Final Lab Project:Bobwhite-Manatee Transmission Line

The final project was to analyze the Bobwhite-Manatee Transmission Line. The four objectives were to identify and quantify the environmentally sensitive lands, digitize the homes within proximity to the corridor, quantify the schools and daycares within proximity to the corridor, and calculate the length of the proposed corridor.

For the first objective, I used the "intersect" tool to see what wetlands and conservation lands intersect the proposed corridor.

The second objective involved digitizing homes in the corridor and a 400ft buffer that was created using the "buffer" tool. I also identified parcels with the corridor and 400ft buffer. To digitize the homes, I created a new feature class and created points to represent the homes as I analyzed the aerial imagery.

For objective three , I cleaned up raw data regarding school addresses in Excel. I pulled the daycare data from FDGL. After this, I created an address locator to begin the process of geocoding. For the unmatched addresses, I referred to Google Earth as I worked to identify their locations.

To measure the corridor's length, I used the "Measure" tool to measure the length of the corridor's centerline.

Overall, the final project was fairly difficult as I had to determine how to achieve the objectives with minimal instructions. However, I realized that I have grown comfortable using ArcGIS this semester.

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Week 7: Georeferencing, Editing, & 3D

For this lab, I learned how to georeference data that was in "Null Island."This is done by identifying a common point between the target layer and the referenced control layer. The common points would then be linked. The first point selected should be from the unknown layer. While geoprocessing, I kept my total RMS error low (less than 15). I also learned how to add in new polygon features. In the final part of the lab, I created a 3D scene of the UWF Pensacola campus. To do this I took a LIDAR layer and created a DEM layer through the LAS Dataset to Raster Tool. The DEM layer served as basis for the 3D map's other layers (aerial images, roads, buildings.) 

Week 6 Lab: Add XY Data Points, Geocoding, Georeferencing, and Basic Editing

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For this lab, I learned how to add XY data points by altering data in Microsoft Excel. I also explored the concepts of geocoding, georeferencing, and basic editing

The first part of this lab revolved around learning how to prepare spatial data for integration to ArcGIS that is not "ready-made" in a shapefile. I prepared an Excel table spreadsheet consisting of  XY point data of the location of three eagle nests. The Excel spreadsheet was saved as a .csv file and then imported into ArcGIS Pro. When importing the data, I selected "XY Point Data" ("XY Events Data"). The data was then projected to the NAD 1983 (2011) StatePlane Florida North FIPD 0903 (US Feet) coordinate system.

The second part of this lab produced a map that originated from raw tabular data. The raw tabular data was prepared and cleaned up in Excel. It was then saved as a .csv file. Next, I began to establish a  geocoding style. It began by setting up an address locator with the address locator style being "US Address- Dual Range." I ran the address locator and proceeded with the next steps of geocoding. There was a series of 15 unmatched addresses I had to manually identify. To do this, I googled the addresses and compared its location on Google Earth and Google Maps to the base map in ArcGIS Pro. To make it easier to identify locations in ArcGIS Pro I ran several Geoprocessing Select Layers by Attribute queries based on street names to identify and isolate the location of the street I was looking for.

Week 4 Vector Analysis Lab

For this lab, I learned how to utilize the Buffer and Overlay tools and I learned how to distinguish between attribute and location queries. Vector data was analyzed by using spatial queries. Additionally, the overlay tool was utilized to combine or exclude several features.

The first part of this lab revolved around learning how to recognize the various types of shapefiles and feature classes. Spatial analysis was also a focus. I practiced the skills of creating and manipulating a geodatabase in ArcGIS Pro. I then imported a .mxd file which I had to run several location queries on to locate the data I wanted. One such query was locating land parcels that are within one mile of Escambia County hospitals. Next, I used the select by location option to select data features that fall completely within the Enterprise_Zones layer. The final steps were to find intersecting features and to spatially join tables. Overall, this part of the lab further enforced my knowledge on how to utilize queries and other aspects of spatial analysis by having me find the number of risk features within each drainage basin in Escambia County.

The second part of this lab produced a map that identifies possible campsites within the De Soto National Forest that are not within conservation sites. Buffer analysis was utilized. The steps included creating a fixed distance buffer with the Roads layer. Next, I created a variable distance buffer with the Water feature class. A multi-ring buffer was used to create the Roads_MulipleringBuff300m layer.  By utilizing the attribute tables, I was able to add new fields to the Water_Buffer and Roads_Buffer layers so I could perform a union with them. This step produced the Buffers_Union layer. Because I wanted to identify potential campsites in the forest that are not within conservation areas, I needed to exclude the conservation layer from the map. Once this was complete, I distinguished the areas. The map above is a representation of my product. The campsites are represented by one of three colors; grey, red, or yellow. The grey regions have the least amount of area while the yellow regions have the most.

I am also including a map that below that identifies all of the potential campsites (that are not in conservation areas) as one cohesive color. The area percents are not included in this map.

Lab 3 Data Collection and Projections

For this lab, I collected public safety data from the UWF main campus by using the app Collector.
I also learned how to use the ArcGIS project raster tools to re-project data.

The first part of this lab revolved around data collection. I chose to collect data on crosswalks. Here, I set three conditions that explained the state of the crosswalks: excellent, fair, and poor. Before I could collect the data, I had to set up an empty feature class and share it as an editable feature layer. Then, I created a web map through ArcGIS online. My collected data was then synced to my web map through the Collector app.  https://pns.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=c8b786ae31e34b6b8bf83a0a86b07c4c

The second part of this lab revolved around learning how to transform or project GIS data. I created feature classes from the original data (cntbnd_Sep15) through the Data Management Projections and Transformations Project Tool. Once the projections were made, I compared them visually and quantitively. The next step of the lab was to identify each projections' calculated square area of four Florida counties. Finally, a map was created that displays multiple map views of the different projected coordinate systems.  This map is the one you see above.

Lab 2 Cartography Map

This map represents the location of the University of West Florida within Escambia County and includes other important signifiers such as cities and rivers. The main objective of this lab exercise was to introduce the basic requirements of a professional map. We were encouraged to explore various methods of preparing a map layout. All maps we may produce require a title, north arrow, scale bar, creator, legend, date of creation, and data source.

While utilizing ArcGIS, I tried to maintain a neutral color scheme and a standard font. Here, the chosen font was Arial. When I was designing my map layout, I forgot that to move the inset map and its contents, the data frame needs to be activated!

Overall, this lab taught me to be wary of my color choices, as this is a major factor in the readability of a map. I also learned what map elements are essential to a functional professional map. 

Week 1 Lab ArcGIS Overview Map

This map is the result of my first experience interacting with ArcGIS using Argo Apps. I navigated to ArcGIS Pro through Argo Apps. I utilized tools such as Navigate and Symbology.