Append

Append is a process that allows adding feature records, attribute information, or data records to the already existing target dataset in the GIS environment. This process is often used when there are several GIS datasets including the same kind of geographic information and requiring the maintenance as one layer. For example, it is possible to append roads network from various surveys into an already existing transportation dataset or to add the newly collected building footprints to the already existing building dataset. The key difference of the process from the operation creating the combined GIS layer is that the target layer is updated via insertion of the selected records and remains unchanged otherwise. GIS experts have an opportunity to use field mapping for controlling the attribute information transfer between the layers. Append process is widely used for GIS data integration, spatial database update, mapping, surveying, asset management, and geospatial data maintenance. To perform this process effectively, the input and target datasets need to be verified in advance for geometry compatibility, CRS, and attribute fields.