What files are needed for a shapefile?
Three components are mandatory: a main file that contains the feature geometry (. shp), an index file that stores the index of the feature geometry (. shx), and a dBASE table (. dbf) that stores the attribute information of features.
What is a GIS shape file?
A shapefile is a simple, nontopological format for storing the geometric location and attribute information of geographic features. Geographic features in a shapefile can be represented by points, lines, or polygons (areas).
How do I import a GIS file into AutoCAD?
HelpClick Insert tab Import panel Map Import .In the Import Location dialog box, under Files Of Type, select shp.Select the file or folder to import. For formats with additional options, in the Import dialog box, click Driver Options.
How do you add a coordinate system to a shapefile?
Defining a shapefile’s coordinate system by modifying a coordinate system’s parametersIn ArcCatalog, click the shapefile whose coordinate system you want to define.Click the File menu and click Properties.Click the XY Coordinate System tab.Click Modify.
How do I assign a coordinate system in ArcGIS?
In ArcCatalog, click the shapefile whose coordinate system you want to define.Click the File menu and click Properties.Click the XY Coordinate System tab.Click Select.Navigate to the coordinate system you want to use.Click the coordinate system.Click Add.Click OK on the Shapefile Properties dialog box.
How do I find my coordinate system in ArcGIS?
ProcedureCheck the Coordinate System of the ArcMap Data Frame by navigating to View > Data Frame Properties and click the Coordinate System tab.Check the coordinate systems of each layer in the map individually by right-clicking on the name of the layer > Properties and click the Source tab.
How do you find a coordinate system?
In the table of contents, right-click Layers > Properties, then click the Coordinate System tab. In the Select a coordinate system section, expand Predefined > Projected Coordinate Systems > State Plane. One by one, expand the folders, click a State Plane projection file, then click Apply.
What are the types of coordinate systems?
Common coordinate systemsNumber line.Cartesian coordinate system.Polar coordinate system.Cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems.Homogeneous coordinate system.Other commonly used systems.
What is a coordinate system in GIS?
A coordinate system is a reference framework that defines the position of features in either two- or three-dimensional space. Coordinate systems can be horizontal, defining where features are across the globe, or vertical, defining how high or deep features are relative to a surface.
What are the two types of coordinate systems?
Data is defined in both horizontal and vertical coordinate systems. Horizontal coordinate systems locate data across the surface of the earth, and vertical coordinate systems locate the relative height or depth of data.
What does WGS 84 mean?
WGS 84 is the standard U.S. Department of Defense definition of a global reference system for geospatial information and is the reference system for the Global Positioning System (GPS). It is compatible with the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS).
What is the difference between wgs84 and UTM?
2 Answers. Both examples are coordinate systems. The difference is that WGS 84 is a geographic coordinate system, and UTM is a projected coordinate system. Projected coordinate systems are based on a plane (the spheroid projected onto a 2D surface) and utilize linear units (feet, meters, etc.).
How do I know my UTM zone?
How to Calculate the Boundaries of an UTM ZoneUTM zones are all 6 degrees wide and increase from west to east starting at the -180 degree mark.Calculate the eastern boundary of any UTM zone by multiplying the zone number by 6 and substract 180.Subtract 6 degrees to obtain the western boundary.
What is UTM Easting?
A Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate comprises a zone number, a hemisphere (N/S), an easting and a northing. Eastings are referenced from the central meridian of each zone, & northings from the equator, both in metres. Eastings are measured from 500,000 metres west of the central meridian. …
What is UTM format?
UTM is the acronym for Universal Transverse Mercator, a plane coordinate grid system named for the map projection on which it is based (Transverse Mercator). The UTM system consists of 60 zones, each 6-degrees of longitude in width.
What datum does UTM use?
Universal Transverse Mercator System Projection The origin of each zone is the equator and its central meridian. The value given to the central meridian is a false easting of 500,000. In the continental United States, the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27) and the Clarke spheroid are most commonly used.
How do you read Eastings and Northings?
National Grid reference numbers The numbers going across the map from left to right are called eastings, and go up in value eastwards, and the numbers going up the map from bottom to top are called northings, because they go up in a northward direction.
What does UTM stand for in surveying?
Universal Transverse Mercator
How do I read my UTM coordinates?
UTM coordinate of a point is stated by writing the zone, easting and then northing values. When finding a position on a map, it is helpful to “read right up”, that is to read west to east to find the easting and then south to north to find the northing of the location.
How wide is a UTM zone?
Each UTM zone spans 6° of longitude, from 84° North and 80° South. Zones taper from 666,000 meters in “width” at the Equator (where 1° of longitude is about 111 kilometers in length) to only about 70,000 meters at 84° North and about 116,000 meters at 80° South. Polar areas are covered by polar coordinate systems.
