         Scale and Detail in the Cognition of Geographic Information

Workshop Description from the NCGIA's Varenius project.