EEOS 381 - Applications of Geographic Information Systems
Spring, 2008

- Lab 3 -

Objective:
Use the Internet to gather business address data that may be used in a geocoding and mapping exercise in ArcGIS 9.2.

Steps:

1. Choose a type of business with more than one well-known brand or company, and an area of interest in Massachusetts. Examples: Donut shops (Dunkin' Donuts and Honey Dew Donuts) south of Boston; pizza franchises (Domino's, Papa Gino's, Pizza Hut) within 15 miles of Salem; banks (Citizens, Fleet) in the greater Worcester area; gas stations (Mobil, Shell, Sunoco) in Springfield. You can choose one of these or anything else you prefer.

2. Go to a Web site that provides lists of businesses and addresses. One such site is http://www.yellowbook.com (“Yellow Book Yellow Pages”) and enter your chosen franchise/business name or business category and city or ZIP Code. Click 'Find It!'. The results will appear by distance from your location. Make sure there are at least 10 (preferably 15) total results. Another site is http://maps.google.com/. On this site, enter similar criteria. Once you get a list of businesses, you will need to click on each one (or click "more info" after each site name) to get an address with a ZIP Code.

3. Use ArcCatalog to create a new dBASE table, saved on your H: drive. The table should have these fields in order to comply with the Address Locator you will use to map the addresses:
  -       BUS_NAME - text - width of 50
  -       ADDRESS - text - width of 50
  -       ZIP - text - width of 5

4. Add the table to an ArcMap session and start editing.

5. For each business you want to add to your final map, enter the business name, address and ZIP Code into your table. When you have 10-15 records, save your edits and stop editing.

6. In ArcMap, right-click the table in the table of contents (Source tab) and choose 'Geocode Addresses...'. Use the Address locator from the “datareader@dellsde” SDE database connection in the S:\ge381_s08 folder. Save your output layer to a shapefile on your H: drive.

7. Batch match your address list, and then interactively match any unmatched records.

8. When you get 10-15 matches, map your data, symbolizing to show Categories; based on the BUS_NAME field.

9. Along with your data points, your final map should show roads (the SDE layer MGISDATA.EOTROADS_ARC) or major roads (MGISDATA.EOTMAJROADS_ARC) and MGISDATA.TOWNS_POLY if your area of interest covers more than one town. You should label the towns and streets for reference. Streets may be symbolized on the CLASS or ADMIN_TYPE items.

10. Create an 8.5x11 map layout with a legend, scale bar, north arrow, title, date, and your name. The legend items should have English-like names, not the layer names (e.g. "Mass. Towns", not "TOWNS_POLY").

11a. Export your layout to a PDF file and save as <your_username>_lab3.pdf in the T:\ge381_s08\381_labs_submit\lab3 folder.
11b. Also copy into the same 'lab3' folder your dBase file of addresses, named <your_username>_lab3.dbf.

See the sample on the class web site at http://www.geog.umb.edu/mtrust/egs381. For a reference on geocoding, see the document U:\ARCGIS9\ESRI_Library\ArcGIS_Desktop\Geocoding_in_ArcGIS.pdf (document pages 16-18 (PDF file pages 23-25) apply to this lab exercise).


Due on Monday, February 18, 2008.