For a project I'm working for in class, (we're doing the project on a species count), I have intersected two .shp files. I've taken the resulting file and performed a Dissolve with "SUM" selected.
Now in file's Table, I have data for three polygons in two columns "SUM_species_AREA" and "Shape_Area".
Polygon 1 (which has the least data/ smallest poly) has a slightly smaller value in the "Shape_Area" column
Polygon 2 (which has a med. sized amount of data/ med. sized poly) has a little bit larger value in the "SUM_species_AREA" column
Polygon 3 (which has the most data/ a huge polygon) has a much larger value in it's "SUM_species_AREA" column.
We're asked which value is the most accuate ( either "SUM_species_AREA" or "Shape_Area") and why?
I can't figure out why there are different values and which one is most accurate. How can I find out this information?
Thank you much for your reply.
Now in file's Table, I have data for three polygons in two columns "SUM_species_AREA" and "Shape_Area".
Polygon 1 (which has the least data/ smallest poly) has a slightly smaller value in the "Shape_Area" column
Polygon 2 (which has a med. sized amount of data/ med. sized poly) has a little bit larger value in the "SUM_species_AREA" column
Polygon 3 (which has the most data/ a huge polygon) has a much larger value in it's "SUM_species_AREA" column.
We're asked which value is the most accuate ( either "SUM_species_AREA" or "Shape_Area") and why?
I can't figure out why there are different values and which one is most accurate. How can I find out this information?
Thank you much for your reply.