Lab 14 - Interoperability with GEE - Exporting to ArcGIS Pro

Objective: Export Google Earth Engine data to Google Drive and import it into ArcGIS Pro for visualization.

What You'll Learn

  • Export raster data from Google Earth Engine to Google Drive
  • Understand GeoTIFF format and spatial metadata
  • Define an Area of Interest (AOI) for export
  • Import and visualize GEE exports in ArcGIS Pro
  • Create publication-quality maps from satellite data

Building On Previous Learning

This lab introduces a new skill - exporting data - that can be applied to any GEE analysis you've done in previous labs (classification maps, indices, composites, etc.).

Why This Matters

Interoperability between tools is essential for professional workflows:

  • Advanced analysis: Some analyses are easier in desktop GIS
  • Cartography: ArcGIS Pro has superior map layout tools
  • Integration: Combine GEE products with local data
  • Sharing: Not everyone has GEE access - exports can be shared

Before You Start

  • Prerequisites: Finish Lab 13 and ensure you have access to ArcGIS Pro or an equivalent GIS platform.
  • Estimated time: 60 minutes
  • Materials: Earth Engine account, ArcGIS Pro (or ArcGIS Online) credentials, and storage space on Google Drive.

Key Terms

GeoTIFF
A TIFF image format with embedded geographic metadata (projection, coordinates, etc.).
Export Task
A background process in GEE that writes data to Drive, Cloud Storage, or Assets.
AOI (Area of Interest)
A polygon defining the geographic extent of your export.
Scale/Resolution
The pixel size in meters for the exported image.

Introduction

This lab teaches you how to access GEE and its tools to collect and process remote sensing data, then export data from GEE and import it into ArcGIS Pro for further analysis and visualization.

By the end of the lab, you should be able to:

  1. Access Google Earth Engine and navigate the user interface
  2. Collect remote sensing data using GEE and apply basic processing techniques
  3. Export data from GEE in a format compatible with ArcGIS Pro
  4. Import and visualize the exported data in ArcGIS Pro
  5. Conduct basic spatial analysis using ArcGIS Pro tools

Step 1: Load the Hansen Forest Dataset

We'll use the Hansen et al. Global Forest dataset:

  1. Open your web browser and go to https://earthengine.google.com/
  2. Sign in and open the Code Editor
  3. Search for "Hansen Global Forest" in the data catalog
  4. Click Import, then rename the variable from 'image' to 'forest'
var forest = ee.Image("UMD/hansen/global_forest_change_2021_v1_9");

// Display the image on the map
Map.addLayer(forest, {}, 'Forest Cover');

Step 2: Define Your Area of Interest

Draw a geometry to define your export area:

  1. Zoom to your area (e.g., Gainesville, Florida)
  2. Use the rectangle tool to draw an AOI
  3. Rename your geometry to 'AOI' in the imports section

Warning: Large areas or high resolution exports will take up significant space on Google Drive!

Step 3: Export to Google Drive

Use the Export.image.toDrive() function:

// Export the image to Google Drive.
Export.image.toDrive({
  image: forest,
  description: 'HansenGNV',
  folder: 'GEE',
  region: AOI,
  scale: 30
});

Export Parameters:

  • image - The image to export
  • description - Name for the task and output file
  • folder - Folder in Google Drive (created if it doesn't exist)
  • region - The AOI geometry
  • scale - Output resolution in meters

Step 4: Run the Export Task

  1. Click Run - the Tasks tab will turn yellow
  2. Click on the task and click Run again in the dialog
  3. Monitor the status until complete (may take several minutes)
  4. Go to Google Drive and find your GeoTIFF in the GEE folder

Step 5: Import to ArcGIS Pro

  1. Download the GeoTIFF from Google Drive
  2. Open ArcGIS Pro and create a new project
  3. Add the GeoTIFF to your map (drag and drop or Add Data)
  4. Symbolize the loss year band with an appropriate color ramp
  5. Create a map layout and export as PDF

Check Your Understanding

  1. Why do we need to define a region for export instead of exporting the entire image?
  2. What happens if you set scale to 10 instead of 30? How would this affect file size?
  3. What geographic information is stored in a GeoTIFF that a regular TIFF doesn't have?
  4. Why might you export to Cloud Storage instead of Drive for very large areas?

Troubleshooting

Problem: Export task fails with "User memory limit exceeded"

Solution: Your AOI is too large or scale is too fine. Make the region smaller or increase the scale (e.g., 100m instead of 30m).

Problem: Can't find the file in Google Drive

Solution: Check that the task completed successfully. Look in the folder you specified, or search for the description name.

Problem: GeoTIFF doesn't align properly in ArcGIS Pro

Solution: Check the coordinate system. GEE exports in EPSG:4326 by default. You may need to project to match your other data.

Pro Tips

  • Export multiple bands: Use image.select(['band1', 'band2']) to export only the bands you need
  • Cloud Storage for big files: For exports over 10GB, use Export.image.toCloudStorage()
  • Batch exports: You can queue multiple export tasks at once
  • Check file size: Use a small test export first to estimate the final size

Key Takeaways

  • GEE data can be exported to GeoTIFF format for use in desktop GIS software
  • Define an AOI and appropriate scale to manage export size
  • Export tasks run in the background and save to Google Drive
  • GeoTIFFs retain spatial information for proper georeferencing in GIS

📋 Lab Submission

Subject: Lab 14 - Exporting to ArcGIS Pro - [Your Name]

Submit:

  1. URL to your GEE code (with comments)
  2. PDF map created in ArcGIS Pro showing the forest loss year visualization