Intro to GIS – Final – Bobwhite-Manatee Transmission Line Project

GIS 4043 Final: Bobwhite-Manatee Transmission Line Project

The final project for this course involves the use of various GIS tools to analyze a proposed transmission line, known as the Bobwhite-Manatee Transmission Line by Florida Power and Light, covering approximately 25 miles starting in Manatee County and ending at a proposed substation in Sarasota County.  The transmission line is needed to meet the higher energy demands of Sarasota County. 

The main objective of the project is to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze the many possible routes in hopes of finding a route with minimal impact to the environment and people as well as choosing an economically feasible route.

Please click on the links below for a Power Point Presentation and a Slide-by-Slide Commentary discussing the objectives, the process, and results of the GIS analysis.

Power Point Presentation

Slide-by-Slide Commentary

Below is a map of the proposed route for quick and easy reference.

Cartographic Skills – Final Project

GIS 3015: Cartographic Skills

Final Project

Project Overview and Objectives

The final project involved the creation of a map to represent two independent sets of data (2013 scores and test participation) in relation to a test (ACT) taken by college-bound high school seniors.  The map is intended for publication in the Washington Post.  Skills necessary to complete the project included the ability to autonomously outline, design and complete the project, obtaining base map data from an outside source, applying a suitable projection, preparing tabular data in Excel, and classifying and symbolizing data.

Thematic Methods

Graduated colors and graduated symbols were used to symbolize the data.  Of particular interest, the base map data representing the United States did not have a defined projection.  The base map data was re-projected to Albers Equal Area Conic to preserve the area representation of the states to fairly represent scores and test participation rates in contrast to the size of the states across the United States.

Data Classification Methods

The Natural Breaks (Jenks) data classification method was used to represent the percentage of graduates tested with graduated colors.  The natural breaks method minimizes differences between data values in the same class and maximizes differences between classes thus clearly defining groups and breaks in the data for easy representation with graduated colors.  The data for the percentages of graduates tested fell nicely under five classes with ranges determined by the data’s natural breaks.  The 1 Standard Deviation data classification method was used to represent the average scores with graduated symbols.  The standard deviation was selected because it results in a fair comparison of the scores across states in relation to the mean score of all states as supported by the data.  The label was modified to display average score ranges instead of deviation to facilitate interpretation by the reader.

Design Techniques

A green color ramp was selected to represent the percentage of graduates tested with graduated colors because it was easy to identify the five classes (ranges) and it provided good figure contrast against the red school house used to represent average scores.  A red school house of a different size for each of the five classes (ranges) was used to represent the average scores for each state.  The school house matched the educational theme of the map and the red color was easy to see on the green background.  The size range was set from 10 to 30 so that each represented class (range) was five sizes apart thus making it easier for the reader to discern the various sizes against the legend.

  

The map below represents the 2013 United States ACT average scores and participation rates for high school graduates.

Cartographic Skills – Week 12 – Google Earth

GIS 3015: Cartographic Skills

Week 12 Lab: Google Earth

This week we explored the use of Google Earth to share maps created in ArcGIS and to create tours.  In the process we learned to convert map documents to KMZ (a zipped version of a KML file to be used in Google Earth) through the use of the Map to KML Tool in ArcGIS.  Individual shapefiles can be converted using the Layer to KML Tool.

Google Earth provides some basic functional capabilities such as the setting of transparency levels, setting layer order through the altitude setting, as well as the selection of layers to be displayed.  Finally, we created a tour of various cities in South Florida thus incorporating Google Earth’s 3D capabilities into the process.

Below is a snapshot of the base Dot Density Population Map for South Florida after it was converted and opened in Google Earth.

Intro to GIS – Week 13 – Georeferencing, Editor Tools, and 3D Scenes

GIS 4043 Week13 Lab: Georeferencing, Editor Tools, and 3D Scenes

This assignment involved the georeferencing of two raster image files through the addition of control points for common locations found in existing layers of building and roads containing spatial information.  In addition, the Editor Tool was used to create a building and street features on the layers based on the raster image files.  The Multiple Ring Buffer Tool was also introduced and used to create two buffers simultaneously and an image file of an eagle’s nest was hyperlinked.  Finally a 3D depiction of buildings and roads was completed in ArcScene and exported to JPG for completion of the map layout in ArcGIS.

The maps below depict the conservation easements at the University of West Florida for an eagle’s nest, an inset map of the UWF campus, and the 3D version of the latter.

Cartographic Skills – Week 11 – 3D Mapping

GIS 3015: Cartographic Skills

Week 11 Lab: 3D Mapping

This week we explored 3D mapping and particularly the conversion of 2D features into 3D features by using elevation data from other datasets with the same extent.  Of particular interest to me, I learned to convert 2D statistical or informational data such as land use codes, property value, number of murders, population and similar into 3D features for better communication and presentation.

Advantages of 3D mapping include the ability to show vertical information such as attributes for floors in a multi-story building.  3D maps are also more intuitive thus placing less reliance on the legend and 3D maps can be navigated – how cool is that? 

Disadvantages of 3D mapping include having difficulty in navigating, such as getting lost or disoriented – which way is north?  In addition, map content can become hidden as large 3D features may obstruct the view of smaller features thus information getting lost or miscommunicated by the reader.

The lab activities included the setting of base heights for raster and feature data so data containing elevation is shown in 3D perspective, setting vertical exaggeration to better communicate information by amplifying feature heights, setting illumination and background color for effect, extruding features to stretch 2D features vertically, and converting a building foot print layer into a KML file for viewing in Google Earth (shown below).

Intro to GIS – Week 11 – Vector Analysis 2

GIS 4043 Week11 Lab: Vector Analysis 2

This assignment involved the use of ArcPython, Buffer, Overlay (Union, Intersect, Erase) tools, and the Multipart to Singlepart tool to identify potential campground sites at the De Soto National Forest.

The map below depicts potential campground sites within 300 meters of a road, 150 meters of a lake, 300 meters of a river, and not within a conservation area.

Cartographic Skills – Week 10 – Dot Mapping

GIS 3015: Cartographic Skills

Week 10 Lab: Dot Density Mapping

The Dot map below depicts the population density of the counties in Southern Florida.  Each dot represents a population of 25,000 thus it is possible to count dots to recover the original data and determine the aggregate population for each county.  The dots have been placed only on urban areas where people reside and not on surface waterbodies depicted.  The map was completed in ArcGIS.