2. Coordinates

• Learn where to find coordinate information for locations
• Learn how to format coordinates in a table so they can be opened in a map
• Learn how to import a table of coordinates into a GIS mapping interface

In class activity

1. Open a new spreadsheet, for example in Excel, or quickly make a new Google Sheets by typing sheets.new into a browser.

2. Create three header columns, name, latitude, and longitude.

3. In a new tab, navigate to Google Maps.

4. Find a location you are interested in mapping.

5. In your spreadsheet, under the name column, give the location a name.

6. Right click on the map in Google maps in the area you are interested in. A window with coordinates should pop up. Click on the coordinates, and they will copy to your clipboard.

7. Paste the value into the spreadsheet, under the latitude column.

8. You will need to edit the values so that the first number in the set of coordinates is under the latitude column, and the second number is in longitude column. Make sure to include the negative - symbol, if it exists, and remove the separating comma.

Properly formatted table.

9. Repeat this process and add two more points, so you have three altogether.

10. When you are finished entering your data, name your spreadsheet, and export it to a .csv format by clicking File → Download → Comma Separated Values (.csv).

Demo and explore more

Sample data

You can download and explore sample datasets related to this activity from the workshop data homepage, hosted on the Open Science Framework (OSF.io)

1. Visit the workshop data homepage.

2. Click the three vertical dots icon and select Download.

3. The folder that downloads to your computer contains sample data from all the workshop activities. It is a zipped or compressed file. In order to use it, you will have to double-click it on Mac or right-click → Extract or Uncompress on a PC.

Follow-along steps

1. Import the coordinates csv, example-coordinates.csv. From the Map menu tab → Click the arrow below the Add Data icon to expand the Add Data Menu → Hover over Points from Table → Select XY Table to Point.

2. In the resulting XY Table to Point menu, populate the parameters. Input Table = Click the folder icon and navigate into Computer and then the folder where the downloaded data is saved. Select folder activity2_coordinates and then file example_coordinates.csv. The rest of the parameter fields should autopopulate.

Depending on how the x,y data is labelled in your table, you may need to manually designate which column maps to X Field and Y Field respectively.

Saving Geospatial Data for Future Use

A common question students ask GIS librarians is "How do I get my data out of ArcGIS Pro or share it with someone not using this software?"

You may notice that when using this import wizard (and may other dialog boxes in ArcGIS Pro), you are prompted to save files by default in your project's file geodatabase.

It is okay to use the file .gdb temporarily while working on your project. Keep in mind the suggestion to periodically archive any important files using legible, open data formats such as geopackage or geojson.

Next steps

1. Learn how to export your data as geojson or geopackage from ArcGIS Pro.
2. Use the Harvard Library GIS Data Management online guides for guidance on your project data.
3. Set yourself up for success by booking a 45 minute instruction session with a GIS librarian to ensure your project structure and data practices are top notch.

3. Right-click example-coordinates in the Layers pane → Zoom to layer to see the points better.
4. Right-click example-coordinates in the Layers pane → Attribute table to view the data attributes.
5. Right-click example-coordinates in the Layers pane → Symbology → Change Single Symbol to Unique Values → Under Field 1 choose type → Classify → OK to change the color symbols of the map.
6. Export your data as either geoJSON or geopackage. (Tutorial)
7. Notice how you can drag the .geoJSON file directly into the ArcGIS window to display the geometry now (rather than use the XY Points to Table import wizard). This is because it is now stored as spatial data.