Data Integration
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| I'd like to integrate some local data - how do I get started? |
The COGIS team will hold a series of webinars to train NPOs and Grantees on data integration tips and tricks. Please be on the look-out for an invitation from your NPO contact about these webinars. In early 2012 self-guided tutorials will be made available based on feedback from the webinars. Also, check out the COGIS Training Materials page for step by step guides and training exercises.
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| When should I use the YouAdd tool and when should I use the Data Upload tool? |
YouAdd data is entered one entry at a time. Small data sets that rely heavily on local knowledge of on the ground data, or will be added slowly over time should use the YouAdd Tool. Large data sets with lots of entries (data rows) and attributes (data columns) are best done with the Data Upload tool. Data can be easily added, filtered, and organized in Excel then uploaded. Check out the Training Materials page to see guides, exercises, and videos (coming soon) on data upload.
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| Can I upload a file with address information? |
Yes, This is one of three methods to enter tabular data with the Data Upload tool. Both addresses and longitude/latitude data will generate points on the map. You can also enter tabular data using pre-defined areas like zip code, city, county, and state. Tabular data with theses location identifiers will show polygons with the user uploaded data.
NOTE: Address data containing personally-identifiable information is NOT permitted.
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| Can I upload personally identifiable information? |
No, do not add any personally identifiable information such as names, phone numbers, Social Security Numbers, medical information or any other data that may provide information about a specific individual. It is important to review data prior to uploading to ensure that personally identifiable information is not uploaded in this system.
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| Can I upload an Excel spreadsheet with multiple worksheets? |
No, Excel files should only have one worksheet. If your raw data has multiple worksheets then create several unique excel files, each with one worksheet.
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| I uploaded some addresses but they are not drawing on the map in the correct location. |
You might have an error in how you entered the address. If your data does not match information in the database then by defalut the record will be placed at the center of the ZIP code. To test this, use the Identify Feature tool and look at the attribute called MatchAddr. If the MatchAddr lists a ZIP code then you will know the point was placed in the centroid of the ZIP. If the address matched a street address you will see an address in the MatchAddr field.
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| What do the different sharing levels mean? |
At several points while working in COGIS you will be asked to select a Sharing Level. There are four levels; Grantee, share with only the members who have access to your portfolio; NPO, share with all the grantees within your NPO; Peer Learning Network, share with all other grantees from all other NPOs; and Public, still in development (a public launch of COGIS may occur in the future). For now selecting Public will be the same as selecting Peer Learning Network. You are able to change the Sharing Level at any time.
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| What geocoding services is used for matching addresses? |
This process is facilitated by CARES geocoding service, using ESRI's StreetMap Ver 9.3.1 database as the reference data. Some address numbers may not be in the reference data. In that case, the location of the closest available address number on the same street or the postal ZIP Code centroid will be used. The geocoding service uses a minimum match score of 60.
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| Is there a tip sheet to guide someone through the tabular data upload process? |
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| Can people other than the creator edit the properties of data (i.e., theme, security, description, symbols)? |
Only the person who uploaded the data may edit the properties.
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| When you create a layer with the YouAdd tool, can you then use/find that layer from the GIS mapping area? |
When you leave the YouAdd tool your data will automatically be saved in the YouAdd tab located in the mapping section of COGIS.
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| I see that I can choose default symbololgy for data that I’ve uploaded. I don’t see that option for YouAdd. How can I define the default symbols for YouAdd data? |
Under the “More Options” section in the YouAdd tool you can export the GIS data then upload as a shapefile. Exporting then uploading enables the user to edit the display properties of the layer.
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| Does tabular data need to be saved in a particular format (e.g., excel worksheet, database format, etc.)? |
Yes, tabular data needs to be in an Excel, dBase, or .csv format. Furthermore, Excel files can only have one worksheet tab of data. Put the names of the columns in the top row of the Excel sheet.
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| What kinds of data can be uploaded? |
-Tabular data can be uploaded as point data (formatted with addresses or Lat/Long data) or as polygons (city, ZIP code, county or state). Templates for tabular polygon upload are available on the data upload page when you select the tabular data radio button.
