Step-by-Step Procedure to Explore Spatial Distribution of Data and Pattern Analysis in ArcGIS

This guide provides a step-by-step procedure to explore the spatial distribution of weather monitoring station data in western and central Europe using ArcGIS Desktop 10.7 and ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst.

Step 1: Download the Data

1. Ensure you have ArcGIS Desktop 10.7 (Basic, Standard, or Advanced) and ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst installed.
2. Download the necessary data for the exercise.

Step 2: Open Your Map

1. Start ArcMap.
2. In the Getting Started dialog box, under Existing Maps, click Browse For More.
   • If the Getting Started dialog box does not open, click Open.
3. Browse to C:\EsriTraining\GADataPatterns.
4. Double-click WesternEurope.mxd to open the map in ArcMap.
5. Save the map by going to the File menu, choosing Save As, and naming it SpatialDistribution.

Step 3: Visually Explore the Spatial Distribution of Your Data

1. Pan and zoom around the map to visually inspect the distribution of weather monitoring stations.
2. Answer the following questions:
   • Which countries appear to have the highest concentrations of weather monitoring stations?
   • Which areas appear to have the smallest concentrations of weather monitoring stations?
   • Which countries appear to be without weather monitoring stations?

Step 4: Search for the Mean Center Tool

1. Open the Search window.
2. Dock the Search window.
3. In the search bar, type mean center and click Search.
4. Click on the Mean Center tool from the search results to open the tool dialog box.

Step 5: Calculate the Mean Center of Your Data

1. In the Mean Center tool dialog box:
   • For Input Feature Class, select the Temperatures layer.
   • For Output Feature Class, browse to ...\EsriTraining\GADataPatterns\MyWork\MyWork.gdb and name the output feature class MeanCenter.
   • Click Save.
   • Leave the optional fields blank.
2. Click OK to run the tool.
3. Once the tool finishes running, the new MeanCenter layer will appear in your table of contents.
4. Change the symbology of the mean center so it stands out in your map.
5. Answer the following questions:
   • What region of western and central Europe is your mean center located in?
   • What does this tell you about the spatial distribution of your dataset?

Step 6: Calculate the Median Center of Your Data

1. Open the Search window again.
2. In the search bar, type median center and click Search.
3. Open the Median Center tool dialog box.
4. For Input Feature Class, choose Temperatures.
5. For Output Feature Class, browse to ...\EsriTraining\GADataPatterns\MyWork\MyWork.gdb and name the output feature class MedianCenter.
6. Click Save.
7. Leave the optional fields blank.
8. Click OK to run the tool.
9. Once the tool finishes running, the new MedianCenter layer will appear in your table of contents.
10. Change the symbology of the median center so it stands out in your map.
11. Answer the following questions:
    • What region of western and central Europe is your median center located in?
    • How does this compare with your mean center?
    • What does this tell you about the spatial distribution of your dataset?

Step 7: Calculate the Directional Distribution of Your Data

1. Close the Search window.
2. Open the ArcToolbox window.
3. Expand the Spatial Statistics Tools toolbox, and then expand the Measuring Geographic Distributions toolset.
4. Double-click the Directional Distribution (Standard Deviational Ellipse) tool.
5. For Input Feature Class, choose Temperatures.
6. For Output Ellipse Feature Class, browse to ...\EsriTraining\GADataPatterns\MyWork\MyWork.gdb and name the output feature class DirectionalDistribution.
7. Click Save.
8. Verify that Ellipse Size is set to 1_STANDARD_DEVIATION.
9. Leave the optional fields blank.
10. Click OK to run the tool.
11. Once the tool finishes running, the new DirectionalDistribution layer will appear in your table of contents.
12. Right-click DirectionalDistribution and select Open Attribute Table.
13. Use the Rotation value to answer the following question:
    • What is the orientation of your ellipse?
14. Close the attribute table.

Step 8: Save Your Map

1. From the File menu, choose Save As.
2. Browse to ...\EsriTraining\GADataPatterns\MyWork and name the map SpatialDistribution.
3. Click Save, and then exit ArcMap.

This procedure helps you explore the spatial distribution of your data by calculating the mean center, median center, and directional distribution of weather monitoring stations in western and central Europe.