Final Project: GIS4043

The Final Project for GIS 4043, Geographic Information Systems, was a huge task of analyzing the FPL Bobwhite Manatee Transmission Line Project.  The goals of the Final are to allow and encourage all of us to show off the GIS skills we have learned this semester. It was a great experience and I am looking forward to learning more next semester.

This is a real project that took place in Manatee and Sarasota counties beginning in early 2006; in fact FPL was probably already thinking about how to expand their capabilities in these counties long before the letters and updates were published. The Final Project is set in 2009; FPL has hired me as a GIS Consultant (Raven Consulting - I had to have this name) to conduct an analysis of the Preferred Corridor in relation to various criteria. The criteria I examined are:

1. Parcels or Homes Impacted by Corridor
2. Schools and Daycare Facilities 
3. Conservation Lands Impacted
4. Cost

The task was not an easy one, but I must say I did have fun with it. I used various Geoprocessing tools, such as Buffer, Clip and Intersect. I downloaded layers for Schools, Daycares, Conservation Lands and County Boundaries. I created an Empty Point Shape File and used Aerials - several DOQQs - to Digitize homes and other structures to satisfy the home count by digitizing them using the Edit feature. The aerials were particularly challenging as the more I zoomed in the more blurry the image got due to the cells merging so that I could not tell what I was looking at.

Here is my final maps: basemap, aerials, and Final with the Corridor and Buffer zones. I also provided the links to my presentation and slide comments.


 
           Gil Castillo Raven Consulting Final Project PDF

           Gil Castillo Raven Consulting Slide Comments

Georeferencing, Editing and ArcScene

This lab exercise was more challenging in some ways but certainly more fun than others.  We took on the task of Georeferencing, Editing and learning more about ArcScene.

Georeferencing is a process to tell a raster dataset (in our case two raster datasets- aerial photographs- of the UWF Campus) where they belong in space-- giving the aerial images a spatial reference.  The steps to do this are pretty straight forward though there are a few items to emphasize here:

1. When you create a Link, always click on the unknown raster image first, then click on the known or referenced data.
2. You must consider the overall image, not just the RMS (root mean square) of the map;
Having the lowest possible RMS and highest order polynomial is not always best-- at higher ordinals, the image may bend and distort.
3.  Zooming to a link point on a raster image is an art: I learned that you can zoom too close and the image just blurs and makes it impossible to accurately find the corner you were looking for. Therefore, knowing what "looks right" is an art.

As for the Editing portion of this Lab, I learned we can create and edit several kinds of data.  This includes points, lines, polygons, and text. We experimented with editing a UWF road (line) and a building (polygon),that represented the new gymnasium on UWF. In this lab we digitized this data on the UWF Campus. One important lesson with Editing is to Save your work.  I think saving your work is always important, but in Editing for ArcMap, your edits are not automatically saved and you would lose your data (edits) even if you saved your map and closed it. This almost happened to me, but it was a great learning opportunity.

ArcGIS Resources has some great information about Editing. I particularly enjoyed:
Fundamentals of Georeferencing a Raster Dataset: Should you rectify your raster? 
A good read with loads of useful information. Below is a look at my first map:

Finally, ArcScene was a blast! The most challenging part was using the Navigate function:

Navigate: This is the standard navigation tool. Click and hold the left mouse button to rotate the view, click and hold the mouse wheel to pan, and spin the mouse wheel to zoom in or out.

Sounds simple, right? I thought so too, but it was quite a challenge. My computer lagged and I never seemed to get to the view or the point I was aiming for.  Guess I need a new computer....wait...I did buy a new computer a couple of days ago. My first new computer since...well, I won't say....it's really been a long time.

Anyway, back to ArcScene;
Using the UWF_DEM (digital elevation model) to add texture and depth to my map was excellent. I very much enjoyed using the Extrusion capability and then adding a Vertical Exaggeration to really pump up the 3D effects. Below is the image of my ArcScene before I added the essential map elements:

So, overall this lab was quite informative albeit, frustrating due to the slow connection and my outdated PC. However, now I have a new, faster PC,,,so no excuses...Let's Make A Map! Below is my final ArcScene Map.

