CARTOGRAPHIC PRODUCTION

Exercise:  Making a cross section

Open up Arc Toolbox

Using .e00 files:

--click on “Import to coverage”

--click on “interchange file to coverage”

For grid files:

--click on “Import to grid”

--click on “interchange file to grid”

Go into Arc after importing the file and follow these commands

Arc: w c:\Data\ex_64_cross_sec (workspace and directory)

: lc (list coverage)

: lg (list grid)

: ae (ArcEdit)

ae: ec wg_bh (edit coverage filename)

: de arc node label (draw environment)

: ef arc (edit feature)

: disp 9999

: draw

Next, open up ArcMap and add the topo grid file: cross_sec file

To make a cross section, arcs have to be added

Ae: add (allows you add a line on a coverage; “2” = node)

--in display window type “2” to start line and “2” to end line; 9 to quit

: put csl1 (cross section line 1)

:add

: put csl2

: add

: put csl3

:arc

Arc: build csl1 to line  (need to be in Arc; in ArcEdit the build command will build to Poly)

--do this for each file

The next work is done in ArcPlot

From ArcEdit type:

: ap (arcplot)

ap: disp 9999

: surface

: surface lattice wg_topo_gd 3 (z_factor of 3, multiplies elevation x3; use this for flat areas)

: surfaceprofile

: surfaceprofile * csl1 css1.inf 30 (30 m grid)

<csl1 = name of coverage>   < css1 30 = info. file being created>

“Define the box”

--draw box in display window and cross section will appear

In ArcCatalog find info files: csb1.inf and css1.inf

--right click on individual file

--select “Export”

--select “Info to Database”

in Info to Dbase window:

--put .inf file in the input field:  G:\ex_64_cross_sec\csb1.inf

--in output field type: G:\ex_64_cross_sec\cs1b.dbf

Do this for both files

These commands construct a table with x,y coordinates in ArcCatalog

Now, open the cross_sec file in MS Excel

--Remove first 4 columns (A, B, C, D)

--Delete headings “Distance” and “Spot” from remaining two columns

--Save as .csv file (comma delimited) (*csv)

--Open new file in Notepad: list of numbers should appear: Type “1” on top line

1                                                                                                         

0.000        339.514

30.000      340.125

60.000      341.782

90.000      344.794

120.000    347.548                 

Etc…                                                                                  

Type:   END

            END

--In Notepad, save as type: All files

--Change file name from csb1.csv to csb1.gen

To generate to coverage:

In Arc, type:

: Generate xsec1

generate: input xsec.gen

generate: line

OR

In Arc Toolbox use the Generate to Coverage Wizard under “Import to Coverage”

  1. Next
  2. Select “Lines”

In the “Input generate file field” select your .gen file from above  [Next]

  1. In the “Output coverage” field select your file [Next]
  2. Finish

{Follow the same procedure for the file css1.dbf starting with Excel}

To view the cross section, open up ArcMap

--Select “Add Data” and choose files csb1 and css1

--cross section will appear in view window   


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