Setting-up Maps and Coordinate Systems

IMSMA^NG includes an embedded GIS based on ESRI’s ArcGIS 9.x that allows users to visualize mine action information on an integrated map without moving to another application. While IMSMA^NG implements many standard GIS features, information managers can augment the provided capabilities with external GIS applications such as ArcGIS Desktop. Since these customisations can have an impact on the performance and usability of the system, it is important to consider the necessary map and GIS customisations for IMSMA^NG prior to beginning widespread use of the system.

Map Background

IMSMA^NG is designed to support a variety of users from information managers to operations users. Recognizing that each user or group of users may require a different set of maps, IMSMA^NG allows users to visualise data on maps individually tailored for their needs. For example, users in a regional mine action programme office may need only maps of their region to display data while MRE coordinators may need only vector map layers to visualise MRE data.

Using ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop products, programmes can create custom .MXD files (or ArcMap-formatted maps) for each client, allowing users to visualize common data on different maps. Customisations of.MXD files can include adding and modifying raster and vector layers, label display, scale management and many other GIS functions.

Following the guidelines below, information managers can build easy-to-use, sustainable maps for visualising data in IMSMA^NG:

Guidelines for Designing Map Backgrounds
Guideline	Explanation
Use only the layers you need	When creating or customising maps, include only the layers necessary for map visualisation. Extra layers take up space and present users with unnecessary, confusing options. Consider tailoring specific maps for each user group, for example, building one map for MRE users and a separate map for operations staff.
Limit raster layers	Raster images take up a large amount of space compared to vector layers, causing slower system performance. Limiting the use of raster layers to one or two background images or turning them off by default can improve performance of the map display and IMSMANG overall.
Tile maps	Breaking up a map into multiple images, or tiling them, allows users to turn individual sections on and off as needed, which results in improved performance.
Back up the .MXD files	Keep backups of map(s) in their state prior to importing them into IMSMANG. This makes later map customisation easier and speeds up the process of importing the maps again.

How To
Import an IMSMA Map Modify an IMSMA Map

Any changes made to IMSMANG maps apply only to the client on which the changes were made. To make system-wide map changes for client-server installations, updated maps must be imported on each client installation

Map Themes and Symbology

IMSMA^NG comes with several symbology options for displaying mine action data on the map. For example, hazards can be displayed on the map with different symbols for priority, status and type. These symbols are stored in the .MXD file and can be customised by information managers as desired. Additionally, IMSMA^NG allows information managers to create subthemes for each item. Using the Subtheme manager, information managers can display the different attributes of any item that are collected using single-select option lists on field report templates. For example, information managers can display the different symbols for the “Slope” values of hazards including “High,” “Medium,” “Low” and “Flat.” The example is shown in the figure below.

Example of Displaying Different Symbols for Different Attributes

Changing the symbology used to display data in IMSMA^NG is a multistep process (as shown in the figure below) that should only be undertaken by advanced users with an understanding of GIS. Further, as with all map customisation activities, this process requires the use of ArcGIS Desktop products.

Process for Changing IMSMA^NG Map Symbology

Back up any customised map files including any font files (.TTF), style files (.STYLE) and .MXD files, particularly the imsma.mxd file. IMSMANG does not automatically back up customised files. Any problems caused by incorrectly configured map customisations can be corrected by replacing the imsma.mxd file from the original installation and reimporting the map. All map changes, including symbology customisations and .MXD changes, affect only the client on which they are applied. To propagate these changes to other clients on the server, the customised files must be copied to each client installation and the map reimported. If changes do not appear to be taking affect as expected in the newly updated map, delete and rebuild the client sandbox to ensure the GIS has the most up-to-date data

Projection and Coordinate Systems

All geospatial data in IMSMA^NG is stored in LLWGS84 decimal degree format, but IMSMA^NG can display data in virtually any coordinate system. IMSMA^NG comes with all the coordinate systems available to ArcGIS Desktop products like LLWGS84 and MGRS, yet information managers can add other systems their programmes use including UTM and national coordinate systems. Using the Coordinate System manager, information managers can add coordinate system and projection (or .PRJ) files to IMSMA^NG and establish a set of relevant systems that can be used for coordinate data entry and visualisation.

How To
Add a Coordinate System Change the Display Name of a Coordinate System Remove a Coordinate System

In addition to customised coordinate systems and projections, IMSMA^NG supports the use of localised number formats for coordinate entry, for example 73.233 or 73,233. IMSMA^NG validates all numeric coordinate data based on the client’s locale settings so users running in a locale that uses a comma as a decimal separator can enter 72,333 while users running in a locale where a period is the decimal separator can enter 72.233.

Coordinate systems added via the Coordinate System manager are available to all users connecting to the IMSMANG server. If customised .PRJ files are used, information managers must copy these files to each client to ensure the accurate display of coordinates in the new system. Limiting the available coordinate systems within IMSMANG, for example, one or two UTM zones and a national system, simplifies coordinate data entry and visualisation

To add, change, or remove coordinate systems, you must have the Reference System Manager permission

The coordinate systems displayed in IMSMA are managed using the Coordinate System List window. The available coordinate systems are from ESRI. IMSMA does not support custom coordinate systems at this time.

Access the Coordinate System List window from the Map menu and select Coordinate System. The Coordinate System List window displays.

Coordinate System List Window

Coordinate System List Window