Lab 5: Vector Geoprocessing

Goals and Background:

The purpose of this lab was to give me practice selecting and applying appropriate vector geo-processing tools as well as to allow me to try my hand at python scripting in the second section. It also was a chance to see how I could use arcmap tools in order to achieve project goals, so that I could start thinking about my final project and how I would utilize the arcmap toolset in order to answer a spatial question.

Methods:

Part 1:
The first part of the lab had me using a series of criteria to narrow down land that would be acceptable bear habitat for the DNR. I converted a GPS file into a point feature class. Then used that feature class to determine the habitat that bears were most likely to inhabit. Finding those habitats across the study area, I used the intersect, Buffer, Dissolve and Erase tools from the tool bar's geo-processing overlay and extract subsets in order to create new feature classes which showed me the areas that met the new criteria. I created layers to meet the following criteria using the above tools: land with proper cover (select by attribute and intersect), within 500 m of a stream (Buffer, Dissolve, Intersect), on DNR managed lands (Dissolve, Intersect), and 5 Km away from built up and developed land (Buffer, Erase). After I completed this, I was left with a map of land that met the criteria and was therefore a candidate for becoming bear habitat. This map can be found in Fig 1 in the results section.

Part 2:
The second part of the lab served as an introduction to python scripting. I was tasked with using Python scripting to complete two tasks. First to create a map of lakes with a potential to house a resort. Secondly to map out air pollution potential based on a map of interstates in Wisconsin. For the first project I used the Buffer_analysis, Clip_analysis, SelectLayerByAttribute_management and CopyFeatures_management commands in the arcmap python command line to buffer lakes an appropriate distance from cities,  and find lakes of an appropriate size then create a new feature class for them. Finally, I clipped the two features to create a map of the Lakes that could be used as a resort lake. That map can be found in the results section below, in fig 2.
Additionally, I utilized a simple python command for MultipleRingBuffer in order to create 6 different 1 mile wide rings around the Wisconsin interstate map I was given in order to display the potential for air pollution based on distance from the highway. That map can be seen in fig 3 of the results section.

Results:

Part 1:

Fig 1: Results of Suitable bear habitat search

Part 2:

Fig 2: Results of Search for Resort Lakes

Fig 3: Air Pollution Risk indication of Wisconsin Land

Citations:
Data: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Accessed by Dr. Wilson

Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri), Accessed by Dr. Wilson

Thanks to Dr. Wilson for providing data for the lab.

Lab 4: Multiple Criteria Query

Goals and Background: The Purpose of this lab was to acquaint me with determining and using complex spatial and attribute queries. This was done in four parts: 1st to acclimate me to attribute queries, with multiple criteria, using three separate queries. 2nd to acclimate me to mixed spatial and attribute queries, using one example query. 3rd, and finally, to use a multiple criteria spatial query.

Methods: To accomplish the tasks set out in this lab I utilized the select by attribute and select by spatial relationship functions in Arc Map. I first had to determine what the question I was given was looking for, and how to show it in a query format. After determining what the query wanted me to find, I used Boolean Operators to create a query that would result in the proper data being selected. After selecting the data I set about creating a cartographically pleasing map of each query results. The queries, and the resulting maps can be found in the results section below.

Results:

Fig 1: Multiple Criteria Attribute Query

Fig 2: Resulting Map of Features Selected by Query

 

Fig 3: Multiple Criteria Attribute Query

 

Fig 4: Resulting Map

Fig 5: Multiple Criteria Attribute Query

Fig 6: Resulting Map

Fig 7: Multiple Criteria Spatial and Attribute Query

Fig 8: Resulting Map

Fig 9: Multiple Criteria Spatial Query

Fig 10: Resulting map

Sources:
Data: Price, M, (1963), Mastering ArcGIS--Sixth Edition Database
Data Additionally Provided by Dr Cyrril Wilson.