Extensions > Tracking Analyst > Getting started with Tracking Analyst
An overview of Tracking Analyst |
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Release 9.3
Last modified April 24, 2009 |
Print all topics in : "Getting started with Tracking Analyst" |
Note:
This topic was updated for 9.3.1.
ESRI ArcGIS Tracking Analyst is the extension for mapping objects that move or change status through time. Tracking Analyst gives you the power to
- Track temporal data from disk and in real time. Tracking Analyst supports network connections to Global Positioning System (GPS) units and other tracking and monitoring devices so you can map your data in real time.
- Symbolize temporal data and change its appearance based on temporal attributes.
- Display real-time or fixed-time data from disk, forward or backward, using the Tracking Analyst Playback Manager.
- Chart temporal data using Tracking Analyst functionality to build and display a data clock.
- Create and apply actions on real-time and stored data.
Learn more about temporal data
Tracking temporal data
With the ArcGIS Tracking Analyst extension, you can create a connection to a tracking service or GPS device that can stream real-time temporal data to track events as they occur. Use ArcCatalog to set up the connection and add data directly into ArcMap, where you can play the data on a map background. You can also add and symbolize fixed-time data to play on the map.
Symbolizing temporal data
You can change the symbology of your temporal data by color, size, and shape using the Symbology tab in the ArcMap Layer Properties dialog box. Use the customized settings in Tracking Analyst to make changes and set preferences for the display of your data, including temporal tracks to identify individual entities. You can adjust time window settings, color and size ranges, and other temporal aspects of the display. You can also display directional vectors and event attributes.
Learn more about symbolizing temporal data
Displaying temporal data
Using the Tracking Analyst Playback Manager, you can replay real-time data messages or fixed-time data from disk. The Playback Manager allows you to set start and end times and replay data as it occurred—or as it is occurring—within that time frame or playback window. You can play data backward or forward, change the playback speed, and adjust the playback window on the fly.
Learn more about displaying temporal data
Charting temporal data
Using Tracking Analyst charting tools, you can display the temporal distribution of data. You can determine what units and ranges you want to show, summarize the temporal information, and display your charts with legends and labels to help analyze your data more easily and efficiently. You can also manage data clock charts using the Data Clock Manager.
Learn more about charting temporal data
Creating and applying actions
You can create and apply actions to alter your data, filter it, or perform operations based on its attributes and/or location, either in real-time data messages or in fixed-time datasets. The Tracking Analyst Actions tab in the ArcMap Layer Properties dialog box allows you to create and apply actions to temporal data layers. You can use the Actions tab in ArcCatalog to apply actions to the data itself as it comes in from the server. You can apply actions to highlight and suppress data display, include or exclude data from a dataset using a filter, or convert a dataset's coordinate system reference. You can also create custom actions for real-time data using Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).
Tracking tools
With Tracking tools, you can copy attributes to a clipboard to be added to an XML or GML document and create animation files. The step tool provides a powerful method of querying point feature in a tracking layer according to your own personalized settings.
Learn more about Tracking tools
Displaying temporal data in 3D
Using 3D Analyst's ArcGlobe, you can bring your temporal data into the third dimension for display and analysis. ArcGlobe support includes real-time and fixed-time data, actions, symbology with 3D models, and most of the tools available in ArcMap.
Get tips on using Tracking Analyst in ArcGlobe