What the GIS does- defines a neighborhood around cell centers
density values can be created from points or lines. If the features are lines, the density will be in units of length per unit area
“moving cell analysis” to create a certain number of dots assigned per cell

Mar 10 2012

Getting to Know ArkGIS Tutorial

Chapter 1: Genderal Intro

General intro to GIS
Similar to Mitchell’s book

Chapter 2: Introducing ArcGis Desktop

overview of ArcMap, ArcCatalog and ArcGIS
creating maps, editing and spatial analysis
database design and data management
ArcGis 3D Analyst which helps see data in 3D

Chapter 3: Exploring ArcMap

Saving files
opening mxd files
zooming and planning maps
basics on exploring around GIS
Example: Amelia Earhert’s flight path
- How to measure distance on maps
- Locating cities
- Statistics of cities

chapter 4: Exploring ArcCatalog

exploring ArcCatalog
- mapper search, revierw and manage ArcGIS assets
- importing and exporting maps in and out of Arc Catalog into ArcMap

Chapter 5: Symbolizing features and raster’s

changing and creating symbology through features and rasters
changing symbols and colors available for maps
saving layers through the making of layer files
adding and modifying symbols to vectors
Raster’s
Shape files

Chapter 6: classifying features and rasters

Similar to chapter 5
Changing color schemes
Coloring elevation differences
reading the attribute tables
- not easy

Chapter 7: labeling features

Labeling different landscapes and parts on map
Label overlap
Changing labels

Chapter 8: Querying data

Query Data
- Information on particular properties
- Use of hyperlinks
- Picture of property on map

Chapter 9: Joining and relating tables

Inserting tables onto maps
Incorporating data within other data
Relate tables in maps
Rivers going through Louisiana

Chapter 10: Selecting features by location

Locating points of interest
- Freeways
- Gas stations
- Exc.
- Layout of cities and neighborhoods
- Identifying points of interest
- Information and data on points of interest

Chapter 11: Preparing data for analysis

Analyzing data
Making graphs and attribute tables
Highlighting only important and relevant data
Exporting data

Chapter 12: Analyzing spatial data

More depth into analyzing data
Buffering –area made around a feature
- Example: floodplain
- Overlay-overlap of different layers
- Calculating attribute tables and its values

Chapter 13: Projecting data in ArcMap

Project different data set
Coordinate systems

Chapter 14: Building geodatabases

Geodatabases
Add fields and domains
Did not include maps as much, more of tools

Chapter 15: Creating features

Drawing features
Construction tools
Tools for parcels
- Editing tool
- Creating new lines
- Creating angles and lengths

Chapter 16: Editing features and attributes

Editing features and attributes
Combining vortexes on map
Deleting and saving vortexes
Split up vortexes and merging them
Changing property parcels on attribute table

Chapter 17: Geocoding addresses

Geocoding addresses
Matching addresses, address locator and editing addresses on map
Hard to navigate through this chapter

Chapter 18: Making maps from templates

create templates
open existing templates
open previously made templates
changing x and y data to templates
graphs on maps
connecting features

Chapter 19: Making maps for presentation

changing layout of maps
- titles
- extra features like scales
- even compasses
- correct layouts
- basically, teaches you good presentation of your map

Chapter 20: Creating models

creating a model
adding onto models
enhancing models

I feel that I learned a lot and how to use ArkGIS well. Some chapters were confusing but now that I am finished I believe to know a lot about the program and its benefits. Nonetheless, I am glad I am done with the tutorial.

Feb 27 2012

Delaware Data Innovatory Review

Ponds 2008: shows the size, shape and area of ponds in Delaware Ohio in 2008

Ponds 2010: shows the size, shape and area of ponds in Delaware Ohio in 2010

Address points layer: shows points of the structures addresses, street name and zip codes in Delaware Ohio.

Annexation layer: Shows land annexations in Delaware Ohio and the data includes the year the annexation was received, what city it is in, etc.

Archeological data layer: shows all the archeological points in Delaware Ohio but does not include data.

Bench Marks layer: shows different locations and points in Delaware Ohio through GPS. It shows the names of the locations and coordinates.

Building Outlines layer: shows all the shapes of buildings (outlined) in Delaware Ohio. It consists of building type, coordinates and area of buildings.

Census Block layer: shows the census blocks in Delaware Ohio.