-Shapefiles can be also be uploaded. Each layer requires four corresponding files; .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj.
-Data can also be added using the YouAdd tool. Users can point and click point, line and polygon data directly onto a Google map interface. These layers are easily integrate this data into the COGIS mapping or exported into other GIS software.
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| Do I need to use a particular projection when uploading shapefiles? |
No. We will reproject your data on the fly to our native projection (Albers Equal Area Conic). We require that you upload the .prj file when you upload a shapefile.
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| When we are creating data in YouAdd, or uploading data, are we required to collect information in a standardized format so comparisons can be made across NPOs and Grantees (ex. should we all collect the same information about bike paths and sidewalks)? |
At this point COGIS does not force users to standardize input of data. We encourage NPOs to consider this option to collect standardized data across the grantees.
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| If we input local data, does it become public for all users? Or just our community users? |
The user can specify a sharing level:
-The “Grantee” level will share only with others with access to your profile.
-The “NPO” level will share data with all other grantees within you NPO.
-The “Peer Learning Network” will share data with all grantees from all NPOs.
-The “Public” level is not yet active as COGIS has not been made available to the general public, for now this level will be same as the “Peer Learning Network”.
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| How should I format my Excel data before I upload it? |
-Be sure you have only one worksheet of data and contain only one header row.
-If you are uploading tabular data with addresses, be sure you have separate fields for Street Address, City, State, ZIP
-Scan through the data and remove any data that has personally identifiable data such as names, phone numbers, SSNs, medical records or other identification numbers.
-If you are uploading tabular data you want to match with state, counties, cities or ZIPs, be sure you only have one row for each geography (e.g., county1, county2, county2).
-Include a FIPS code for when uploading data by state, county, city, or zip code.
-Remove any special characters from your field names (^,%,!,?). Underscore ( _ ) is the only acceptable special character. Field names cannot begin with a number.
-NO personally identifiable information can be uploaded (e.g., addresses of individuals, names of individuals, birth dates, social security numbers, etc.).
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| How do I integrate Excel spreadsheet data that shows whether sites do or do not participate in an activity? Do I need to make multiple layers to show this? |
This is a common request that requires a few steps to set up. First you need to format your data in a way that can be read by COGIS. Here is a sample spreadsheet with the proper data formatting. Note that each site is listed in its own row and each activity is given its own column.
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Site Name
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Address
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State
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City
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Activity 1
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Activity 2
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Activity 3
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North
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555 North state Street
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NY
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Smithville
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X
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X
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O
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South
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222 South State Street
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NY
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Smithville
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O
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X
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O
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West
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777 West Broadway Blvd
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NY
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Smithville
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X
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X
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X
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Once you have uploaded this Excel sheet into COGIS, you will want to go to “Edit Local Data” and select “Copy or Delete and Existing Data Layer”, select the file from the list, and make additional copies of the layers, one for each activity you want to show. You will want to give the new copies unique names that reflect the activities. Do this by clicking the “Edit Information About Data Layer”, then changing the name in the top field.
After each new layer has its own unique name you will want to change the visualization of the layers by going to the “Set Data Layer’s Display Properties for Mapping”. Put the Site Name in the “Label Field” and the Activity in the “Mapping Field”. Below that, select the “Draw Data Using Unique Values” and give the “X” field a unique color and symbol. If you do not want the “O” to display so you can delete these entries so they do not appear.
If you want to show all the activities on one map you will need to give each layer a different symbol size and unique color. You will then order the layers so the largest symbol is the bottom layer and smallest symbol the top layer. This will create a bulls-eye appearance if a site had multiple activities. In our sample spread sheet above, North would have two stacked symbols, South only one, and West would have three stacked symbols. |
Maps
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| Nothing happens when I use the Print tool to prepare a map for printing. What should I do? |
If you are using a pop-up blocker, turn it off or set it to allow pop-ups from this website.
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| My map is loading very slowly. What should I do? |
The
maps are interactive. Each time you create or load a map, the most
updated data is being loaded into the map. Try setting your map extent
to a smaller geographic area. You can always zoom in and out or even hop
to a specific address using the navigation tools within the map. Also,
add just a few datasets to begin. Once your map opens, you can click the
"Add Data" button to add additional layers.
