This evaluation integrates concepts learned in the Schuurman and Mitchell texts, the software learned in Getting to Know ArcGIS, and the Delaware GIS data.
Save any maps or new shape files you create in your own directory. Don’t modify the original Delaware data files if you can help it. If you do, let me know so I can replace with unaltered versions.
Resources for Exam: Delaware County Land Use Codes are at the end of this evaluation, and a DBF data file is required for the last question in part II. Just unzip and save the file to your personal folder, don’t open it. If that does not work for you, a copy is on a CD (humorously labeled flapjack) in the top map drawer nearest the door in the GIS Lab. Return it if you use it. Or email me.
- Click the following link to get the file: address.dbf
Please do your own work.
You will have to figure things out that go beyond the specifics of what you have learned so far in the class (try using the ArcGIS online help or Googling). Don’t freak out or get frustrated! Ask your instructor or fellow classmates if you are really stuck on a particular question, but give it your own go first.
Approximate amount of pages for each question are noted. I am assuming 1 inch margins, 12 point type, and space-and-a-half line spacing. See the Geography 222 Digital Submission Guide for help with compiling and submitting a digital file.
Turn in a Word doc or PDF of your typed answers (space and a half, normal margins) and insert maps.
Due Monday March 23
I. GIS Concepts (4 pages)
- Distinguish GISystems and GIScience. Provide at least two examples of issues related to these two facets of GIS. Draw from any of our readings. (1/2 page)
- Define and distinguish discrete and continuous features and provide one example of each from the Delaware Data. (1/2 page)
- Define and distinguish vector data from raster data and provide one example of each from the Delaware Data. (1/2 page)
- Define and distinguish geographic features from geographic attributes and provide two examples from the Delaware Data. (1/2 page)
- Define metadata in relation to GIS, using books or the web. Describe basic characteristics of metadata, why it is important, and provide examples. (1/2 page)
- Schuurman goes on and on about epistemology and ontology and GIS. Describe these two terms and provide examples of why they are relevant to GIS. (1 1/2 page)
II. GIS Applications (9 pages, 10 maps)
Some of the questions below require you to make up a problem or scenario then use GIS analysis to solve that problem. Feel free to be as creative as you want to be. Less boring is always better. Make sure to create decent looking maps with appropriate symbols and legends as part of each step and include them with your answers.
1. Selecting and Classifying Land Uses: Create a map that shows the 6 different major categories of land uses (agricultural, mineral, commercial, residential, exempt). These land use codes are in the Parcels data (the class column). Select one of the categories, and create a second map showing all the sub-classifications in that category. Refer to the Delaware County Land Use Codes (below) for category and subcategory information. Symbolize each category with an appropriate color. Add appropriate additional data (such as road center-lines) for reference and make your map look decent. (1 page description + 2 maps)
2. Making New Shape Files from Existing Shape Files: Choose two Delaware data shape files, select a relevant subset of the data on those shape files, and create new shape files of the subset of data. For example, you could select all wetlands and soils within a particular township, or all wetlands and soils of a particular type in the entire county. Create a map using your new shape files, add appropriate additional data (roads, etc.) and describe how what you did could actually be useful. (1 page description + map).
3. What’s Inside? Review ch. 5 from Mitchell (“Finding What’s Inside”) and pay particular attention to the section “Three Ways of Finding What’s Inside” on pages 96-97. Describe a scenario where such analysis would help solve a particular problem, then perform that analysis using actual Delaware data layers. More creative and sophisticated analyses will be rewarded. Please model what you do after the example on pp. 96-97 (including classification and basic summary statistics and a decent finished map). (1 page description + map).
4. What’s Nearby? Review ch. 6 from Mitchell (“Finding What’s Nearby”) and pay particular attention to the section “Creating a Buffer” on pages 124-5. Describe (1 page each) three scenarios – buffering a point features, line features, and area features – where such analyses would help solve a particular problem, then perform those analyses using actual Delaware data layers. Use multiple buffers in at least one of the examples. More creative and sophisticated analyses will be rewarded. Please include a decent finished map. (3 page description + 3 maps)
5. Mapping Change: Review ch. 7 from Mitchell (“Mapping Change”) and create a time-change map of subdivisions in Delaware Co. View the subdivision file (in Delaware Data) and look at the table: there is temporal information here: the date that the subdivision was established (in a peculiar format). Create a graduated color map of subdivisions based on this temporal data. Classify the data so it makes some sense (1850-1900, 1900-1930, etc.) and choose an appropriate color. (1 page description + 1 map)
6. Creating new Features: Review Section 6 in the Getting to Know ArcGIS text and describe a scenario which would lead you to create new point, line, and polygon features on new shape files. Select a particular area of Delaware County, and use the Orthophoto as the source for your new map layers. Add some basic information to the attribute tables associated with each new map layer you create. (1 page description + map with new point, line, and area features).
7. Address Matching: Review chapter 17 in the Getting to Know ArcGIS text. Use the DBF file mentioned above (address.dbf) of Delaware County addresses of sites that have a faulty septic system. P.U.! You have to first locate the sites (using the master.shp file), the address.dbf file sent to you, and a address locator style “US One Address (file)”) and then find out which of the addresses are located within 200 feet of bodies of water. This means that you have to first geocode the file, then create a buffer, then extract all the addresses within the buffer. This is a special challenge for all of you special students! (1 page description + map).
Good Luck!
Don’t Panic!
Don’t put this off until the last minute: it will take some effort to complete some parts of this fascinating and evocative evaluation!
Delaware County Land Use Codes: click to enlarge
