Category: Course Student Work

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 had a lot of work to do with the “manual” parts of the program. We still used system tools to do this, but the work to make the features look the way we wanted was done my manually moving them around and creating them. We practiced smoothing shapes, making new features using the satellite map as a template, and how to adjust existing features to better fit a map.

One of the activities in this chapter did not work well for me. We had to move the layout layer of a building to match the layer of the outline, and the tool used to move the corners to match up was very ineffective. This is the feature before and after me moving it into place for a second time.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 explored geocoding and explained how important getting a good score in accuracy is when presenting information. It demonstrated that perfecting data or looking at a more reliable aspect of the data, like zip code, made this score higher. I completely forgot to take pictures of this chapter somehow, but I pretty promise I did it.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 demonstrated different ways of doing spacial analysis. One thing that I really could not get to work properly was the buffers. The first time we did them, the features in the first buffer would select, but when I tried to select the bigger rings of buffer, they would not select. The second time, when we did not layered rings, none of the features would select, only the middle of the buffer. That example is shown here (after the smaller rings when it did work):

Another specific thing we did in chapter 9 was analyze data with the summarize tool and make a visual graph with it. This also did not work correctly for me. When I clicked on the feature the book asked for, it showed up as a different feature in the code, and I went to fix it, and it gave me an error. I decided that maybe the code it made up was just what it had to be, but that gave me all 0s as values. A peer checked this over and they followed the same process I did, but they did not get weird code or a 0 result. That is shown below as well. My graph was very not right as a result of this, but I did make it just to learn how.

Chapter 7

In this chapter, I thought it was interesting that there was a tool to “smooth” tool to make the edges around an area smoother. Overall I thought this chapter was straight forward and I got to practice more with the attribute tables and exploring new tools. 7-4 was a bit tricky because it wasn’t very clear on where I needed to go, but I ended up getting help and figured out how to rotate the image.

 

Chapter 8

The main focuses were about zip code and addresses and I during both 8-1 and 8-2, the ending steps got a bit vague and harder to understand. I overall think that I missed up my maps for this chapter but I thought it was helpful to get some practice with zip codes and addresses.

Chapter 9

I thought this chapter was interesting because of the use of the Spatial Join tool. After I figured out how to work it, it was interesting to see the what could be changed after using this tool. In  9-3 I got a little lost towards the end so again I think I messed up my map. I thought it was cool to use the Location Allocation tool and change the input and outputs. Overall I think this chapter introduced some new tools and allowed me to practice with them throughout the chapter.

Week 7:

Ch. 7:

In this chapter we learned how to make our own plots by taking points around the area and building a surrounding to fill in. This can be important if we wanted to shade in certain areas that have a certain important meaning. I though that this chapter was pretty easy compared to ones in the past. It was cool to make our own plots as well as adjust areas around buildings to make everything seem more percise.

Ch. 8:

This chapter we learned how to geocode using different areas, streets, and zip codes. This can give you precise information based on smaller topics like zipcode in areas that we might not think about. It helps give you more precise information as well. We also learned how to map these points as wel.

Ch. 9:

In this chapter we learned how to do spatial analysis by creating different rings like we see in the first area, and a bunch of other techniques. we were able to create buffer rings that help showcase where something is in proximity to other places. This can be very helpful to see how many places are in an area compared to others like wealthy areas vs. poor areas.

Week 6

Chapter 7

This chapter puts to practice how we draw polygons and define areas using the GIS. Most of our work for this chapter was spent defining areas using polygons and manipulating those polygons to fit the buildings present on the CMU campus. I think it is interesting that they used Carnegie Mellon because I feel like I remember reading something about them having some sort of tie to GIS work.

One of the most fun parts of this chapter and consequently probably the easiest was smoothing polygons to fit real vectors. We did this for several golf course greens and a small lake.

This second picture is the image of a CAD drawing I input into the GIS. It took me forever to find it and I was worried I had messed something up but then I zoomed to the layer and found it in Cincinnati.

 

 

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 put focus on geocoding which is the geographic signature attributed to different points. We first worked to correct some database values that needed some correcting in a registry of attendee addresses. We also did some fairly basic display changes. In the second part we worked on matching address fields with the address we are given to the correct address table. We also checked for the accuracy of each of the matches and the overall successful match count.

Above is a map of all of the addresses in the attendee address database. 

After matching the data in the attribute table we ran a select by attribute based off of the accuracy score of the address matching(score 90 or above). Those fields were highlighted and then the map updated to show the addresses we had a match on vs. the ones we don’t have a match for.

 

Chapter 9

 

Chapter 9 focused on spatial analysis and drawing boundaries around distance to points. This chapter’s work was focused in the city of Pittsburgh where the analysis was on pool availability for the youth and in the last module crime. I found this module to be pretty challenging at times but mostly that was because I was not reading the directions thoroughly and looking for the right buttons. The first two modules introduced buffer rings to show locations around a point and how to add multiple of these buffers around one single point.

