Identifying which layer to use for a feature
When you want to manually create a military feature from a SIDC, you must determine which layer the feature should get added to. This topic describes how to determine the layer the feature should get added to based on its symbol identification code (SIDC).
While you can use any layer whose type (point, line, polygon) matches the type of the symbol, it is recommended that you use an existing layer in one of the Esri military feature layer packages available on ArcGIS.com. These packages contain rules to make symbols adhere to the military symbol specifications supported by ArcGIS. For example, the packages contain pre-defined label properties that give ArcGIS information such as where to position each type of label (text modifier) around the feature and which labels should be visible by default.
The positions of the SIDC you'll use most when determining which layer the symbol belongs to are:
- Coding scheme
- Standard identity
- Battle dimension/Category
The following image illustrates how positions 1 through 15 of the SIDC specify information about the feature.
Use the steps and tables that follow to choose the correct layer for the feature. For general information on why the layer type matters, see The relationship among maps, layers, and feature classes.
Step 1—Determine the part of the layer name that's based on coding scheme
The coding scheme value (the position 1 value) gives you part of the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages. For example, if the first character in your SIDC is an S, then you can determine from the table below that the correct layer name will include either the word "unit," "equipment," or "installation." Note that the Style file names column is not used in determining the layer name but is helpful if you are programming.
Position 1 value | Category in military symbology specifications | Part of the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages | ArcGIS layer type (geometry type) | Style file names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
S | Warfighting | Units, equipment, or installations Note: for features that have S in position 1 and G in position 3, use the position 5 value to get an additional part of the layer name. This additional part will tell whether the feature is a unit, a piece of equipment, or an installation based on the position 5 values of U, E, and I, respectively. | Point | C2 UEI Air Track.style C2 UEI Ground Track Equipment.style C2 UEI Ground Track Installations.style C2 UEI Ground Track Units.style C2 UEI Sea Surface Track.style C2 UEI Space Track.style C2 UEI Special Operations Track.style C2 UEI Subsurface Track.style |
G | Tactical graphics | Operations | Point, line, area | Military Operations.style |
W | METOC/weather (Meteorological and Oceanographic Symbology) | METOC Note: see step 4 below to acquire an additional part of the layer name. | Point, line, area | Military METOC.style |
I | Intelligence (Signals Intelligence) | SIGINT Note: You can determine a SIGINT feature's layer based on position 2 alone. | Point | Signals Intelligence.style |
O | Stability operations (SO) | Stability operations | Point, line, area | Stability Operations.style |
E | Emergency management symbols (EMS) | EMS | Point | Military Emergency Management.style |
Step 2—Determine the part of the layer name that's based on standard identity
For warfighting features, tactical graphics, and SIGINT features, the standard identity value (the position 2 value) gives you the affiliation part of the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages. For example, if the second character in your SIDC is an F, then you can determine from the table below that the correct layer name will include the word "Friendly" (it will have a friendly affiliation). Using the sample first character value of S from step 1 and reviewing the list of layers in the Esri military feature layer packages you have open (or if you don't have one open, look at the layer list at Opening military feature layer packages), you know that your feature belongs to one of the following layers:
- Friendly Units
- Friendly Equipment
- Friendly Installations
Position 2 value | Standard identity/exercise amplifying descriptor in military symbology specifications | Part of the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages |
|---|---|---|
U | Unknown | Unknown |
F | Friendly | Friendly |
H | Hostile | Hostile |
N | Neutral | Neutral |
P | Pending | Unknown |
A | Assumed Friend | Friendly |
S | Suspect | Hostile |
G | Exercise Pending | Unknown |
W | Exercise Unknown | Unknown |
M | Exercise Assumed Friend | Friendly |
L | Exercise Neutral | Neutral |
J * | Joker | |
K * | Faker |
*not supported
Step 3—Determine the layer name based on battle dimension or category
The position 3 value gives you part of the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages. For warfighting features, the value in position 3 represents battle dimension. For stability operations and EMS features, position 3 represents category.
Warfighting features
Warfighting features, as illustrated in step 1, have an S as the value in position 1. Most warfighting features belong in the applicable standard identity's equipment layer. Special operations forces (SOF) features, denoted by an F in position 3, go into a units type layer. If the position 3 value is a G for ground battle dimension, position 5 of the SIDC gives you the part of the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages.
For example, a feature with a SIDC that has:
- S in position 1, H in position 2, and A in position 3 goes into a Hostile Equipment layer.
- S in position 1, F in position 2, and F in position 3 goes into a Friendly Units layer.
- S in position 1, F in position 2, Gin position 3, and:
- U in position 5 goes into a Friendly Units layer.
- E in position 5 goes into a Friendly Equipment layer.
- I in position 5 goes into a Friendly Installations layer.
Position 3 value | Battle dimension in military symbology specifications | Part of the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages |
|---|---|---|
P | Space | Equipment |
A | Air | Equipment |
G | Ground | Unit, equipment, or installations |
S | Sea Surface | Equipment |
U | Sea subsurface | Equipment |
F | SOF | Unit |
X | Other | |
Z | Unknown |
Position 5 value | Part of the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages |
|---|---|
U | Units |
E | Equipment |
I | Installations |
Stability operations features
Stability operations features, as illustrated in step 1, have an O as the value in position 1. The category value (the position 3 value) gives you the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages.
Position 3 value | Category in military symbology specifications | Layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages |
|---|---|---|
V | Violent activities | Stability incidents |
L | Locations | Stability locations |
O | Operations | Stability operations |
I | Items | Stability locations |
P | Individual | Stability organizations |
G | Non-military group or organization | Stability organizations |
R | Rape | Stability incidents |
EMS features
EMS features, as illustrated in step 1, have an E as the value in position 1. The category value (the position 3 value) gives you the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages for most EMS types of features. Exceptions for the operations category, represented by an O in position 3, are listed in the table below.
Position 3 value | Category in military symbology specifications | Layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages |
|---|---|---|
I | Incident | EMS incidents |
N | Natural events | EMS natural events |
O | Operations | If H is in the 11th position of the SIDC, then the layer is EMS installations. If B is the last used position of the function ID portion of the SIDC, then the part of the layer name is EMS equipment. For all other EMS features with an O value in position 3, then the layer is EMS units. |
F | Infrastructure | EMS installations |
Step 4—If the coding scheme value is W, determine an additional part of the layer name
If the coding scheme value is W (for METOC), determine an additional part of the layer using the values in positions 11 through 13 of the SIDC, as described in the following table.
Positions 11-13 of the feature's SIDC | Part of the layer name used in Esri military feature layer packages |
|---|---|
P - - | Point |
- L - | Line |
- - A | Area |