TREECS GIS Tools

GIS tools provide a basic set of GIS analysis capabilities for supporting the spatial option within the HGCT. The GIS functions were developed using the MapWindow GIS Open Source Software. The tools support the ESRI Shapefile, Grid File, and Image File formats.

MapWindow GIS

Example Imagery File                  Example Grid File                         Example Shapefile

The following GIS features are supported:

• Open and Save Files. 

        These functions allow the user to open existing files and to save any files that were changed or created within the TREECS GIS module.

• Zoom In, Zoom Out, and Pan a file. 

        These functions allow the user to zoom in and out of a view in addition to pan a view.

• Create a Shapefile. 

        This function allows the user to create an Area of Interest Shapefile using either a rectangular box or an irregular shape.

• Convert a Shapefile to a Grid File. 

        This function allows the user to convert a shapefile to a grid file. This is necessary given that the HGCT spatial functions work off of grids.

• Extract a Grid File subset using an existing Grid File and a Shapefile. 

        This function allows the user to extract a subset grid file from a larger grid file and a boundary shapefile. This is necessary in order to eliminate large unnecessary areas from the TREECS analyses. In performing this analysis, the extracted grid file has the same grid cell resolution as the larger grid file.

• Resample a Grid File to a different grid cell resolution. Two options: 1) Select N, S, E, and W extents along with new grid cell resolution; or 2) Use an existing Grid File as a template. 

        This function allows the user to select an existing grid file and create a new grid file with a different grid cell resolution. This is necessary given that the HGCT spatial functions require all grid files to be at the same spatial extent and grid cell resolution.

• Generate new Grid File doing basic Map Calculations. 

        This function allows the user to select an existing grid file and create a new grid file using basic arithmetic functions. Depending upon the source of the input data there may be times when basic manipulations of data units, etc. are necessary.

• Measure Lengths and Areas. 

        This function allows the user to measure lengths and areas for input into various HGCT data fields.