Census Block Group layer: Shows censes blocks in groups. It shows more information than individual census blocks, like the different districts in Delaware.

Census Tract layer: shows the same thing as the block group but consists of larger groups and measures more different census data.

Economic development layers contains 4 shape files:

Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Abated Parcels (ABT)
Community Development Projects (CDP)
Community Reinvestment Authority combined with Enterprise Zones (CRA_EZ)

Farmlots layer: shows all the farm lots locations and areas of each in Delaware Ohio.

Flood plain 2009 layer: shows the floodplains and their areas that could flood in 2009

Flood plain 100yr layer: shows the floodplains and their areas that could have been flooded 100 years ago and the areas that could be flooded in the next 100 years.

Flood plain 500yr layer: shows the floodplains and areas that could have been flooded 500 years ago and the areas that could be flooded in the next 500 years.

Floodway layer: shows streams, creeks and rivers potential area for flooding in Delaware, Ohio

Historical local layer: Shows points of historical sites in Delaware Ohio but with no data.

Historical national layer: Shows points of all national historical sites in Delaware, Ohio

Hydro layer: shows the major waterways and bodies of water in Delaware, Ohio.

Hydro detail layer: shows the major and smaller waterways and bodies of water in more detail;

Landmarks layer shows locations of:

Bldg1_base – fire departments, EMS stations, hospitals and township halls in Delaware County
Bldg2_base – county and city buildings such as state buildings, libraries, courts, airports etc.
Also includes – parks, churches, cemeteries, golf courses, USPS and schools.

LBRS Datasets layer: shows Address points and street centerlines (streets, roads and highways).

Master point layer: shows addresses and type of residence in Delaware, Ohio.

Municipalities layer: shows the districts of Delaware, Ohio including their name and area

Natural Heritage layer: (I think) Shows the Natural heritages and their locations but with no data.

Orthophotos: these are clear aerial photos of the land in Delaware, Ohio.

Parcels layer: shows the parcels in Delaware Ohio. Consists of addresses, zip codes, schools, etc.

Parks layer: shows the locations and names of the parks in Delaware, Ohio.

Places of Interest: shows the locations of common buildings such as offices, post offices, hospitals, churches, golf courses, fire departments, police stations, etc.

Precincts layer: shows voting precincts, polling locations and city ward boundaries in Delaware, Ohio.

Public Land Survey System: shows the areas and locations of the 2 public land survey districts in Delaware, Ohio.

Railroads layer: shows the railroads in Delaware, Ohio and their track number and length.

Road Center line layer: shows the roads length and name.

Road Right of way layer: shows the right of ways for vehicles and pedestrians through areas.

School Districts layer: shows the school districts names and areas.

Soils layer: shows the different characteristics of soil in Delaware, Ohio

Subdivisions layer: shows the subdivisions in Delaware, Ohio. Consists of the areas and names of each subdivision.

Tax District layer: shows the taxes in different districts in Delaware Ohio.

Topography layer: shows the contour lines of towns and elevation changes in Delaware, Ohio.

Townships layer: shows the townships and large cities in Delaware, Ohio.

Historical townships layer: shows the same as the previous township layer but with historical boundaries in townships.

Watersheds layer: shows the watersheds areas and locations in Delaware, Ohio.

Wetlands layer: shows the wetlands type and location in Delaware, Ohio.

Woodlands layer: shows the woodlands area and location in Delaware, Ohio

Zip codes layer: shows the areas of the different zip code locations in Delaware, Ohio.

Zoning layer: shows the zoning areas and historical info in Delaware, Ohio.

Feb 15 2012

Project Proposal

The project we would mainly like to focus on is the smart recycling bin. We would be designing the bin and looking into any problems that could arise. The main objective is to see the amount of waste diverted from the recycling bin with an exact measurement. This data can lead to a numerical amount of money saved and then we could figure out the return on investment for the bin. This would then lead to a proposal to the school to buy more recycling bins.

We are still looking into a recycling bin that would weight out recyclables. So far we have not found anything, but we may end up making a model ourselves.

We would also like to focus on food waste, and compare the data from food waste reduction to financial savings. Right now we do not have an exact direction though.

Feb 15 2012

Chapter 3: mapping the most and least

Mitchell Chapter 3: Mapping the Most and Least

Why map the most and least?