Network Analysis, Geocoding & Model Builder

What a very long week! This week was dedicated to describing the various types of analyses that can be performed on transportation networks, including identifying the optimum route, identifying an EMS service facility, and location-allocation modeling. Finally, we studied geometric network analysis with an emphasis on stream network analysis, including determining flow direction, tracing edges and junctions upstream or downstream. The Lab also included learning about ModelBuilder.  The objectives for the lecture were:

- Define geocoding
- Identify common types of geocoding techniques
- Define network
- Differentiate between direct and indirect network models
- Recall tools used for utility network vs. a natural network analysis
- Define network cost and be able to provide relevant attributes
- Identify network elements for directed and undirected networks
- Define route
- Recall where to locate a National Hydrography Dataset for analysis

And the objectives for the Lab:

- Create an address locator
- Conduct geocoding by address matching
- Match unmatched addresses
- Determine why a particular address does not match
- Enable the Network Analyst extension
- Create a new route analysis layer
- Adjust Network Analyst options
- Add various stops to be visited by a route
- Set parameters for analysis
- Compute the optimal route for your stops
- Save your route
- Understand a simple model and elements available in ModelBuilder
- Understand how models can facilitate your analysis operations and workflows
- Recognize some of the model Environment setting parameters available
- Open and edit a model in ArcGIS's ModelBuilder
- Analyze data created by a model

For my map of Lake County, I created an Address Locator and identified three addresses near an EMS station. I plotted the route and labeled the addresses so that they would show up on my map. After "losing my TOC" several times, I realized that I had to click on the "Windows" icon on the Main Toolbar and click on Table of Contents, to make my TOC reappear. It was quite frustrating when, for no apparent reason, my TOC vanished. At least I was able to find it quickly. I also had to re-accomplish my Route because I could not get the addresses to display the first time. After removing and re-accomplishing the Route, I was able to get the addresses to display on my map by selecting "Stops" and "Label Features."  This was a very long Lab exercise, but I learned a great deal in accomplishing this one.

  

Vector Analysis: How to Find a Good Campsite

Another fantastic week! Can't believe I am so close to finishing GIS4043. Not that I am happy to be done, but I am happy I made it this far.  This week, we continued our examination of Spatial Analysis of Vector and Raster Data.  The specific objectives were:

- Define and use two of the most common modeling tools in ArcGIS: buffer and overlay
- Use the Dissolve tool to merge overlapping borders of buffer zones
- Create a script in ArcPy to run the buffer tool
- Analyze vector data using spatial queries
- Create a simple buffer around vector features
- Create a variable distance buffer around polygon features
- Identify the 6 overlay operations available and recall when to use each
- Use the overlay modeling tool to combine or exclude multiple features
- Distinguish between multipart and singlepart layers and convert between the two
- Quantify and explain the difference between results derived from buffer and overlay operations

Wow! That seems like a lot to do and believe me, it was. The main objective was to become familiar with Analysis Tools and ArcPython. The ArcToolBox is full of great items to use, though some are difficult or tedious to find when you've never used them before. As was my case. I learned to use the Search Icon often. This helped me tremendously and probably saved me countless hours of searching for the right tool. Kind of how I am in the garage.  Anyway, I used the Buffer tool to create zones (buffers) around Lakes, Rivers and Roads to ultimately find a suitable campsite somewhere in The DeSoto National Forest.  The criteria for the campsite was:

- Within 300 meters of a Road
- Within 150 meters of a Lake
- Within 500 meters of a River and
- Outside the Conservation areas

Additionally, I learned how to use the Multipart to Singlepart tool-- this one was definitely hard to find and I couldn't have done that without the Search Icon.

As for the ArcPython, it's a good thing I am familiar with Python from my website development study of Drupal. The most challenging part for me was to ensure I had the code syntax correct. Sure enough, I forgot the "close parenthesis" on one of my scripts and it just blew up in my face.  But, I did catch my omission and the code ran smoothly afterward.

Below is my final map.

GIS4043: Journey to Find Data

This was a mammoth task in hunting for Data! I have survived week 7 and week 8 as this was an extended Lab for the Mid-Term interrogation.

Our task was to find data for an assigned county in Florida (mine is Charlotte county) and create a map (up to three maps) that depict five vector layers, two environmental layers, and two raster layers. This seems like a lot a data to me. The specific learning objectives are:

• Review and record metadata for data coming from multiple sources
• Select GIS data that meets the needs of a defined project (scale, attributes, geographic extent, time    sensitive, software being used or required format)
• Download data from online sources
• Practice data management of GIS data coming from multiple sources
• Detect and correct data errors for use in a GIS
• Intelligently select a geographic projection to be used in a defined project
• Detect and correct geographic projection issues
• Reproject data from Albers to UTM
• Utilize select by location and clip tools in ArcGIS to isolate a study area
• View selected records and create a new map layer from selected feature
• Create easy to interpret maps presenting multiple downloaded data layers using ArcGIS

