GEOG 497
3D Modeling and Virtual Reality

1.1 Start a Project

Print

1.1 Start a Project

If you do not have ArcGIS pro installed on your computer, please install it before continuing.

The first step in making a map is creating a project, which contains maps, databases, and directories.

  1. Start ArcGIS Pro 2.7
    Screenshot Start ArcGIS 2.7
    Credit: 2021, ArcGIS
  2. Sign in using your licensed ArcGIS account. See this link for how to sign in using the Penn State account.
  3. When ArcGIS Pro opens, you can see a list of project templates under the heading “Create a New Project”. If you have created projects before, you can also see a list of your recent projects.

Project templates are useful in creating a new project because they have aspects of ArcGIS Pro that are important including folder connections, access to databases and servers, and predefined maps.

A Blank template starts a new empty project. It means you won’t have the aspects mentioned above and will start from scratch to build your project. Scene views are for 3D map presentations. Global Scene is a useful template when your data is best represented on a globe. A Global Scene creates a project based on ArcGlobe (part of 3D Analyst extinction of ArcGIS for Desktop). Local Scene is useful for a small area to perform analysis or edit. It is similar to ArcScene in ArcGIS for Desktop. The Map template is suitable for creating a 2D map for your project. It creates a geodatabase in the project folder.[1]

Templates List: New, Blank, Map, Catalog, Global Scene, Local Scene, Start w/o Template
Credit: 2021, ArcGIS
  1. ​Click on Map under ‘New’. The Map template is suitable for creating a 2D map for your project. Other templates are for 3D maps. Selecting Map.aptx will let a new window appear: Create a New Project.
  2. Name the project “UniversityParkCampus”. By default, the project will be saved to the C: Drive where the ArcGIS folder is located. Change the location if desired.
    Screenshot Create a New Project
    Credit: 2021, ArcGIS
  3. Click OK. The project opens and displays a map view.
    Screenshot map view
    Credit: 2021, ArcGIS

[1] For more information on project templates: (1) ArcGIS Pro, (2) GISP, Tripp Corbin. 2015. Learning ArcGIS Pro. Community Experience Distilled. Packt Publishing: P. Accessed September 22, 2016. http://lib.myilibrary.com?id=878863.