GIS4043 Introduction to GIS Student Spotlight- Vector 2

GIS4043 Introduction to GIS, Instructor, Mrs. Amber Bloechle

Vector 2

In this lab we did the following to produce a final map of potential campsite locations:

• Created a simple buffer around road features
• Createed a variable distance buffer around water features
• Created our own scripts to run the buffer tool using ArcPython
• Ran the overlay tool to combine or exclude multiple features
• Distinguished and converted between multipart and singlepart layers

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Define and use two of the most common modeling tools in ArcGIS: buffer and overlay
• Identify available buffer modeling tools in ArcGIS software
• Use the Dissolve tool to merge overlapping borders of buffer zones
• Create a script in ArcPy to run the buffer tool
• Recall when it is beneficial to run an ArcPy script vs. the actual tool
• Analyze vector data using spatial queries
• Create a simple buffer around vector features
• Create a variable distance buffer around polygon features
• Determine when to implement a compound or variable buffer
• Identify the 6 overlay operations available and recall when to use each
• Use the overlay modeling tool to combine or exclude multiple features
• Distinguish between multipart and singlepart layers and convert between the two
• Find potential sites using provided criteria for a new campground
• Create a report that explains data being utilized in the GIS project (metadata), answers important questions, and summarizes the process of creating exercises deliverables from beginning to end
• Explain the difference between attribute and location queries
• Quantify and explain the difference between results derived from buffer and overlay operations

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT AWARDS

The following student was chosen for their exceptional work on the Vector 2 assignment:

Ellen Markin

About Ellen: Returning to the spotlight is Ellen.  She held the coveted title earlier in the semester for Cartography, and is now making waves in Intro 2 GIS.  Ellen lives in Reno, Nevada and works as a GIS Specialist for a cultural resource management firm. Welcome back Ellen - don't forget your shades.  The spotlight can be bright!

What we like: Ellen utilized her resources by overlaying her data onto an ESRI basemap to create an interesting, yet easy to interpret, map. We also liked that she kept her essential map elements simple and user friend and included the area of interest in her title. Great job Ellen!

Possible Campground locations.

"We were given a File Geodatabase containing layers representing hydrography (rivers and lakes), roads, and conservation areas with the goal of locating possible campground sites using specific criteria. The hydrography and roads layers were buffered in the initial step. The areas that overlapped were then chosen using the overlay tools. The conservation areas were then erased from the remaining areas. My map shows the final areas after analysis. For the display of the data (map) I thought a plain map was uninformative. I added the Esri World topographic base map to give the map a more interesting background."