Intro –

Find places that fit certain criteria
Mapping features based upon quantities adds an additional level of info, beyond just mapping a location

1. mapping numerical quantities:

Map truancy
Map grant eligibility
Map public health care statistics
Map # of service calls for utilities

What do you need to map

Discrete features (pts, lines, polygons)
Continuous phenomenon
Data summarized by area
Defined areas
Surface of continuous values

Understanding Quantities

1. Counts and amounts

Total numbers
Count is actual number of features on map
Amount is total of a value

2. Ratios

Show relationship between two quantities
Created by dividing one quantity by another

3. Ranks

ranks put features in order, from high to low.
these show relative values, or ranking, rather than measured values

Looking for patterns

identifying the least and the most
color map of households income
change of values across an area
some features may stand apart from surrounding features
may want to display several maps showing related information to really understand what is going on somewhere

Feb 15 2012

Mitchell chapter 2: Mapping where things are

Why map where things are?

1. Intro:

maps serve to show patterns in distribution that help you understand area.

2. Map gallery:

shows maps from various state GIS departments to show how many different ways GIS is used:

Deciding what to map

1. What info do you need?

2. How will you use the map?

“classify” land use

shows all 18 land use categories, the other groups them into 5 main categories.

Prepping the data

features must have geographic categories coordinates for them to be able to display in GIS
one or two attribute values

Making your map

1. Mapping a single type, symbol type.

Using a subset of features

3. Mapping by category

Detailed explanation
“what the GIS does”
querying procedure

Analyzing geographic patterns

3 types of point distributions:

Clustered
Uniform
Random

Feb 8 2012

Chapter 6: Finding What’s Nearby (part 2) (part 1: Kiendl)

Using Straight-Line Distance

This is a quick way of seeing which features are within a given distance of a source feature and getting info about those features.

Ways to use this:

1.) Create a Buffer

specify source feature and buffer distance
can create buffers around multiple features to see where they overlap
find features within distance of multiple source

(buffer around streams, like book example)

Uses a variety of symbols to represent certain aspects:

For locations, GIS draws a circle of a radius equal to the distance you specified.
For linear feature, the GIS draws a line around the feature at the specified distance.
For areas, the GIS draws a line at the specified distance from the boundary rather than the center of the area.

(Using GIS circles are used to interpret drive time, distance, and street impedances to determine the unit closest to the call.)

You can make a single buffer showing you which features are near at least one source or multiple buffers of different features to show which is closest to one source

Finding features near several sourcess like the picture above requires several buffers and selected features surrounding each. You can either highlight only whats inside each buffer or inside and out.

Some features to include with buffers:

streets
water bodies
administrative boundaries

2.) Selecting Features within a Distance

Doesn’t create a boundary (buffer) around a source feature. It selects the actual features within a given distance.

If you don’t need to create a buffer boundry then Selecting features is useful to summerize features near a source.

Selecting features near several sources:

features within the distance of more than one source feature each need to be selected and taged with a code
this is in order to identify the feature and know whether it is within the distance of more than one source

Selecting features near several distance ranges:

to know what’s within several distances of a source you preform the selection once for each distance (Book Ex: customers within 1000, 2000 and 3000 feet of a store)

3.) Feature to Feature Distances

Useful to find exactly how far each feature is from source (ex: if your finding the distance to a linear feature the GIS calculates the distance to the closest point on the line)

Also useful to find distances between locations and several source features. This is useful for:

seeing which areas are near more than one source
which areas are near only one source
knowing the second or third closest source for each location
comparing distances to other factors

When calculating distance to more than one source you can specify a maximum distance with which locations will be included.

(Book Ex. when calculating customers living within 5 miles of your store, you would specify a maximum distance of 5 miles and the GIS would ignore customers beyond this limit.)
goop idea so that GIS does not create a list of the distance between each source and every location in the area.

The feature to feature method lets you calculate statistical summaries based on the assigned distance as well.

Options for creating a map for feature to feature distance:

map surrounding locations color-coded by distance from source
map surrounding locations color-coded by closest source
spider diagram
map source features using graduated point symbols

(Spider diagram)

4.)Creating a distance surface

you can use the distance layer to create buffers at specific distances
you specify the layer containing the source features and the GIS creates a new layer by calculating distance from each cell to the nearest source.

Creating distance ranges

You display values through graduated colors

Summarizing what’s within the distance

You can summarize either discrete features or continuous data within the distance.
Locations you assign the distance to each feature, based on the cell it falls into

This method is often used to create input to site selection or suitability models, where distance from a source is a factor.

