In ArcGIS, geographic information is displayed on a map as layers. Each layer represents a particular type of feature such as streams, lakes, or highways. A layer doesn't store the actual geographic data; instead, it references the data contained in coverages, shapefiles, geodatabases An object-oriented geographic database that provides services for managing geographic data. These services include validation rules, relationships, and topological associations. A geodatabase contains feature datasets and is hosted inside of a relational database management system. (See also: personal geodatabase)., CAD files, images, grids, and so on. ArcMap allows you to reference data via relative paths in your map. It does this by storing the pathname to the data in the map. Referencing data in this way allows the layers on a map to automatically reflect the most up-to-date information in your GIS database.
A layer is a term for how a data set is displayed in ArcMap. Scenario 360 allows you to select additional datasets (e.g. photos, lookup tables, census data, models, and other non-geographic data) from which to create layers, and allows you to examine properties of the attributes contained in each dataset.
Data in Scenario 360 is accessed via the data icon in the 360 Setup tab Work Flow view, or can be viewed from the Tree view Data folder.
Data layers in Scenario 360 can be designated as dynamic
or not (a dynamic layer is one that contains dynamic attributes A dynamic attribute is an attribute that is automatically updated as
changes are made in the analysis. For example, a proposed road layer may
contain dynamic attributes for length, pavement type, intersecting slopes,
and construction costs. As each new road segment is added or modified,
each of these dynamic attributes will be updated automatically. A formula
is associated with each dynamic attribute that specifies how the attribute
is calculated.).
You can
distinguish dynamic layers from non-dynamic layers in the ArcMap™ table of
contents by the bright outline of the checkbox next to the data layer name.
See also: What is the difference between an analysis, a scenario, and a layer?