Creation of Feature Class (Shapefiles) in ArcGIS Pro

To create new vector entities such as points, lines, or polygons in ArcGIS Pro, begin by navigating to the “Analysis” tab. Within this tab, locate the “Geoprocessing” group and click on “Tools”. This opens the Geoprocessing panel, where various spatial operations can be performed.

Opening the “Tools” tool.

In the “Geoprocessing” panel, search for and open the “Create Feature Class” tool. This can be accessed via the following path: Geoprocessing > Toolboxes > Data Management Tools > Feature Class > Create Feature Class. The tool allows the user to define and generate new vector layers that will be used to digitize elements on a georeferenced image.

“Geoprocessing” panel (Toolboxes).

The interface of the “Create Feature Class” tool is consistent with other geoprocessing tools in ArcGIS Pro. Users are required to input the necessary data sources, configure parameters, and define the output location for the new feature class.

Configuring the “Create Feature Class” tool.

The fields in the “Create Feature Class” tool must be configured as follows:

• Feature Class Location: Select a geodatabase where the new vector layer will be stored. By default, this will be the project’s geodatabase. If the data is to be stored outside a geodatabase, a folder can be selected instead. In such cases, the resulting file will have a .shp extension, for example, road_network.shp.

• Feature Class Name: Assign a name to the new layer. It is best practice to avoid special characters or spaces in the name. Underscores (_) may be used to separate words.

• Geometry Type: Choose the type of geometry the layer will store: point, line, or polygon. This selection should correspond to the type of feature being created.

• Coordinate System: Click the globe icon to set the reference system. For example, select: Projected Coordinate Systems > UTM > WGS 1984 > Southern Hemisphere > WGS 1984 UTM Zone 17S.

• OID Type, Has M, Has Z, Feature Class Alias: These settings can be left at their default values unless specific customization is required.

• Run: After configuring all parameters, click the “Run” button to execute the process and create the new vector layer.

Practice: As an exercise, create vector layers of each geometry type—points, lines, and polygons—using the “Create Feature Class” tool and the “WGS 1984 UTM Zone 17S” coordinate system, as indicated in the specifications provided in Table 1.

Table 1. List of vector layers.

Each generated vector layer will display an icon representing its geometry type (point, line, or polygon). These icons can be seen in the “Contents” panel, allowing easy identification and management of layers.

Example of vector layers represented in the Contents panel according to geometry type.