------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting Started:

This folder contains the SAMPLE package. You should get started by reviewing pages 1-14 of Scott 1990 (included as a PDF in this folder). It will explain the original methodology. Every reasonable effort has been made to closely follow this methodology. However, the description of how to run the software from page 15 onwards may be ignored as it describes the original implementation in Arc Macro Language (now deprecated by ESRI). This new implementation will be accessed entirely through an ArcGIS 10.x Python script tool. NOTE: This package has been reasonably well tested and found to run well in the ArcGIS 10.0 and 10.1 environments. No support exists for previous versions of ArcGIS.

Once you are comfortable with the methodology, open up the sampleTest MXD file. You'll find two data frames for testing purposes. The first is a simplified study area illustrated on page 21 of Scott 1990 and used in his example from pages 30 to 50. While various layers may be present, they may not display if not yet created. So open ArcToolbox, find the 'Sample' toolbox, and run the 'Sample' script. Built-in help will appear in the help pane, and selections will automatically grey out if not active in a particular context. Once the layers are built, you can select them in the table of contents and view them. Take some time to try out the different selection methods, and vary the parameters as you see fit. For instance, you can generate a grid of test points as described in the methodology, or you could use the 'testarea_point' feature class provided with the geodatabase. Symbology has been provided as a suggestion, but should be tailored for your individual needs.

Finally, move on to the more complex test study area in the other data frame when you are ready (Or, your own data!). This complex area is based on the example provided on pages 50 through 53 in Scott 1990. No test points are provided with this data frame, but you can easily generate test grids as above.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description of files and subfolders:

sampleData.gdb 	- A collection of test data for the sample tools in ESRI's
		  ArcGIS 10.0 geodatabase format.
scratch 	- A folder to receive intermediary geoprocessing files. You
		  may wish to occasionally check this folder to clear it of
		  unnecessary files.
scripts 	- A folder with supporting Python code and ArcGIS layer files.
readme.txt 	- This file.
sampleTest.mxd 	- An ArcGIS map document arranged to quickly illustrate the
		  package.
sampleTools.tbx	- The ArcGIS toolbox that integrates the Python code into a
		  usable system.
Scott1990.pdf	- The original paper describing the methodology.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------