Specifying a maximum distance

you can limit the area for which GIS calculates distance by specifying a maximum distance
without a maximum distance, the GIS will calculate a value for all cells outside of the area being studied.

Mapping discrete features

draw them on top of the distance surface (distance surface is displayed through the graduated colors)
if you use a continuous blend it is good for showing how values change across the surface. Not good if you want to see the actual value at a particular spot.

Measuring Distance or Cost Over a Network

identifies all lines of a network (streets, rivers, etc) within a given distance
each segment in a network is tagged with a measure of the cost to travel that segment (money, time, distance)

1.) Specifying the network layer

A geometric network is composed of edges or lines, junctions and turns. (junctions are the points where edges meet) (turns are used to display cost of travel through a junction)

To get accurate results, you should make sure your network has:

edges that are in the right place
edges that actually exist
edges that connect to other segments accuratley
the correct attributes for each edge

2.) GIS Function

The GIS starts at center specified and checks the distance to each neareast junction along the network

Assign street segments to centers

street networks are used for finding what’s nearby specific streets.
each street segment is tagged with a measure of the cost to travel between the center and surrounding locations. Also known as the “impedance value.”
Common impedance values are distance, time and money. (Book ex. the per mile cost for a delivery truck, based on labor, fuel and maintenance.)
you can set travel parameters in that you limit which segments on the network can be traveled and which direction.
specify turns and stops. For example, you can specify that a right turn at a particular intersection takes an average of 3 sec, while a left turn takes seven seconds.
Ups found they could save money by eliminating left hand turns

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/ups-driving-cost-savings-by-eliminating-left-hand-turns/2190

3.) selecting the surrounding features

Once GIS has identified all the segments within the distance or cost of a center, you can find out what is within the area covered by those segments.
You can either create a boundary enclosing the segments or have the GIS sum a value associated with each segment

When using a boundary

create the boundary by manually drawing a line around the selected segments or you can have the GIS create the boundary on its own.
can draw a compact or general boundary. A general boundary connects the farthest reaches of the selected segments, while a compact boundary outlines the selected segments.
GIS creates a general boundary much more faster than a compact boundary.

Compact Boundary

4.) Making a map

After assuaging the segments, the GIS automatically shows the entire network and highlights the selected segments.
you may want to highlight features within the distance to make it easier to read
if you want the focus on the selected features, you can draw the outline only
if you want the focus on the areas themselves you can shade them
display the center using a symbol that is easiley distinguished from surrounding locations.

Calculating Cost Over a Geographic Surface

find out what’s nearby when traveling overland
shows rate of change as you trave

1.) Specifying the Cost

Cost can include time, money, or effort expended, exc.
to calculate cost over a surface, you can specify the layer containing the source features and a second layer containing the cost value of each cell

Creating the cost layer

You can create a cost layer based on a single factor or on several factors
to create a cost layer based on a single factor, you reclassify an existing layer based on an attribute value.
to create a cost layer based on several factors, you combine all the input layers

Using the cost layer the GIS totals the cost as it crosses each cell from the source, assigning a cumulative cost to each cell in a new layer it creates.

(calculating the cost by cells)

2.) Modifying the Cost Distance

you can modify the cost distance surface by specifying a max cost or using barriers to specify areas that are off limits

Maximum cost

you can limit the area for which GIS calculates cost distance values by specifying a maximum cost
if you don’t specify a max cost then GIS calculates a value for all cells in the study area

Using barriers

you can also block the assignment of cost values
Ex: you might want to specify that certain areas are off limits to travel.

(red is the most costly travel to get to an airport)

3.) Getting the Information

Once the cost distance layer is created you can either identify the area within a specific distance of the source features or summarize how much of something is within the distance.
summarizing what’s within the distance is the same process as straight-line distance over a surface. (you reclassify the surface into one or more ranges, then combine it with the layer containing the surrouding features.

4.) Making a map

when mapping discrete features with the cost distance surface, you can show them on top of a distance grid which is displayed by graduated colors.
you may want to make source feature contrasting colors so they are easily identifiable.

Feb 1 2012

Chapter 2

Outline:

Why map where things are?
Deciding what to map
Prep your data
Making your map
Analyzing patterns

Why map where things are?

