Final Project: Bobwhite-Manatee Transmission Line Project

For our final project in 'Intro to GIS' we were put in the seat of GIS analyst asked to assess the completed Bobwhite-Manatee Transmission Line Project.  This was an actual project in which a new energy substation was being built, but needed a transmission line to connect with an existing energy center to the north.  The path chosen was based on meeting four objectives: 1) avoiding environmentally sensitive lands, 2) avoiding homes, 3) avoiding schools, 4) being cost efficient (i.e. not too long).  I assessed the proposed corridor based on how well it met those objectives.  Overall it sufficiently met them.  To see a detailed explanation on how I reached this conclusion, see my presentation at the bottom of this post.

Above is a map of the proposed corridor of the transmission line.  Below is a zoomed map of two environmentally sensitive areas.

Links to my Bobwhite-Manatee Project Presentation:

Power Point

Power Point Commentary

Have an awesome summer!

-PMC

Module 12: Georeferenceing & ArcScene

This weeks assignment involved georeferencing an input raster layer with a vector layer providing control points.  This process is very useful and may be one of the most applied tools in ArcMap.  Selecting several control points, will allow for a more accurate georeference.  This map ultimately required a second order polynomial transformation to achieve high accuracy.  Displayed is the location of an eagle nest with two buffers.

The second part of this weeks assignment was to build and generate a 3-D map in ArcScene.

Module 11: Network Analysis & Geocoding

Network analysis is the process of evaluating the interconnectedness of a system of edges and junctions.  It can be used to solve complex problems involving optimal routes or feature placement.  This week we matched addresses to a network in Lake City and mapped an emergency vehicle route in Lake County, FL (see above).  The map shows all the EMS locations in the county with one route highlighted.  By using a network analysis, this optimal route was determined following realistic traffic laws and mileage.  This is one situation in which network analysis can be applied.

Participation Assignment #2

See the Group 7: Defense and Intelligence Online Map.

I contributed the Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Flood Common Operation Picture (COP) map.  Due to an extreme flood event in Brisbane in January 2011, there was a need for current, accurate information about potential flood zones and refuge areas.  The plan for creating this was similar to that of a COP for the purposes of defense.  The COP was used by government agencies and citizens to efficiently evacuate or help in any emergency response and clean-up.

Module 10: Vector Analysis 2

This week's assignment was to explore and implement multiple Overlay tools, as well as become familiar with ArcPy.  There are several Overlay tools in which features on a map, most commonly polygons, are spatially analyzed relative to each other.  The common Buffer tool was used to created polygon features surrounding roads and water (Lakes and Rivers), then Unions, Intersections, and Erases of these buffers were performed.  The ultimate goal was to selectively remove bits and pieces of an original buffer feature so that we had specific areas isolated.  The map above shows the product of this process.  Regions within a certain distance from access roads (one buffer layer) and within a certain distance of water bodies (another buffer layer), but outside of conservation ares (a third polygon layer) are highlighted as potential camping areas.

Module 7: Data Search

This week's assignment was to apply the knowledge we've gained about searching for and locating GIS data online and projecting the data correctly.  Ultimately we were responsible for making a map about a specific county in Florida; my county was Columbia.  We were further required to map two county-specific environmental features of our choice; I chose invasive plants and Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas.  My maps focus on two large cities (Lake City and Columbia, respectively) in Columbia County, FL.

The first map (top) displays invasive plants by species in a particular public land unit, "Alligator Lake", located in Lake City, FL.  I chose to use two inset maps - one of Florida and one of Columbia County - with additional in-map labels to help the viewer better orient themselves with the location of interest.  The second map (bottom) is very similar in layout, but displays Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas near Columbia, FL of varying priority levels.  The Digital Elevation Map used in this map allows the viewer to imagine the topography - slope, aspect, etc. - at these conservation areas.  

Overall, I am satisfied with the presentation and completeness of these two maps.  I felt the ability for me to choose what to emphasize in my maps allowed me to play around with different ArcMap features I was unfamiliar with.

Module 6: Projections (Part 2)

Above is a map of Petroleum Tank Monitoring Sites in Pensacola, FL.  This was generated in ArcMap via data acquired from FGDL and LABINS.  The lab involved utilizing these websites to obtain, define, and reproject data for a single map.

Module 5: Projections (Part 1)

Above are three maps comparing different projection coordinate systems for Florida, USA.  There is noticeable distortion which is exemplified in the discontinuity of county area.  It should be noted that the region represented in the map is bisected by a UTM zone transition (i.e. Florida is in both UTM zone 16 and 17), but the projection uses only one UTM zone (zone 16) as reference.  Similarly, there are three State Plane zones in Florida, but only one is used as reference here. As personal choice, I used the same legend style for each map as if to be actually comparing three side-by-side maps in one document.

Module 4: ArcGIS Online and Map Packages

Above are screenshots of maps that were manipulated in ArGIS 10.2, then shared on ArcGIS Online.  The process of creating and sharing map packages was difficult, mostly because the unfamiliarity with ESRI's website, but the experience of navigating through ArcGIS Online and the online training was useful.  ESRI 's ArcGIC online can be used to find relevant map packages, and share your own maps to colleagues and other users.  Overall, this assignment introduced me to the process of locating and utilizing maps generated by others.

Module Three: Cartography in GIS

Above are three maps of Mexico, each highlighting a different feature: the first (top of post) is a chlorpleth population map of Mexican states; the second (middle of post) is a map of major cities and transportation routes in central Mexico; the third (bottom of post) is an elevation map of mexico.  They were all generated in ArcMap 10.2.  This lab assignment allowed for some freedom of creativity in the topography map, therefore, I chose to orient that map in a portrait because I could more easily fit the map elements (legend, scale) and inset map.

Module Two: Own Your Map

Above is a map showing the location of University of West Florida in Escambia County with an inset of the state of Florida.  I chose to use the same green (lotus pond green) to fill the county as I did to border the state and counties in the inset.  This map introduced several new concepts in ArcMap like clipping features and formatting the legend.  Overall, this has been the most informative assignment.

Introduction

I'm Phil Coppola, a graduate student in the Department of Biology at University of West Florida (Pensacola, FL).

I hail from the Pacific Northwest, originally Vancouver, WA.  In 2012, I received my BS in biology & minor in chemistry from Western Washington University.  My focus of study was ecology, evolution, and organismal biology.  Soon after graduating, I moved to Gautier, MS and worked for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge as a wildlife biology intern.  There I was responsible for monitoring, capturing, and banding many of the approximately one-hundred remaining wild Mississippi sandhill cranes.  I then went up to Brooksville, MS and climbed trees (and got paid) at the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, again as an intern for USFWS. [While up in the trees, I was pulling and banding red-cockaded woodpecker nestlings.] This past summer, I did some research on lizards and helped assist my past professor/mentor lead a course in Ecological Methods in the high desert scrub (Alvord Basin, OR).  Then, in late August, I began my graduate studies here at UWF. 

A few hobbies include:

Bird watching

Gardening - member of botanical society at UWF and help maintain two beds in the community garden

Hiking, camping, and infrequent hunting/fishing

Listening to music

Learning new stuff (like GIS)

I look forward to getting to know everyone better as the course rolls on... :)

Module One: World Map

Above is my first attempt at web-publishing a map generated in ArcMap 10.2.  This map, using a color gradient from light to dark, depicts the world population by country.  It was completed using the step-by-step instructions provided.  The overall process was straightforward, the only issue being final formatting in "Layout Mode."  The purpose of this first assignment was to become comfortable and familiar with navigating in ArcMap 10.2, which I believe was accomplished. - PMC