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| I have loaded several layers onto my map. How can I toggle between them to see just a few at one time? |
Go to the “Layers and Labels” tab on the right side of the page. Put a check in the box under the ”Show” column next to the layer you want to view. If you want to re-order data layers simply left-click on the item in the list of layers and hold down as you drag the item to the preferred order location in the Layers and Label Controls menu. If you want to label an item check the “Label” box to see data values or names on the map. Click the “Active” circle to enable the “Identify Feature” on that layer.
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| Can I label the features on my map? |
Absolutely! On the right side of the map, Click the Layer and Label controls tab. In the column marked "Label" put a check next to the layers you'd like labeled. Labels can be modified by visiting View>Label Settings. There you can change the field used for labeling, the color and the size! Be sure to save your map under the File menu so your changes will be set until the next time you open your map.
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| How can I learn more about a feature on the map? |
Great question. You see that a feature is shaded and from the legend you know the range of values, but what if you want to know the exact value for that feature? Use the info button  on the tool bar and click the feature you'd like to learn more about. You may need to pick your layer from the drop down menu on the right side of the screen to retrieve the correct information. Setting your preferred layer as the "active" layer in layer and label controls will ensure that each time you click to identify a feature it will return results based on your layer of interest. |
| How can I save an image of a map to drop into a presentation or document? |
This is a great feature of our system! It allows maximum flexibility for exporting images of your map and legend to drop into your own editing environment. Click the Print button on the map tool bar 
There, right click on the thumbnail image of your map and save it. Now go to your legend. Right click on the legend and save the image. You can now import each piece, map image and legend, into Word, Power Point or any other application.
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| My map jumps around when I use my internet browser's back button. |
Use the navigation tools within the interactive mapping window and not your browser's back and forward buttons. The "Mapping Tool Reference Guide" on the Training Materials page has an overview of all the navigation tools.
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| How can I view more than one layer at a time? |
Adding points on top of polygon layers (ex. county, tract, block group) is a great way to see two or more layers of data at once. If you are interested in viewing more than one polygon layer at a time, you might try saving the map image and dropping it into a ppt or other application. You can then re-create the map using the other polygon layer and show the two maps side by side or one after another in a presention.
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| I used the select features tool and my map reloaded back to its original state and I lost my changes. What happened? |
Your pop-up blocker likely blocked the window with the table of results. Turn off your pop-up blocker or add our site to your list of safe sites and try the selection tool again.
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| I only want to see my state (or series of states, counties, congressional district, etc.) in the map. How can I hide the surrounding areas? |
In the mapping window go to View/Hide Surrounding Areas. There you can choose a single state, county, congressional district, or several to form a region. Word of caution: feature labels on the edges may be cut off when performing this action. Also note that when saving the map to your portfolio the hidden areas will appear again when the map is reloaded. The hide surrounding areas is only valid for the current view.
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| How can I zoom the map to a specific address? |
Click on the address find tool  Enter in an address and the map will zoom to that location. |
| Why does some of the data extend out into the water? What is the best way to deal with that situation when creating a map? |
The geographies you see represent the legal geographic boundary. Always re-order your data so that the water layer appears on top to create a nice cartographic product.
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| Are there ways to customize the printing size of the map? |
The “Export Map” option within the File tab will lead you to a window that enables you to customize the exact size (width and height) and resolution (DPI) of the map and legend. The maximum size for a map or legend image is 4 million pixels (width x DPI x height x DPI).