I acquired most of my data from FGDL and one file from LABINS. The files I selected were:

o   cities_feb04 (cities & towns)

o   countyshore_areas_jul11 (County boundary)

o   fdot_localnames_jan15 (major roads)

o   fnaiip_jun10 (Environmental 1: Invasive Plants)

o   gc_parks_aug14 (Public Land: Parks)

o   nhd24waterbody_dec12 (Surface Water)

o   rarimpwaters_2013 (Environmental 2: Strategic Habitat)

o   ned08 (Raster1: DEM)

o   q2417nw.jp2  (Raster2: DOQQ) Acquired from LABINS

The above data search took a very long time-- good thing we had two weeks to conclude this task. Sorting through FGDL to find data such as Parks, Roads, Surface Water, etc. was a challenge by itself. Initially, I placed all the Data Frames on one map; however, as I viewed the requirement to not exceed 3 maps, I was concerned that 3 data frames plus an inset map would actually be 4 maps. I learned a great lesson here: Data Frames are not maps-- by themselves. I was still somewhat confused because we call an Inset Map a Map-- presumably the Inset Map is in reference to another, perhaps more detailed Map? That sounds like two maps to me. But alas, these are data frames that make up "the map." So, I divided my data frames into two maps: 

Map 1:  I sized the county clip to 1: 400,000.  This was much better than the original size I had to use when all the data frames were on one sheet (one map). Surface water was a problem as there was so much of it. I used a lighter blue. Transparency and turned off the OUTLINE. This presented a much better image.

MAP 2: For the second map, DEM and DOQQ, I was not satisfied that the aerial photo was so small against the county DEM; I needed to use an inset (map). In order to better see the detail in the aerial, I used a 1: 100000 scale and used the county clip behind it with a very light green to help highlight and pop-out features. By enlarging the DEM to a scale of 1:400000, like the first map, you can better see and appreciate the elevation change over the county.  I also added a text box explaining a little about the Orthoimage; how it is presented and what it shows. Finally, I changed the DOQQ Legend to say Vegetation- Soils – Water, instead of, Red- Green- Blue.

GIS4043- Projections Part II

What a week! This week we had a jumbo size lab that included last week's learning objectives and a new process using Excel.  The objectives were as follows:

- Explore and download aerials, topographic quadrangles, shapefiles and tabular xy data from two different online data sources for Florida
- Identify .sid and .swd files
- Define a spatial reference for an unknown data set
- Reproject GIS data to a common coordinate system and projection
- Recall the difference between defining and projecting a file
- Convert coordinates to decimal degrees in Excel
- View map scale, cursor coordinates and bing aerial basemap as a reference to determine if the defined projection is correct
- Identify UTM and state plane zones for a specific area
- Decipher Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code
- Create x,y data using Microsoft Excel and import to ArcGIS
- Identify workable Excel file formats for ArcGIS
- Locate important accuracy information regarding GIS/GPS data
- Determine if retaining the “seconds” measurement in a dataset is appropriate based on the accuracy of the data
- Relate coordinate values to the appropriate earth hemisphere and double check calculations make geographical sense
- Generate a map displaying aerials, topographic quads, shapefiles and tabular xy data


I feel like I've just gone 10 rounds with "Sugar Ray" (for those not aware, he was a World Champion boxer, not MMA-type, in the 1980s). Basically, the goal of this week's Lab was to Download-Define-"Re" Project data to make a nifty map. It was a tremendous amount of work...and I didn't even get paid for this!

Here's what I did:

-I Practiced Downloading Data and Defining Projections
-- I learned what a DOQQ was--Digital Orthographic Quarter-Quad--
--I was very confused with the instructions about the website: http://www.labins.org/
Turns out Labins has updated their website and "things are different now..."
No problem, I found what I needed and pressed on..all is good
I also, spent a bunch of time, Defining the Spatial Reference...but I had forgot about the Hammer, I mean , tool "Project" from the ArcToolBox.  I re-found this and had a blast!
I downloaded some Topographic data and learned the definition of "Collars Removed."

Next. I downloaded the vector data, County Boundary, and Major Roads.  But, the most fun was working with an Excel Spreadsheet.  I got to convert Degree-Minutes-Seconds data into Decimal Degrees.  Not too difficult once you know the formula (I hear I will have to do this often in my GIS future--isn't there a program that does this for you?) I am so looking forward to a "future" in GIS!!

All in all a great, but very long, Lab.  Below is my Map.  I would say a Work of Art but I might be biased...

GIS4043: Projections Part I

This week in GIS4043, we learned about Georeferencing and:

-Coordinate Systems- How to Project an Image- How to Calculate Field Geometry
- And How to create a layer from a selection

We also learned that the ability to accurately locate geographic features is critical in both mapping and GIS, such as in the case of a responding emergency vehicle to your exact location-- don't be late, please.

