Shapefiles: Sample Workflow

This topic describes a sample workflow for importing shapefiles. It describes how to import a shapefile from the Moore Oklahoma tornado ALERT event. The shapefile contains polygons that identify the area/footprint affected by the event. It also describes how to create a new legend.

To import a shapefile:

1.     Open Map Layer Import from Administration Console > Object Management > Custom Map Layers > Import, or from Home > Default > Map Layer Import. If you open Map Layer Import from the Administration Console, the Custom Map Layers pane opens. If you open it from the Default tab, the Map Layer Import dialog box opens.

2.     Next to the File Selection field, click and navigate to the location of the shapefile that you want to import, such as "OK_Moore_Tornado.shp". In the Open dialog box, select the shapefile, and then click Open. You only need to import the .shp file, which accesses the other required files as needed.

3.     In the Import Options area, specify the following options:

a.     Layer Name: Enter a unique name that describes the specific type of map layer being imported. In this example, enter Moore OK Tornado Storm Path as the  layer name. The layer name is useful when you are searching for the layer to display on your exposure data or to use with geospatial analysis results.

b.     Group Name: Select an existing group or create a new group. A group name is a unique name that describes a collection of map layers of the same spatial data type (all event layers, all boundary layers, or all hazard layers) that are associated with a given event. The group can contain a mixture of shapefiles and CSV Grid files. For example, you could create a group named "Tornadoes-US". Click here for map layer grouping considerations.

c.     Data Type: Select the data type associated with the selected import. When selecting a data type, consider where you want the map layer to appear. For example, you could select "Historical Event".

d.     Peril: Select the appropriate peril based on your import data. The peril list includes four categories: Earthquake, Tropical Cyclone, Severe Storm, and Other. In this example, select Severe Thunderstorm under Tropical Cyclone.

e.     Event Year: This optional field appears only if you select Historical Event or World Scenario as the data type. For example, specify an event year, such as "2013" for the Moore Oklahoma tornado event. This can be useful when you are viewing map layers because you can display layers by the specified event year.

4.     In the Field Mappings area, optionally, select one field to use as descriptive text on the map when displaying the map layer in Touchstone. The Label Field list includes all the fields contained in the shapefile file. For example, if a "rivers" shapefile includes the name of a river, you can set the label field to the name of that river. In this example, select "EF" to indicate the strength of the tornado. The EF values come from the .dbf file.

5.     Click Next. You now define how you want the map layer to be displayed.

6.     In the Existing Legend field, select the legend that describes the map layer you are importing or click the green button to create a new legend and enter a legend name in the Legend Name field. In this example, create a new legend and name it "Tornado EF Values”.

7.     In the Legend Field list, select the field that contains the categorical data that you want to map. For example, select "EF", the field mapping for the strength of the tornado.

8.     In the Legend Type list, select Discrete Values as the legend type. The categories for Discrete Values and Banded Ranges comes from the .dbf file.

9.     Optionally, set the following global controls and display options. (If you selected a predefined legend, you cannot modify the display options.) The content of the Global Controls and Display panes varies according to the selected legend and legend field. When setting the options, you can assign different colors to associate with each unique value, such as, in this scenario, each unique EF value, and you can assign colors by selecting from the palette.

•       Fill: The fill opacity is useful for displaying layers with other layers. Adding transparency to the top layers enables users to view them while still viewing underlying layers. Fill values are based on values in percent. For example, use 85% for the fill opacity and 100% for the border.

•       Border: This is useful for displaying background images on the map.

•       Palette: This is useful for assigning different colors to associate with each unique value, such as each unique maximum wind speed value. Select colors from the palette. The Palette option appears only for Discrete Values and Banded Ranges. The palette offers four settings: Warm, Cool, Ice, and Monochrome. Select the Cool palette.

•       Legend Settings: Appears when you select "Banded Ranges" as the legend type. You can select the units, such as "Kilometers", or you can type your own units information in the Units field, such as "Kilometers Per Hour". You can also select the type of banding and the number of banded ranges.

10.  Click Next. Map Layer Import displays a summary of your settings.

11.  If you are satisfied with the settings, click Import. Map Layer Import submits the import request.

12.  To monitor the status of the import, open the Activity Monitor. In the Activity Monitor, the name of the activity is “ShapeFile Import <LayerName>” and the type is “GIS Shape File Import”. When the status is “Completed,” you are ready to view the map layer on a contract, or use the imported layer in geospatial analysis results.