1. Introduction: By looking at the distribution of features on the map rather than at individual features, you can see patterns that help you better understand the area you’re mapping.

Maps show where:

Need to take action
Areas that meet certain criteria

Example: police can map where crimes occur each month, and whether similar crimes occur in the same place, or move to different places (tells them where in the city to take action)

By analyzing certain locations of features, one could begin exploring the causes for patterns related to terrain, rainfall and other factors.

Example: ecologists study the distribution of plants to see if patterns are related to terrain, rainfall, or other factors.

2. Map Gallery: shows data digitized from paper maps from different GIS departments in order to show how many ways GIS is used.

Ways GIS is used in different states:

Oregon Department of Forestry- historical land ownership to help understand past forest management practices.
North Vancouver, British Columbia- Creates maps showing the city streets and their condition. Also shows the street crews where they need to focus their work on and what equipment to use. (streets are analyzed through color coding.
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)- Created a map of vegetation for regions. The maps help conservation planning.

City of Irvine, CA- Color-coded parcels by zoning. The similar colors are utilized for major categories. This helps the city plan for additional services such as water and sewer lines.

Deciding what to map

Introduction: To look for geographic patterns in your data you map features using different symbols. You decide which ones to display and how to display them based on the info you need and how the map will be used.

1.What info do you need?

Use GIS to knowing where features are and where they’re not
- Example: business might map locations of its customers to see where to target an ad campaign.
- Use GIS to map the location of different types of features, and see whether certain types occur in the same place.
  - Example: a business could categorize map customers by age. Or a police department might create a map of crimes by type; murder, theft exc.

2. How will you use the map?

Map should be appropriate for the audience and the issue being addressed.
- Example: Audience that is unfamiliar with a certain area or data will want to see info that provides reference locations such as roads, lakes, or administrative boundaries

Prepping the Data

Introduction: Before creating a map it is critical to make sure that your features have geographic coordinates assigned and displayed in GIS.

Assigning Geographic Coordinates

Each feature needs a location in geographic coordinates.
- If data is already in GIS then the coordinates have been assigned
- If the data is being extracted from another program or by hand, the features will need to have location info like street addresses.

Assigning Category Values

Mapping features by type like type of crime or zoning, you have to have the types in a GIS attribute table and assign the appropriate value for each in a new column.

Many categories are hierarchical, with major types divided into subtypes.

Feb 1 2012

Chapter 1 – Introducing GIS Analysis
Intro:
6 common types of analysis:
• Mapping where things are
• Mapping the most and the least
• Mapping density
• Finding what’s inside
• Finding what’s nearby
• Mapping change

What is GIS Analysis:

process off performing an analysis:

1. Frame the question:
• start an anysis by figuring out what information you need. This is often started with a question

2. Understand your data:
• Understanding what you have and its limitations
• What you may need to add
• Making new fields in attribute table
• Raw data collections

3. Choose a method of analysis
• Almost always 2-3 ways of getting the info you need
• Quick methods give general results
• More in depth data comes from more processing and more precise results

4. Process the data
• After you select method preform steps
• Choosing parameters
• Commen types of analysis

5. Analyze results
• results displayed in many ways

a map
o values in table
o chart or graph

• what info to use
• how to group info
• present info

Understanding Geographic features:

• Types of geographic features
o Discrete continuous
o Continuous
o Summarized by area

• Discrete features
o Individual points, lines and polygons
o Specific locations of features

• Continuous features
o Blanket the area- no gaps
o Discrete measurements of continuous phenomena
o Measurements explored through blanket

• Features summarized by area
o Total length of streams in a watershed
o # of businesses in each zipcode
o # of households in each census tract

• two ways of representing geographic features:
o vector
o raster

• map projections and coordinate systems
o map projection translates locations on the globe to a flat surface
o coordinate system gives units to locate 2d space and original points of those units

Understanding Geographic Attributes

o nominal
o ordinal
o interval
o ratio
o categories
o ranks
o counts
o amounts

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• Working with data tables
o Select
o Calculate
o Summarize

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GIS 355 Digital Portfolio

Chapter 4: Mapping Density

Getting to Know ArkGIS Tutorial

Delaware Data Innovatory Review

Project Proposal

Chapter 3: mapping the most and least

Mitchell chapter 2: Mapping where things are

Chapter 6: Finding What’s Nearby (part 2) (part 1: Kiendl)

Chapter 2

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