The Lab exercise involved making three maps using different projection systems: Albers Conical Equal Area, Lambert Conformal Conic and Universal Transverse Mercator. We used the Project tool in ArcGIS to reproject a data layer. Trying to remember where all the Tools are is still a challenge for me. But, thank goodness I don't have to recall their precise location, on the Main Toolbar, under the ArcToolbox icon, down to the Data Management smaller toolbox, down once again to the toolbox tray known as Projections and Transformations and finally, all the way to the end to the hammer, I mean tool, Project. I can always review all the tools and icons as I am searching for the right tool for the job. Eventually, after many more maps and Labs, I will instinctively know where everything is located or how to find whatever I need.  

I also learned that a ".prj" file is projection information associated with GIS data files. Interesting...more file extensions to recognize and catalog.

I had fun with this map but some of the challenges included setting one scale to fit all three maps and making a Legend using Excel (Insert>Object, then select Excel from the list). I elected to use a number system to identify the counties we were interested in, instead of using color for each county. I wanted to highlight the area differences even though they were minor for the most part. By only numbering one map with the counties, I hoped to focus the users attention here so they would use the center map (Albers Conical Equal Area) to compare the other two maps.

GIS4043: Let's Do Some Sharing

The objectives for Lab 4, "ArcGIS Online and Map Packages",GIS 4043 were:

• Add ArcGIS Online basemaps and data from ArcMap
• Use the Search tool in ArcMap to locate ArcGIS Online data
• Create group layers
• Display layers at certain scales
• Create a custom map package
• Recall when to create a map package or a tile package
• Troubleshoot map package errors
• Share a map package on the web

The main purpose of this week's Lab was to become familiar with ArcGIS Online and sharing web maps, so that's what I did. Once again this was a fun exercise where I learned there are many ways to share your map creations via ArcGIS Online. But first, I had to create my ArcGIS Online account. A straight forward operation that was only slightly confusing until I realized I had access to both ESRI Traing and an ArcGIS online account. After signing up, I loaded up with a couple of Training modules (Creating and Sharing GIS Content Using ArcGIS Online and Creating and Sharing Map Packages in ArcGIS ) to complete this week's lab.I also had the opportunity to learn about and use an ESRI course code. I hope there will be many more course codes for us down the road and I look forward to any FREE webinars or other ESRI training.

Working with ArcGIS Online was not much different from using the ArcGIS Desktop that we have previously been using. In fact, I am hard-pressed to cite significant differences other than I was able to select "Share" online. In the process to create my map I added a description, tags and credits before "Sharing" but I learned that you could select the map and Un-Share from the My Content view and then add additional information or just not Share the map when creating it and then edit the information from the My Content view.  After completing my map, I used the “Share” option to make my map "Public." I selected "Everyone", however, it is nice to know that you can limit who you want to share maps with. You can also use the option to Share via a “Link” or on Social Media (Facebook or Twitter). After I selected who to Share with, I published the map; I then went from http://training.esri.com/Gateway/index.cfm?fa=mytraining.myVCTraining to “My Content” at: https://www.arcgis.com/home/?_ga=1.15126454.1604739125.1422720139 to view the map I had published. Initially, the map was not actually “Shared” with everyone as I thought it would be. I had to select “Share” again after opening the map in My Content. I used this procedure for both maps and I used the “Verify” to ensure my data was correct. All in all this was a great experience!

This week's Lab for GIS4043 was long and quite involved. We were charged to create and deliver not one, but three separate maps. We had to create and alter the symbology of our maps, utilize ArcCatalog, review elements of raster pyramids and compare and contrast raster and vector data files. The maps we were working with involved Latin America and more specifically, Mexico. We made one map depicting Population, another which depicted the Transportation systems of Mexico including, rivers, roads and rail lines. But my favorite map was the DEM (digital elevation model) of Mexico. Because the layer mex_elev, is a  raster file, the symbology properties look different. The selection of color ramps seemed endless but of course some colors make more sense than others, especially when referencing the, “Using Color in Maps (Georgina Strode, FSU Geography Department). The symbology below is interesting to me because the colors convey information and provide subtle hints regarding the terrain even if there wasn’t a Legend to tell you the values. I found this exercise very intriguing and I look forward to creating more DEM maps.

Make the Map Your Own GIS4034

This week's lab was quite an experience in creativity. For me, I learned that there are a ton of Resources available besides the commonly used tools in ArcGIS (still exploring those too). This lab allowed me to explore and use many features of ArcGIS, such as Insert, Neatline, Data Frame and Clip to Shape, but I know there are many more items I still need to master. I also did some exploration regarding Metadata, "data about other data",  but I think I need to review this area again. Finally, I learned about relative paths and absolute paths in map files. Below is my map for week 2 GIS4043.

I made a map!

Week 1 for GIS4043 was great! The Lab exercise was very useful in orienting me to ArcMap! Much more to learn, but this was a great start.