In Pro, a project is a body of related work that may include maps, scenes, layouts, and connections to resources such as system folders and databases. Project files have the extension “.aprx”. By default, a project is stored in its own folder along with an associated file geodatabase and toolbox (https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/get-started/get-started.htm).
A GeoEFM project is a Pro project that has accessed and can be synchronized with an EFM project to obtain information such as Flow Regime names and Relationship names. Information is passed from EFM to GeoEFM. Connections between the two software are done through the GeoEFM – Manage Project toolset. The Manage Project toolset has one tool called Synchronize with EFM Project, which can be started via a double-left-click or via the right-click Open menu option (Figure 8).
Figure 8. The Manage Project tool allows users to synchronize EFM and GeoEFM projects.
When the tool is started, an interface opens prompting the user to identify the desired EFM file. Clicking Run synchronizes the GeoEFM project with its associated EFM project (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Synchronizing an EFM project.
Three tables are created or updated. The FlowRegime table contains names and integer identifiers for Flow Regimes. The Relationship table contains names and integer identifiers for Relationships. The HabitatSuitabilityIndex table is used to store habitat suitability indices (HSIs) for application in the Reporting - HSI Calculator tool (Figure 10). These tables are stored in the project geodatabase and can be added to the map via a right-click add to map menu option. Subsequent Synchronize with EFM Project runs update flow regime and relationship information and do not update the indices table to assure integrity of manually added indices.
Figure 10. GeoEFM project tables.
In EFM, integer identifiers are assigned to flow regimes and relationships when those are first created. The integer does not change as the flow regime or relationship is renamed and is never reused over the life of the EFM project. With each subsequent Synchronize with EFM Project run, GeoEFM retrieves the latest saved version of those data from its associated EFM project. Any changes, including adding, renaming, or deleting flow regimes and relationships, must be performed and saved in EFM and then updated in GeoEFM by running the Synchronize with EFM Project tool.
The Synchronize with EFM Project tool also allows users to redirect a GeoEFM application to a different EFM project. This should be done with caution. Switching projects is intended to allow update of connections between GeoEFM and EFM where the EFM project has been either moved (to a new computer location) or renamed (to reflect a change in content or status). However, GeoEFM performs the “switch” according only to the integer identifiers of flow regimes and relationships and could lead to confusion such as legacy layers that are in the project but no longer relevant to any of the new flow regimes and relationships.