Creating new AML data

All new AML cells are created through either importing existing AML cells into an AML production database or compiling new AML data from various data sources within the AML production database. Each AML cell creation process has its own workflow—the desktop production environment for existing products or the desktop production environment for creating new products. Once you determine the appropriate workflow for your AML data compilation needs, you can then explore the different tools the Nautical Solution offers to actually create AML data.

As mentioned in the Loading AML source data topic, ArcGIS Desktop supports a wide variety of raster and vector formats. Raster data stored in any of the supported formats can be used as a backdrop for AML collection. Source data stored in a supported vector format can directly get copied and pasted into the production database while working in an edit session.

After loading source data, you can use it to generate the components of an AML product. The data collection process has been streamlined in the Nautical Solution by offering ways to auto-generate some of these basic components. Currently, you can auto-generate polygon depth areas, land areas, and parent/child hierarchical relationships. You can auto-generate all these features and relationships in the production database if in a desktop production environment. If in an enterprise production environment, you can auto-generate polygon depth areas, land areas, and parent/child hierarchical relationships in the NIS database.

Reference Managing data to learn about more ways you can use the Nautical Solution to manage your AML data. Before you begin with the batch create processes, you need to make sure you perform the following steps:

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. Load your populated production database into an ArcMap document (MXD).
3. On the main menu, click Customize > Extensions and verify that all applicable extensions are checked.

   You need Production Mapping and Nautical Solution.

4. Organize the MXD so that you have all the toolbars necessary for the compilation effort.
5. Ensure that you have set the nautical properties before starting the edit session.
6. Click the Production Start Editing button on the Production Editing toolbar.
   Note:

   The Manage Features and Create Attributes, Update Attributes, or Metadata Attributes windows automatically appear when you start an edit session using the Production Start Editing tool.

   Tip:

   If the Create Attributes, Update Attributes, or Metadata Attributes window does not appear when you start an edit session, click the Show/Hide Attributes button on the Manage Features window.

Creating polygon depth area features (CLB only)

The Generate Depth Areas geoprocessing tool creates S-57 polygon DEPARE features based on a defined set of parameters, modifies existing depth area features, and removes extraneous DEPARE features. This geoprocessing function requires that you have your depth contours collected so the depth intervals can be used during the processing functions. Before you run the Generate Depth Area process, you can use the ClosingLinesL feature class to link any gaps that may exist in your depth band coverage.

Instead of having to collect each depth area feature manually, all the DEPARE features will be auto-generated for you, saving time and effort. Since it is a geoprocessing tool, you have the ability to define which layers in the Table of Contents window will be populated as your depth contours, depth areas, and so on. The Generate Depth Areas geoprocessing tool can only be accessed through ArcMap while in an edit session by following these steps:

Steps:

1. Click the ArcToolbox Window button on the Standard toolbar.

   The ArcToolbox window appears.

2. Expand the Nautical Tools toolbox.
3. Expand the S-57 toolset.
4. Double-click the Generate Depth Areas tool to open the geoprocessing dialog box.

   The tool will open with most of the parameters preconfigured.

5. Enter a value in the Negative H text box.
   Note:

   The negative H value is used when a depth area lies between a coastline and a depth contour with a depth of zero. It is used to indicate intertidal/drying depth areas.

6. Click OK.

   A status dialog box appears showing you the generate depth areas process.

7. When the process is complete, a message box appears informing you whether the process was successful or not and asks if you want to review the log file. Click Yes or No.
   Note:

   Log files are stored in the C:\Documents and Settings\<User Login>\Application Data\ESRI\Production10.0\NAUTICAL\LogFiles\<Name of Process> directory.

Creating land area features (MFF only)

The Generate Land Areas tool automatically generates new S-57 land area features, modifies existing land area features, and deletes extraneous land area features. This tool requires that you define the coastline features, depth contour features, and the metadata features before you begin the process. Similar to the polygon depth area tool, you can choose which features/subtypes stored within the Table of Contents window will get auto-populated as S-57 land area features. The Generate Land Areas tool is accessed through ArcMap and enabled while in an edit session.

Creating parent/child relationships (RAL, ESB, SBO, MFF only)

You can perform a batch create on all potential parent/child hierarchical relationship features using the Relationship Manager tool. However, there are a few conditions before you start the batch create process:

• The potential parent/child features must be of point geometry type.
• The potential point features must share the same coordinate position.

Parent/Child hierarchical relationship features will not be created if any of these conditions are not met. Relationship features are created in ArcMap while in an edit session.