This book is intended to help you get started using ESRI® ArcGIS™ software and to illustrate the methods and procedures involved in conducting a geographic information system (GIS) project. If you are new to GIS, this book is a great place to startyou can learn how to use a GIS to solve problems while you are learning to use ArcGIS.
This book is divided into two sections. The first section, ‘Getting to Know ArcGIS’, teaches you the basics of ArcGIS and GIS data. The second section, ‘Conducting a GIS Project’, begins with Chapter 4, ‘Planning a GIS project’, and is a sample GIS project that you can work through. The project is designed to let you work at your own pace, without the need of
additional help. Readers who wish to complete the entire GIS project section of the book should plan to spend about eight hours of focused time on the project. In order to get started, you will need ArcGIS installed on a Windows®
machine. You will also need to install the ArcTutor tutorial data on your machine or on a networked drive. Proceed to Chapter 1, ‘Welcome to ArcGIS’, when you are ready to get started.