UPPER COLCA ARCHAEOLOGICAL
RESEARCH PROJECT
Arequipa, Peru
Directory Structure for Data
Updated: 08 March 2003
/gis_data/
All GIS data should be stored in the directory "gis_data" at the root of C: (or whichever drive letter it is on).
Note that ArcMap 8 can store data sources in Relative or Absolute system path names. Look under File : Map Properties : Data Source Options... button : "Store Full Path Names" or "Store Relative Path Names". This was not available with Arcview 3. This feature means that you can move GIS data sets around, and as long as their relationship with the Arcmap .MXD file doesn't change then data source links should continue to work. You can also burn whole projects on a CD. This is why we must be very careful with our directory structure system: if we are consistent then the data can be moved around without breaking links to our data sources.
Specific directories will be explained below.
/gis_data/andes_atlas/
The directory "gis_data/andes_atlas/" is the place to find regional Andean or South American GIS data sets. Data should only be stored in the /andes_atlas/ directory when it is completed and ready for archiving and for future reference. Do not store work-in-progress in this directory.
/gis_data/colca_data/
This is where current Colca project data is stored.
This includes digital photos and scanned local maps or air photos.