Cartography.

MOOC

Exercise
Generalization

Section 3 Exercise 2
January 20, 2021
 Cartography. MOOC

Generalization

Instructions
Use this guide and ArcGIS Pro to reproduce the results of the exercise on your own.
Note: The version of ArcGIS Pro that you are using for this course may produce slightly
different results from the screen shots that you see in the course materials.

Time to complete
Approximately 10-20 minutes

Software requirements
ArcGIS Pro 2.7
ArcGIS Pro Standard license (or higher)
Note: The MOOC provides a separate ArcGIS account (user name and password) that you
will need to use to license ArcGIS Pro and access other software applications used
throughout the MOOC exercises. This account (user name ending with _cart) provides the
appropriate ArcGIS Online role, ArcGIS Pro license, ArcGIS Pro extensions, and credits.
We strongly recommend that you use the provided course ArcGIS account to ensure that
you have the appropriate licensing to complete the exercises. Exercises may require
credits. Using the provided course ArcGIS account ensures that you do not consume your
organization's credits. Esri is not responsible for any credits consumed if you use a different
account. Moreover, Esri will not provide technical support to students who use a different
account.

Introduction
In this exercise, you will learn about the process of generalization (simplifying or refining
features for display at smaller scales), which evaluates and alters the actual features
themselves.

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Generalization is a broad term that encompasses many operators that transform the data.
There are different classifications and accountings of all the possible generalization operators
and their nuances, but they can be generally categorized as the following:

• Eliminate: Remove inessential features or feature detail.

• Simplify: Remove inessential feature complexity.
• Exaggerate: Enlarge or enhance representative feature detail.
• Aggregate: Combine unique features together to form a homogeneous collection.
• Displace: Reposition details or features to reduce graphic conflict, simplify, or
exaggerate.

In ArcGIS Pro, generalization processes are run as geoprocessing tools (https://bit.ly/

2J6RuvW). Geoprocessing typically makes copies of input layers and transforms those copies.
(In some cases, the input layer itself is modified.) The power of geoprocessing is that these
processes can be linked together so that the output of one process becomes the input of
another and so on. These workflows can be performed by opening the tools in ArcGIS Pro,
supplying parameter information, and running them. Or, after you have worked out the details
of a complex workflow, you can run them from ModelBuilder, a visual programming language
for building geoprocessing workflows, or as a script.
Although seemingly contradictory (simplify and exaggerate?), these operations are often
employed in conjunction with one another, sometimes in quite detailed workflows. For this
exercise, you will apply the process of generalization to the Vegetation layer to simplify the
vegetation polygons to show less detail in the forest stands at smaller scales.

Step 1: Simplify vegetation polygons

a If necessary, start ArcGIS Pro and open the ScaleAndGeneralization_<your first and last
name>.aprx project that you saved in the previous exercise.

b In the Contents pane, turn on the Vegetation layer, if necessary, and expand the layer to
see its symbology.
This layer is currently set to draw at all scales.

c Zoom in and out in various areas across the map to get a feel for how detailed the
vegetation polygons are.

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You will use a generalization geoprocessing tool called Simplify Polygon (https://bit.ly/
2v3qZUb) to simplify this layer for use at smaller scales. The goal is to limit the detail and
complexity at smaller scales subtly enough to not be readily noticeable.

d On the Analysis tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools to open the Geoprocessing
pane.

e Click the Toolboxes tab, and then expand the Cartography Tools toolbox.

f Expand the Generalization toolset, and then click the Simplify Polygon tool to open it.

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 Cartography. MOOC

The Simplify Polygon tool opens in the Geoprocessing pane.

g Set the following parameters:

Parameter Value
Input Features Vegetation
Output Feature Class Vegetation_SimplifyPolygon
Simplification Algorithm Retain Weighted Effective Areas (Zhou-Jones)
Simplification Tolerance 50 Meters
Minimum Area 2000000 Square Meters
Keep Collapsed Points Uncheck the box
Input Barrier Layers Leave blank

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 Cartography. MOOC

Note: Keep the data path for the Output Feature Class as-is. If necessary, just rename the
feature class.
The completed parameters should look like the following graphic.

h Click Run to execute the tool.

Execution may take some time. The bottom of the Geoprocessing pane shows the tool's
progress.
Note: Processing time may be extended for computer systems running less than the
recommended ArcGIS Pro system requirements.
After the process has completed successfully, you will see a confirmation message at the
bottom of the Geoprocessing pane.

i Close the Geoprocessing pane.

The new Vegetation_SimplifyPolygon layer should be selected in the Contents pane.

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 Cartography. MOOC

Step 2: Symbolize simplified vegetation polygons

You will now apply the symbology and grouping from the Vegetation layer to the simplified
vegetation layer.

a In the Contents pane, right-click the Vegetation_SimplifyPolygon layer and choose

Symbology.

b At the top of the Symbology pane, click the Menu button and choose Import
Symbology.

The Apply Symbology From Layer tool opens in the Geoprocessing pane.

c Set the following parameters:

Parameter Value
Input Layer Vegetation_SimplifyPolygon
Symbology Layer Vegetation
Type Value field
Source Field fclass
Target Field fclass
Update Symbology Ranges By Data Maintain ranges

The completed parameters pane should look like the following graphic.

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 Cartography. MOOC

d Click Run to execute the tool.

Note: You may need to zoom in or out to see the result.

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 Cartography. MOOC

The symbology and grouping from the Vegetation layer is applied to the simplified vegetation
layer.

e Use what you have learned so far to apply scale ranges to the two layers, Vegetation and
Vegetation_SimplifyPolygon, so that vegetation polygons appear in appropriate detail
across the scale ranges of the map.
Hint: On the Appearance tab, use the fields in the Visibility Range group. The original
polygons are detailed and therefore suitable for the largest scales (zoomed in close) in your
map. The simplified polygons are better suited for the smaller scales (zoomed out far).

f Zoom in and out on the map to see how simplifying the vegetation polygons affects the
display of features at different scales.

g Save your project.

There are many other Generalization tools (https://bit.ly/2GRk2He) and processes that are
appropriate for other layers in the map. Learn more and experiment as you wish.

h If you are continuing to the next exercise now, leave ArcGIS Pro open.

i If you will continue to the next exercise at a later time, exit ArcGIS Pro.

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