Creating a BIS geodatabase

Before you can take full advantage of ArcGIS Bathymetry, you need to create at least one Bathymetry Information System (BIS) workspace. The Create BIS Database tool on the Bathymetry toolbar is designed to create new BIS geodatabases. The BIS is a geodatabase that can be created from an existing, empty file or enterprise geodatabase and references bathymetry data stored either locally or on your network. A BIS created within a file geodatabase is typically used for small implementations where having multiple, disparate users accessing the workspace is not required. A file geodatabase only supports local connections, does not support versioning, and is stored on your local file system or internal network. If your organization requires versioning, you will need to use an enterprise geodatabase.

One of the key features of the BIS is that the system does not load bathymetry datasets directly into the geodatabase; instead, it manages links that reference the source datasets. This makes the BIS very scalable.

When creating a BIS, the coordinate system you select will be used to store and manage the Bathymetry Data Index (BDI) mosaic dataset and preview mosaic datasets generated from either the Explore Bathymetry or Compose Surface window. For this reason, it is important to choose the correct coordinate system for reprojecting your datasets in the BIS. For example, if you choose either a projected or geographic coordinate system whose bounds are not global, be aware that datasets added outside of these bounds will still appear in your BIS and be filtered in the Explore Bathymetry window and can be added to the Compose Surface window; they will not be visible on the map. A further example of this is choosing a north pole stereographic projection for your BIS and subsequently adding a dataset that is located off the coast of South Africa.

To create a BIS geodatabase, complete the following steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. Click Customize > Toolbars > Bathymetry on the main menu to activate the Bathymetry toolbar if necessary.
3. Click the Create BIS Database button on the Bathymetry toolbar.

   The Create BIS Database dialog box appears.

   

4. Type a name for the new BIS geodatabase in the BIS Name text box.
5. Click the browse button next to the Geodatabase field.

   The Geodatabase dialog box appears.

   

6. Browse to the empty geodatabase you want to use to store the BIS schema.

   If an empty geodatabase does not already exist, you will need to create one before continuing. For more information, see the following:

   • Create a file geodatabase
   • Adding a database server and creating the BIS geodatabase in SQL Server Express
   • Creating and configuring a BIS workspace in SQL Server
   • Creating and configuring the BIS workspace in a geodatabase in Oracle

7. Click Connect.

   The path to your BIS geodatabase appears in the Geodatabase field.

8. Optionally type a description of the BIS in the BIS Description (Optional) text box.
9. Click the Properties button next to the Coordinate System field to choose the spatial reference that will be used by your BIS geodatabase.

   The Spatial Reference Properties dialog box appears.

   

10. Choose a coordinate system for your BIS and click OK.

    Note:

    The coordinate system can only be set during the BIS creation process and cannot be changed once the BIS has been created.

11. Click the browse button next to the Overviews location field and choose a storage location for overviews.

    Be sure to choose a location where BIS users have read and write access, such as a shared folder on a network. Overviews improve the rendering speed of mosaic datasets and are created by default for the BDI when adding bathymetry datasets to the BIS geodatabase. For more information on mosaic dataset overviews, see Mosaic dataset overviews.

    Tip:

    If your BIS will be accessed from multiple machines on the network, all paths must follow standard UNC naming conventions, for example, \\NetworkPath\Path\Data.

    Note:

    The overviews location can only be set during the BIS creation process and cannot be changed once the BIS has been created.

12. Click the browse button next to the Metadata settings location field to choose a storage location for the metadata configuration files.

    These configuration files control the metadata displayed in the Add Bathymetry, Edit Properties, Manage Collections, and Explore Bathymetry dialog boxes and windows, and are customizable. Be sure to select a storage location where all users of the BIS geodatabase have read and write access, such as a shared folder on a network. This will ensure that all BIS users are able to access the configuration files and see metadata field updates.

    Tip:

    If your BIS will be accessed from multiple machines on the network, all paths must follow standard UNC naming conventions, for example, \\NetworkPath\Path\Data.

    Note:

    The metadata settings location can only be set during the BIS creation process and cannot be changed once the BIS has been created.

    The Make this the active BIS check box is checked by default and disabled the first time you create a BIS geodatabase.

13. Click OK.

    The Preparing BIS Database progress dialog box appears. When the process successfully completes, a message appears saying that the BIS was created successfully.

14. Click OK to close the confirmation dialog box.

You now have a new BIS geodatabase for managing your bathymetry data.