Course Sample Data

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems in Forest Resources

Syllabus	Schedule	Class Meetings	Assignments	Course Data	Internet Search
Current Grades	Contact Us	CFR 590	Internet-only section	Lab Locations

Course Sample Data

Lab exercises and assignments in CFR 250 make use of sample data sets that are contained on a CD-ROM disk. Therefore, students will need to arrange to make a copy of this disk before the 2nd week of class.

Blank CDs are available at any computer or office store, and are fairly inexpensive at the University Bookstore.

ISO Image

You will use this zipped ISO image of the course CD (~300 MB) to create your copy. You will need a CD writer accompanied by software than can handle an ISO image. DO NOT write the zip file or the ISO file to the CD. You must use software that will create a CD with the proper file structure from an ISO image. If you have any doubts about what you are doing, ask the lab staff where you are making the image, or you risk wasting time and blank CDs. You can also open the help files for the CD writing software and search for ISO.

Under most circumstances, you will have no trouble downloading the ISO file and creating the CD. You can check the integrity of the dowloaded file by using md5sum or fsum. After you download the cfr250.zip archive, you will need ot unzip it. If it does not unzip, you will need to download again. After you unzip the file, you should have two files (cfr250.iso and md5sum.txt). On a Windows machine, get fsum.exe (available from www.slavasoft.com). Use a command prompt, folloing the sequence shown below.

Making a CD

Most modern (i.e., less than a few years old) computers will have CD writers as standard equipment. Many facilities around campus have computers you can use to create CDs. Here is a limited list:

311 Bloedel (CFR STF computing lab)
OUGL Computing resources center (drop-in lab)
Mary Gates Hall computing resources center (drop-in lab)
Locke computing center

Tips:

DO NOT write the zip file or the ISO file to the CD. You must use software that will create a CD with the proper file structure from an ISO image.
Write your name and e-mail address with a permanent felt-tip pen (Sharpie) on the CD so if you misplace it someone will know how to return it to you.
Ask for help from lab personnel if you need assistance. Ask for help BEFORE you start creating the CD in order to reduce wasted time and CDs.
Some people have had problems creating the CD on Macintosh computers, so we do not recommend making copies on Macs.
Some people have had problems using higher speed writing. If you are on a machine that supports different write speeds, you may have problems if you use the maximum speed.
Before creating the CD, make sure to use a format that supports long file names, or you will end up with an unusable CD.
Make a test of the copy by double-clicking the file \av_sample_ext\XtoolsDoc.pdf on your copy of the CD. If the CD was created properly, the Guide To the XTools Extension should open (assuming the computer you are on has Adobe Acrobat installed).

CD Structure

There are a number of directories and files on the CD.

Data files are in the directories packgis (Pack Forest data) and esridata (general data sets from ESRI).

Sample ArcView 3.x extensions are in the directory av_sample_ext.

Various UNIX-style utilities are in the directory unix. These include tools for managing zip and archive files as well as a large number of other utilities.

Ghostscript/Ghostview are in the gv directory. These will allow you to create PDF files even if you do not have access to Adobe Acrobat Writer.

The startup project is \cfr250.apr.

The contents of the CD should look like this:

Pack Forest Data properties

Most of the data sets used are from the Pack Forest GIS Database.

Where not otherwise specified, the data are in this Projection/Coordinate system:

Projection STATEPLANE
Zone 5626 (Washington State, South Zone)
Datum HPGN*
Units FEET
Spheroid GRS1980

* HPGN is also known as NAD83/91, but is similar to NAD83 for most purposes.

When asked for measurements, etc., it will be assumed that you are using the State Plane data, and that the storage and measurement units are feet, unless otherwise specified. However, you will need to explicity provide units for reported values.

Any data sets ending with other names (e.g., bound_utm) will have Projection/Coordinate systems signified by the file name.

Syllabus Schedule Class Meetings Assignments Course Data Internet Search

Current Grades
Contact Us CFR 590 Internet-only section Lab Locations

The University of Washington Spatial Technology, GIS, and Remote Sensing Page is provided by the College of Forest Resources and the College of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences through Unit-Specific UIF. Site administrator: Phil Hurvitz.

Copyright © Phil Hurvitz, 1998-2003