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Overall
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| What is GIS? |
"A
geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and
data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of
geographically referenced information. GIS allows us to view,
understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that
reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes,
reports, and charts. A GIS helps you answer questions and solve problems
by looking at your data in a way that is quickly understood and easily
shared. GIS technology can be integrated into any enterprise information
system framework." http://gis.com/content/what-gis
Here is an excellent video that describes a GIS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEaMzPo1Q7Q
The following definition was obtained Caitlin Dempsey, Editor of GIS Lounge ( http://gislounge.com/what-is-gis/) |
| What is the Childhood Obesity GIS Project? |
The
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to halting the
upward trend of childhood obesity by 2015 by working with grantees,
community partners and researchers. To meet the diverse needs of these
end-users, the foundation is working with the Center for Applied
Research and Environmental Systems (CARES) at the University of Missouri
to develop and implement a National Web-based Childhood Obesity
Prevention Geographic Information System (GIS). This system includes a
Collaborative Management System, Automatic data integration tools and a
National Internet-based GIS that enables grantees to: (1) geographically
visualize community, regional, and national-level data via the
Internet; (2) automatically integrate new spatial data and overlay these
data to conduct location-specific analyses; and (3) generate maps,
dynamic reports, and "what if" scenarios to better address the childhood
obesity epidemic. This system builds on CARES’ existing national GIS
engine and its open source content management system, which includes
robust security features and systems administration tools for managing
user accounts.
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| What kind of specific data or tools are included in the system? |
COGIS includes the following components:
(1) A Grantee Portfolio to help a grantee frame and manage the childhood obesity topics identified in their region.
(2) A Grantee Service Area Delineation Tool that enables a grantee to interactively delineate the geographic extent of their service area.
(3) The COPGIS Library to provide a Peer Learning Network for searching and viewing Grantee Portfolios across all Grantees.
(4) Data Integration capabilities that include acquisition of datasets from RWJF staff and contractors and "self-serve" tools for all Grantees to upload place-based data.
(5) Interactive Mapping using CARES’ Internet-based Geographic Information System that enable Grantees to visualize and overlay 7,000+ national source GIS data layers.
(6) Dynamic Reporting using CARES’ tools that enable Grantees to generate dynamic comparative reports about obesity and specific underlying social, economic, demographic and health characteristics for predefined geographic areas such as counties, cities and zip codes.
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| Who should use COGIS? |
RWJF Major Programs, RWJF Grantees, partners of RWJF Grantees, and the general public (coming soon).
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| How should I use the childhood obesity GIS in my work? |
All users can make maps, reports and view "Grantee Portfolios." In addition, the system includes "User Roles" that enable RWJF Major Programs and RWJF Grantees to integrate local data and populate "Grantee Portfolios." The general public is not able to integrate data or modify Grantee Portfolios.
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| How can COGIS help organizations in their efforts to prevent childhood obesity? |
RWJF Major Programs and RWJF Grantees can make maps and reports and tell more meaningful stories around childhood obesity prevention in their regions. One particularly useful approach is to integrate local childhood obesity-related data (such as local built environment) into the system and share it in the "Grantee Portfolios." These portfolios can then be disseminated to RWJF and the public. The general public can also make maps and reports and view the “Grantee Portfolios” to better understand what is going on in their region around childhood obesity prevention.
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| Which internet browser is best suited to view this application? |
The interactive mapping tools are designed to work well on all browsers. That said, there are some known issues with some versions of Internet Explorer. If you encounter a problem and you are using IE you might try again with another browser. Please let us know when you encounter a problem so we can try to increase compatibility. |
| How is COGIS different than desktop GIS? I already have access to GIS. Why should I use COGIS? |
COGIS is not designed to replace desktop GIS. COGIS allows those without access to desktop GIS to overlay data and use GIS analytic tools on the web. COGIS enables users to generate maps without downloading any software.
Grantees with desktop GIS will see a great benefit to COGIS. Many of the datasets that RWJF grantees have an interest in have already been added to COGIS as GIS data files. Data can be downloaded from COGIS in a shapefile format to input into desktop GIS. The data integration work can be distributed across a collaborative, rather than requiring the time of a GIS Professional. Those inputs can be extracted as GIS shapefiles into desktop GIS from COGIS.
The COGIS interface is user friendly and comes with many tutorial, videos, and tip sheets. The COGIS grantee portfolios are designed to allow multiple users from a community to collaborate with each other and with other communities around the country. The data integration features enable users to easily incorporate local data into maps using national data. Finally, the reports feature is an easy to use tool able to create presentation quality reports that can be edited and customized with additional text, pictures, and maps.
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