Graphic modifiers for military features
In ArcGIS, graphic modifiers (echelon, task force, headquarters, and so on) can be applied to UEI features (unit, equipment, and installation features). Graphic modifiers are represented using marker symbols added to the base symbol as additional symbol layers. The military symbology styles that come with ArcGIS contain the base symbols and graphic modifiers needed to create the symbols in the MIL-STD-2525C and APP-6B standards. ArcGIS also comes with other style files and fonts that can be used to construct additional symbols. You add marker symbols to the base symbol by adding symbol layers in the Symbol Property Editor.
Here are some examples of the way you can combine base symbols with one or more graphic modifier symbol layers to create UEI feature symbols.
Task Force, Headquarters, Feint, and Echelon graphic modifiers are examples of modifiers that would frequently be added to a base symbol as part of defining a new UEI feature template.
According to the MIL-STD-2525C specification, unit symbols consist of a frame, a color, branch or functional symbols, and text or graphic symbol modifiers.This section describes how the graphic components of these symbols are put together in ArcGIS.
Field Title | Description |
|---|---|
Symbol | Basic branch or functional symbol that can include capability modifiers. |
Echelon | A symbol modifier that denotes the size of a unit. |
Task Force | A symbol placed over the echelon indicator to denote a task organized unit. |
Direction of Movement Arrow/Offset Locator | With arrow, it denotes the direction symbol is moving or will move. Without arrow, it is used to denote precise location or to declutter, except headquarters. |
Headquarters Staff Indicator/Offset Location Indicator | Identifies unit symbol as a headquarters or used to indicate precise location or to declutter. |
Feint/Dummy Indicator | Indicates that it is a dummy or a feint for deception purposes. |
The style files for military features contain symbols that combine the frame and color, as well as many branch or functional symbols to create base symbols. They also contain additional symbols for the various graphic modifiers. Note: the text modifiers are added in a separate process, as they are labels based on individual feature attributes. For instructions on how to add text modifiers, see Text modifiers.
In MIL-STD-2525C terms, the status and details of a tactical symbol can be conveyed using various frame patterns or additional graphic elements. A dashed frame indicates Pending, Assumed, or Suspected status.
Graphic elements such as frame patterns like these can be applied to ArcGIS UEI features by adding layers with corresponding marker symbols to the base symbol. For example, a dashed frame can be applied to an ArcGIS infantry platoon feature using the ArcGIS Assumed/Planned marker symbol, as shown in the following illustration.
When adding symbols to a base, be aware that the symbols draw in order from the bottom to the top of the stack of symbol layers.
A symbol can be modified to indicate that a given UEI feature is part of an exercise.
The same process would be used to indicate that a unit is a Feint or that equipment is a Dummy.
Equipment symbols can be given an Operational Condition modifier to indicate the status of the equipment. Add a new layer to the equipment symbol, and search for "operational condition." Choose an appropriate condition modifier and click OK.
The following example illustrates the process of adding graphic modifiers to a base symbol in order to create a military symbol with a specific meaning. We will create a new military feature to represent a friendly wheeled armored infantry battalion with gun systems. A base point marker symbol that already contains the frame, color, and identity will be selected, then augmented by the addition of graphic modifier point marker symbol layers.
In the next part we'll walk through the process for constructing a symbol with graphic modifiers in ArcMap. We'll create a new feature template, select a base symbol, add new symbol layers for graphic modifiers, copy/paste symbol layers, and adjust the position of graphic modifiers.
- Right-click the layer (in this example, Friendly Units), click Edit Features, and click Define New Types Of Features.
- In the Define New Feature Type dialog box, click Change Symbol.
- Type a search term, in this example, "mechanized infantry," and press Enter or click the Search button. Click the symbol that will serve as the base for your new friendly unit symbol, and click Edit Symbol.
- To add a modifier, click the Import Symbols button.
- Type a search term, in this example, “modifiers,” and press Enter or click the Search button. This shows all of the graphic modifiers. Scroll to the correct modifier, click it, and click OK. The graphic modifier is added as a new layer in the Symbol Property Editor. However, it may not be in the exact position you want.
- To change the graphic modifier's position, click the up/down arrows to change the X and Y offsets of the new symbol layer to move it into the right position.
- Click Copy, then click Paste. A copy of the graphic modifier is added. Click a new symbol for the new graphic modifier – in this case the vertical bar. Adjust the symbol size and X and Y offsets as necessary to put the graphic modifier in the right place.
- The next step is to add the Echelon graphic modifier, in this example, for a battalion. To add the battalion modifier, you can either use the process you used in step 7, or you can click the Import Symbols button and search for “battalion,” click the symbol, and click OK.
- When the symbol is completed in the Symbol Property Editor, click OK.
- Click OK on the Symbol Selector dialog box.
- Update the Name and Description for the symbol, then click OK.
