Project 2 - Analyze Week

Landsat & MTR for Skytruth

GIS 4930

This weeks lab had me analyzing Landsat imagery to determine locations that are considered Mountain Top Removal areas (MTR).  The lab had me find a group (group 3) and then use ArcGIS and ERDAS Imagine to classify these locations.  I combined landsat bands which produced a single multi-band image.  From this image I utilized unsupervised classification in ERDAS Imagine.  I classified 50 different spectral values to identify which locations were MTR and nonMTR.  With this analysis done I manually classified and recoded the MTR values in ArcGIS.

Above is a screenshot of the final result.  Of the 50 separate classes I was able to identify 11 of them to be MTR or similar.  This included some urban areas as well as roadways.  These anomalies should be corrected by utilizing buffers in the next lab, but could not be ignored do the the similarities in values to true MTR locations.

Project 2 - LiDAR / Hydro Prepare

GIS 4930

This week I prepared for my next project.  Project 2 had us first sign up with a group.  When the lab began I was working with LiDAR, Digital Elevations Models (DEM's), and Hydrology to better understand how LAS datasets are set up in ArcGIS.  I began our lab with understanding how to find LiDAR data from the USGS website, and quickly moved into understanding how the LAS Dataset toolbar operated.  Some of the 3D modeling is really fascinating and I enjoyed working with it.  Ultimately I was shown how to create a raster from a LiDAR image.  Even though I didn't have to do this in the lab, the instructions were provided so that it can be referred to in the future.

The next lab was more focused around our group and processing the hydrology of our study area based on the DEM's provided to the group.  I learned how to create a stream feature based off of the DEM data utilizing hydrology tools within ArcGIS.  There are six basic steps that should be done in order to achieve this: 

1: Run the Fill tool

2: Run the Flow Direction tool

3: Run the Flow Accumulation tool

4: Calculate the 1% of the pixels

5: Run the Con tool

6: Stream to Feature tool

Finally I was able to create a basin by utilizing the basin tool.  The basins and streams can be seen in the above map.  Basins identify a watershed, meaning runnoff within that polygon will make its way to the stream feature identified within the polygon.  

Project 1 - Report Week

GIS 4930

This week was Report Week.  This was the week that we took everything we have done from our Prepare Week and Analyze Week and combined it to produce desired results that could be used in the situation.  As you have read in my previous blogs, a hurricane is heading toward Tampa, Florida.  In the below maps I utilized Network Datasets to generate the results.  In Scenario 2 you will find a map of a Shelter located at Tampa Bay Blvd.  This map is to be utilized by drivers that need to deliver supplies to designated shelters throughout Tampa.  The routing took into consideration high water due to storm surge and redirected the drivers around areas that could be potentially flooded.  The documents were printed in a gray scale so special attention had to be made to colors and limitations on different types of symbology.  The overview map highlights the entire area and the extent boxes define which map the driver should use.

Scenario 2

In Scenario 4, I was asked to generate a map that could be displayed for a television station that showed local shelters. It also displayed, using different colors, which was the quickest shelter to get to based on local roads and delays that may be present at the time of evacuation.  I utilized ArcGIS to create the initial map, which included the roadways, north arrow, and scale bar.  All other work was done in Adobe Illustrator.  The flexibility of Adobe Illustrator allowed me to create special effects and graphics that ArcGIS does not have, or is limited on.  Drop shadows, layering of other images, and better control of text font were all used to produce a polished map for the viewing audience.

Scenario 4

Overall, this week's project was enjoyable and time consuming.  Each map was unique and even though the data was prepared in the previous week still took a lot of time to tweak to optimal viewing.  It's good to see Adobe Illustrator again as the last time I used it was in my Cartography class.  Once I got started, and did a little refresher reading it was like riding a bike and I was able to do the tasks needed to produce the desired results.

Project 1: Analyze Week

GIS 4930

In this weeks lab we created transportation routes for different scenarios.  Utilizing Network Analyst, I was able to create a Network Dataset from the Transportation layer and from that was able to set parameters to restrict or scale travel time for certain routes.  In the above map you can see that several routes were created.  Patient evacuation routes from Tampa General Hospital to both St. Joseph's Hospital and Memorial Hospital are shown.  The other routes displayed are those that will be used for transportation from the U.S. Army National Guard Station (Armory) to the 3 shelters shown on the map.  These routes took flooding into consideration.  Finally, I was able to produce a polygon area that showed what shelter covered what local roadways in town.  This would allow residents to see what shelter is closest to them based on driving time, and not distance.

I modified my map this week from the original.  I didn't want to change too much, but wanted to add things that I felt were not very clear, or needed improvement.  As you can see, I added an inset map to show you where Tampa was located and its surrounding area.  I also modified the symbology and legend to display the important information.

We were first introduced to Routing early on in our GIS course training.  This lab took what we learned early on and improved upon it.

Project 1 - Prepare Week

GIS 4930

This week I prepared a basemap (above) that is to be used in my first project for Special Topics.  This week was all about preparing for the future and the scenario to come.  In the scenario Tampa, Florida is preparing for a hurricane that is projected to make landfall in the following week.  For the Prepare lab, I was tasked with creating a basemap that showed a storm surge 6 feet above sea level.  Utilizing a provided Digital Elevation Model (DEM) I was able to reclassify the elevations to be in feet.  On the map I also provided the roadways, however I did some prep work on the roadways to allow them to be Networked and therefore allow routing in the future.  This will aid in evacuation routing, road closures, and supply routing for disaster relief.  I also provided the locations of Shelters, Police Departments, Fire Departments, Hospitals, and the U.S. Army National Guard Station located in the greater Tampa area.

This map will serve as a basemap to do analysis and produce reports and maps that emergency responders, reporters, and residents will need in the days ahead, during, and after the storm.

Overall, this week's lab was provided with greater emphasis in what we have learned so far, and allowed me the freedom to reflect on the skills I learned to produce a map that will provide the information that will be needed in next week's lab.