5.2 DaySim Input Preparation - Using Parcel Editing Tool

Copy Geodatabase Archive to the Model Directory

The user must have the appropriate zipped geodatabase parcel file in the “Input_ParcelData” folder within the “NERPMAB1v2” directory. Copy the appropriate year’s zipped geodatabase into the “Input_ParcelData” folder to run the DaySim input generator tools successfully. The tool uses the zipped archive so there is no need to unzip the archive.

Cube Catalog application “Generate or Edit Parcel File”

The Cube Catalog application “Generate or Edit Parcel File” generates default DaySim input files or generates an editing environment for parcel editing based on user input. The user only needs to run this application if they need input files for years other than 2010, 2030 or 2040 or if they need to edit input files.

To run the new application, the user first should select a scenario from the scenario window and then open the new application interface, which looks like Figure 5.13.

Figure 5‑13 Generate or edit parcel file application interface

The user needs to type in the correct path to the Python.exe file as well as the correct version of ArcGIS. If the users selects Master and runs the new application, Cube shows an error message like in Figure 5-14 to warn the user that the application cannot run for this scenario

Figure 5‑14 generate or edit parcel file application warning

After selecting a scenario and opening the new application interface, the user should enter the model year (only 2 digits, for instance 10 for 2010 and 40 for 2040), the correct path to the python.exe, the correct version of ArcGIS, and one of the following options:

1. Generate default files- Select this option if editing the parcel file is unnecessary; if the user selects this option, the program generates default files automatically for the selected scenario and model year.
2. Edit parcel file- Select this option if editing the parcel file is necessary; if the user selects this option, ArcMap will launch to make the requisite edits for the selected scenario and model year like in Figure 5-15

If option 1, wait for the program to complete and then run the scenario normally.

If option 2, continue to ArcMap Parcel Editingin order to undertake parcel editing.

Figure 5-15: ArcMap Parcel Editing MXD Opened from Cube

ArcMap Parcel Editing

After clicking “Run” in the Cube interface, a dialog box will appear similar to the one in Figure 5-16 below. Click the “Install Add-in” button to install the “DaySim Input Generator toolbar” into ArcMap. A second dialog will then appear to confirm that the toolbar was installed successfully. Click “OK” on this second dialog. ArcMap will then be opened for the user to make parcel edits and develop DaySim inputs.

Figure 5-16: Install Add-In

When Cube pushes out to ArcMap the application prepares a workspace for editing and copies data for the appropriate scenario year for editing.

Note that the Cube application added a layer to the active data frame in ArcMap called “Edit Parcels”. Please edit the parcel in this layer. Edit only the parcels you wish to adjust. In order to edit, please do the following:

Use the zoom tool to identify the area you wish to edit.

This step could take 45-60 minutes depending on processing power.

Figure 5-17: Identify the area of Interest

Start an editing session by clicking the “Editor” drop-down and selecting “Start Editing” option as in Figure 5-18.

Figure 5-18: Start an edit session

If the editor toolbar is not present in your map document, navigate to Customize - Toolbars - Editor as in Figure 5-19.

Figure 5-19: Open the Editor toolbar

After selecting the “Start Editing” option, a warning box like in Figure 5-20 may open explaining that the spatial reference of the layer does not match the spatial reference of the data frame. Click “Continue” to continue the edit session.

Figure 5-20: Edit Session Warning BOX

Use the standard Esri editing tools to:

Merge two parcels together:

Use the editing tool to select the polygons you wish to merge then select “Merge…” from the “Editor” dropdown like in Figure 5-21.

A box will ask you which polygons attributes you would like to keep. Select one of the polygons and click “OK”. Be sure to update the demographic data once the merge is complete.

Figure 5-21: Polygon Merge tool

Figure 5-22: Polygon Attribute Merge

Split a parcel into component parts:

Use the editing tool to select the polygons you wish to split.

Use the “Cut Polygons” tool to split a parcel into two parts as in Figure 5-23.

Be sure to update the demographic data once the split is complete.

Figure 5-23: Using the Cut Polygon tool to Split a polygon

Adjust parcel attributes:

Use the editing tool to select the polygon for which you wish to adjust attributes.

Click the “Attributes” button in the “Editor” Toolbar to edit the parcel attributes.

Type in the desired attribute adjustment as in Figure 5-24.

Figure 5-24: Adjusting parcel attributes in the attribute table

Once you are finished with your editing session click “Stop Editing” in the “Editor” dropdown menu.

Click “Yes” to the Save Edits option

Complete the editing process by using the “DaySim Input Generator toolbar”. If the DaySim Input Generator toolbar is not present in your map document, use the following directions:

Navigate to Customize - Add-In Manager - Customize

Click the checkbox next to the “DaySim Input Generator Toolbar” that was added to the list of Toolbars like in Figure 5-25 then click “Close” to return to your active dataframe. Your display should look like Figure 5-26.

Figure 5-25: Customize Active Toolbars

In the DaySim Input Generator toolbar, click on the “Parcel Edits Layer:” dropdown menu to pick the appropriate “Edit Parcels” layer. See Figure 5-25 above.

Click the DaySim Input Generator Addin button and the appropriate DaySim inputs are generated and populate the active scenario’s DaySimInput folder. This process takes several minutes.

A dialog box informs the user of the tool’s completion. Click OK when prompted by the tool’s finishing.

After the successful toolbar run, close ArcMap. You can save the changes to the map document (.mxd) if desired.

Back in Cube click on the “OK” button to finish the application run. Then, the edited parcel files and updated DaySim input files are ready to run by the main model. To use the new files, make sure to update the following scenario inputs to refer to the new files:

DaySim parcels

DaySim HH File

DaySim Person File

Employment