Intro to GIS Final Project

     For the final project we were tasked to analyze a transmission line corridor's impact on environmentally sensitive lands, homes and schools in a designated study area. The study area was located on the boundary between Manatee and Sarasota county. I created four maps for this analysis, and presented my findings in a PowerPoint.

 

    This project allowed me to use all my learned skills throughout the course in order to perform the required spatial analyses. The Impacted Environmental Lands map was my favorite map to create. For the Transmission Line Cost Estimation map I had to use a polygon to centerline tool, downloaded from ArcGIS online. This tool was uploaded by a user named Tom Dilts: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=bc642731870740aabf48134f90aa6165

    Please find a link to my presentation here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jgLwl0tym7bjI8W5RR-BfZ472R5AALh9zbVfqSH2ehw/edit?usp=sharing

    And the presentation transcript can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15FWo02JNjfzref6RCZGIiLW24ePQ772N/view?usp=sharing

Module 6 - Georeferencing

     This week's module taught me how to transform a raster image to a spatial reference system in ArcGIS. An aerial image of the UWF main campus was georeferenced using control points. The lab instruction's tip of spreading the control points throughout the map was very useful, and I found that 6 to 10 control points worked best.

    We were required to make an inset map of the eagle nest buffer area near the UWF main campus. In order to provide more location detail, I also made an Escambia County inset map. I enjoyed my time with this lab. Seeing the aerial imagery morph into the proper spatial reference system as I added more control points was satisfying.

Module 5 - Geocoding

     This week's module taught me how to perform geocoding via address matching. I had to create a map of schools within Manatee County, sourced from a list on the Florida Department of Education's website. I copy and pasted this list into an Excel sheet. This dataset of schools and addresses needed some cleaning, which I enjoyed learning how to do.

    Some of the addresses were PO Boxes or out of county mailing addresses, which required manual address matching. This step reminded me of my time in the FLDEP's Hazardous Waste Program, where I used to have to verify hazardous waste generators' physical locations through Google Maps.

    Find a link to my online map here at the University of West Florida's ArcGIS Online website.

Module 4: Vector Analysis

     This week's module taught me how to perform spatial queries through a flood zone risk assessment simulation. I also created a map by using variable buffers to determine campsites that met multiple criteria.

    These campsites are areas that were within the road and water buffers. I also had to take conservation areas into consideration, and for that I used the Erase tool to exclude these conservation areas from the potential campsites. I chose a red to yellow scale for the campsite areas, highlighting the largest in red. The campsite's actual location was initially unknown to me, but by adding a base map and zooming out, I was able to determine that this campsite is located within the State of Mississippi. I sourced the state's county borders map from MARIS at maris.mississippi.edu and used it for the inset map.

Module 3 - Projections and Data Collection

    For this week's module I compared how different projections can cause the calculated area of created maps to differ. A map was created for the Albers, UTM 16 N and the State Plane N projected coordinate systems. With these maps I compared the areas of select Florida counties.

    I found that the larger the county's area, the greater the differences between the projections are. Of the four selected counties, Miami-Dade showed the greatest amount of difference. This week's module also involved field data collection.

    I chose to catalog the condition of fire hydrants in my neighborhood, and was surprised at how user-friendly the ArcGIS Field Maps App is. I encountered no issues during my data collecting, and I understand how the app would be useful in the field due to its portability and its utility. The offline sync option seems to be especially useful for data collection in post-disaster areas or other areas with poor phone service.

Module 2 - Cartography

    This module had us create a UWF Main Campus location map. This module taught me what the essential map elements are and how to examine GIS metadata.

 

    I placed the essential map elements near the borders of the map as to not draw too much attention to them. I was able to use dynamic text to insert the prepared date. UWF is highlighted in red in the main map, and Escambia County is highlighted in the inset map. I chose this contrasting color to emphasize their relevance.

    We were asked to find the extent of Escambia in degrees, and I was initially unable to get the software to switch its display units. By changing the Output Coordinate System to NAD83 Florida GDL Albers from Albers Conical Equal Area (FGDL) and then changing the display units to decimal degrees I was then able to obtain the degree values of Escambia's extent.

 

    I enjoyed the map creation process and I am looking forward to making more as I improve my cartographic skills.