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Updating Maps and Creating GIS Best Practices

Marin Resource Conservation District

GreenInfo team: Maegan Leslie Torres

Project years: 2022

Updating Maps and Creating GIS Best Practices 1
Carbon Farm Plan map template created for
Updating Maps and Creating GIS Best Practices 2
Example map produced during training

Overview

What challenges is this project trying to solve?

  • Spatial analysis has its place in the field of conservation, and Marin Resource Conservation District found a need to implement this approach into their work

What were the client’s objectives?

  • Their objective was to implement GIS into their pre-existing systems and to organize data into geodatabases.

Results

  • Greeninfo created a series of monthly trainings for Marin Resource Conservation District
  • Over the course of several months, Greeninfo produced a GIS Best Practices guide for Marin RCD staff and designed a template for their Carbon Farm Plan maps
Updating Maps and Creating GIS Best Practices 1
Carbon Farm Plan map template created for
Updating Maps and Creating GIS Best Practices 2
Example map produced during training

The Work

Background

Marin Resource Conservation District (RCD) worked with GIN in developing and implementing a robust new GIS system. Over several months we did monthly training for ArcGIS Pro and data management. Collaboratively we consolidated and updated existing data into organized geodatabases. We created templates for their Carbon Farm Plan maps and a style file symbology for consistency across the program. Lastly, we created a GIS Best Practice guide that highlighted the new data structure, templates, styles as well as key functions performed by Marin RCD GIS staff.

Template Design

The template designs for the Carbon Farm Plans were designed to create a consistent look and feel across the program as well as aid in efficiency when making new maps. Marin RCD wanted the look to reflect the colors of their logo. We created several sizes, orientations and various layouts to accommodate more or less text.
All previous mapping at Marin RCD was in ArcMap. We moved the entire system into ArcGIS Pro and merged shapefiles into organized geodatabases.