Work with layers

You can access layers and layer information in the Contents window. The Contents window appears when you click Contents on the toolbar. This window contains three panes:

• Layers—Lists all the layers in the map
• Legend—Displays the associated symbols for each layer
• Jobs—Shows the status of the jobs created by the analysis tools

This topic describes layer-related functionality available in the Layers pane.

Layers pane

The Layers pane has five sections: Active Scenario, Study Areas, Data Layers, 3D Layers, and Basemap.

The Active Scenario section contains the design layers. Design layers are the layers in which you can sketch, paint, and split features. Each GeoPlanner project has one or more design layers that are defined in a template. You can add new layers to an existing set of design layers in a project using the Add to Design Layers tool.

The Study Areas section contains study areas in your scenario. Study areas are used to define an area of interest for analysis.

The Data Layers section contains layers that are used for visualization and analysis. Some layers can also be used in the dashboard. You add layers using the Add Data tool on the Explore tab.

Basemap displays the name of the active basemap. Click the Change Basemap tool to switch to another basemap.

Clicking the Options button next to a layer in the Layers pane of the Contents window displays a context menu.

The menu lists layer-related functionality in GeoPlanner, including the following:

• Zoom to—Sets the map extent to the extent of the selected layer.
• Transparency—Sets the transparency level of the selected layer.
• Visible Range—Specifies the zoom levels at which content is drawn in a layer.

  Tip:

  When a layer is out of range, its name appears in a lighter gray color in the contents and legend than the layers that are in range.

• Move up—Moves the selected layer one level up in the table of contents and the map.
• Move down—Moves the selected layer one level down in the table of contents and the map.
• Table—An interactive table that allows you to see a tabular view of the information about features in a layer.

  Once the table is open in the map, you can view the layer's attributes. Click the Options button to adjust the table in the following ways:

  • Default sort order
  • Clear selection
  • Show/Hide columns

  Note:

  Tables are only available with feature layers.

• Remove—Removes a layer from the table of contents and the map.
• Classify—Creates an assessment or suitability layer by reclassifying data into a zero-through-nine scale based on attributes. You can use this layer as an assessment layer in the secondary chart of the dashboard.
• Rerun Analysis—Opens the tool that was used to create the layer and repopulates all of the parameters.
• Add to Design Layers—Adds the layer to the Active Scenario group so you can sketch and paint using the types defined in the layer. This option is only available for feature layers.
• Properties—Opens the Layer Properties window for the selected layer.

The following sections detail how you can use some of these functions.

Remove a layer from a project

GeoPlanner allows you to remove certain types of layers from the map. Basemap layers cannot be removed from your project; however, you can remove other layer types. These layers include scenario layers, analysis results, operational layers, weighted overlay model layers, and other layers added directly from your ArcGIS organization. Use the following process to remove a layer from your project.

1. Click the Contents button to open the Contents window.
2. In the Layers pane, click the Options button next to a layer name and click Remove.

Change the order of layers in a map

You can set the order of active scenario layers, 3D layers, and data layers in the Contents pane. Layers can only be moved within their section of the Contents pane. For example, you cannot move an active scenario layer outside of its section so that it appears below a data layer.

1. Click Contents.
2. In the Layers tab, click the Options button by the layer name and click Move up or Move down.

   Depending on the layer type and the order of the layer in the Contents pane, the Move up or Move down function may be hidden or unavailable. For example, these two functions are not available for basemap layers.

   Tip:

   You can drag layers in the Contents pane to reorder them on the map.

Add to design layers

Each GeoPlanner project is created from a template. Templates are a group, a web map, and a hosted feature service that contains one or more feature layers. Feature layers contain types and default values for each type.

You may find that the types and default values are not applicable for your planning domain and project. GeoPlanner allows you to append your own layers as design layers. This will help you plan and sketch using the symbols and types that are specific to your planning domain. The following steps describe how to add an existing layer as a new design layer:

1. Add a layer to GeoPlanner.

   For the layer to be useful in GeoPlanner as a design layer, it should have types. If it does not have types, it should have a unique value renderer.

2. Click the Options button next to the layer in the Contents pane and click Add to Design Layers.

   

3. On the Add to Design Layers dialog box, type a new name for your design layer in the New Name text box.
4. Optionally, check Import features to import both schema and data into your new design layer.
5. Click Import.

   The Add to Design Layers dialog box closes and the project reinitializes. When reinitialization completes, a new design layer appears in the Active Scenario group.

Change design layer symbols, type labels, and default values

Layers have types. Types can represent different entities such as land use or zoning. You can change the symbols, labels, and default values of types in a design layer.

1. Click the Options button next to a design layer in the Active Scenario area of the Contents pane, and click Design Types.

   

2. On the design type editor dialog box, click a type in the list and perform one of the following actions:
   1. Click the Symbol tab to make changes to a symbol's color and outline.
   2. Click the Type tab to change a type's label.
   3. Click the Default Values tab to change a type's default values.

   Note:

   You can add a new design type to a layer or delete an existing type by clicking the Add or Delete button .

3. Click Save to save your changes and reinitialize your project.

Define a study area

In a GeoPlanner project, a study area defines a planning subarea. A planning subarea can represent a neighborhood, habitat, or any other location type. Once you enable a study area, GeoPlanner focuses its indicators, import operations, and visual review on that area. An enabled study area displays a mask that obscures everything outside the study area. The dashboard only reports on features that intersect or lie within an activated study area. The Import Scenario tool only imports features that intersect or lie within an enabled study area.

Follow these steps to define a study area:

1. Click the Contents button to open the Contents pane.
2. Click the Layers tab, hover over the add button, and click Add Study Area.
3. On the New Study Area dialog box, click Draw an area on the map.
4. Click Polygon and draw one or more polygons on the map to define your study area.

   

5. Type a name for your study area and click Save.

   Tip:

   You can also create a study area from an existing feature by clicking the Import link in a pop-up window.