We then created a map called a gravity model which instead of showing distance to a point as equidistant use more complex real world logic to discover the distance to the nearest pool(pictured below)

We also created a spider plot graph to show distances without a set color interval. Each of the lines connects from a pool to a block centroid. Finally we organized crime data to come to spatial conclusions about different demographic groups and their crime impacts.

 

Chap 7 focuses on editing, creating, and deleting polygon features. I learned how to make and digitize point features, use cartography tools to smooth features, and work with CAD drawings. I learned how to move and edit the polygons, and I found this to be an interesting but very useful feature. 

I couldn’t figure out how to make the red that symbolized the parking lot appear. And I also didn’t know how to make the transportation icons pop up. 

7.4 Under HBH1 polygon, I can’t get the colors to show up on the map. 

  

Chap 8 focuses on learning about the geocoding process, using geocode for ZIP codes and using geocode for addresses using streets. 

8.1 I don’t see an option for Locators. I could not find a “Pick from Map” button, so I wasn’t able to add a point in the geocoding process. When I tried to symbolize using the Collect Events tool, it kept saying, “Collect Events failed.”

Chap 9 focuses on using buffers for proximity analysis, using multiple ring buffers, creating service areas of facilities to estimate a gravity model of demand versus distance from the nearest facility and learning how to perform cluster analysis to explore multidimensional data. 

9. I was unable to summarize when right-clicking “AGE_5_17”. 

 In tutorial 9.3, you learned how to create a multiple ring service area for calibrating a gravity model. During 9.3, when I right-clicked on “Service Area,” there was no option for “Input Data,” so I was not able to import Facilities and apply the settings asked for in the textbook. I also could not find an option for travel settings, so I skipped that step. Then my “UseRate” tool was not calculating, so I wasn’t able to make the scatterplot. 

9.4 Was confusing for me, mainly because of the “your turn”. I was not able to make it look like the pictures it had as examples. 

Chapter 7- Digitizing 

The learning goals of this chapter include creating, editing, and deleting polygon features; creating and digitizing point features; using cartography tools to smooth features; working with CAD drawings; and spatially adjusting features. The first tutorial in this chapter introduces moving and rotating existing buildings, adding vertex points, and splitting polygons to edit them to match buildings. When two buildings are drawn as one polygon, the split tool will separate the polygons. The second tutorial is about creating and deleting polygon features. This is important because planners need the open polygons to see the surface and for transportation engineering studies. I created a polygon and deleted 4 polygons. The third tutorial taught me how to use cartography tools. These tools are useful to improve the cartographic quality of polygons. The tool that helps with this is called the smooth polygon tool. Some data has features digitized with a few lines that don’t match the true geography. The smooth polygon tool can help smooth features, which will fix the problem. When smoothing, the smoothing tolerance is important; a lower number gives a more detailed path but will take longer to process. The last tutorial taught me how to transform features. When dealing with computer-aided designs (CAD), the drawings or models aren’t usually in the same units as the GIS software, so this is important to remember. 

Chapter 8: Geocoding

Geocoding is a GIS process that matches locations in data to corresponding fields in existing feature classes. When matching sources to reference data, it is not possible to make exact matches. So there is a fuzzy-matching algorithm that does its best to match the source address to the actual address. The system attempts to use the thought processes and rules that an expert would use to complete the task. This algorithm starts each source with 100 points; each problem encountered when trying to match the source would remove points from the score. If there is more than one candidate, then the candidate with the higher score is chosen for that estimated location. On the off chance that there was a tie between two sources, the GIS software picks one, or the user can choose to have the GIS leave ties alone. The first tutorial in this chapter taught me about geocoding data using ZIP codes, which is a good way to geocode because people normally put the correct ZIP code compared to everything else. I learned how to change the geocode match scores through the geocoding options. I have learned how to rematch addresses and add my own addresses from a point on the map. The last thing I learned in this tutorial was how to use the collect events tool. This tool counted the attendees in each ZIP code and applied a symbol to each ZIP code based on the number. The second tutorial is about geocoding with street addresses. I used the create locator tool again in this tutorial to geocode attendee data by street addresses. I reorganized the fields in my attribute table to compare specific values in the data. 

Chapter 9: Spatial Analysis

This chapter focuses on spatial analysis. Sometimes the map won’t have all the data for users to answer questions and solve problems. There are different types of analytical methods that may be needed to answer the questions and solve the problems. These methods are buffers, service areas, facility location models, and clustering. This chapter introduced a new spatial data type, the network dataset. A network dataset is used for estimating travel distance or time on a street network. Tutorial 1 explained what a buffer is and how to specify a buffer’s radius using the buffer tool. This tutorial had me find the buffer zones around swimming pools; this was to determine how many kids are most likely to use the pool. The second tutorial was about creating multiple ring buffers. The third tutorial was about creating multiple ring service areas, calibrated with a gravity model. I followed along with the instructions to create a buffer zone around each open pool on how long it would take to get there. I was able to create the attribute table with the estimated number of pool tags in each area. The fourth tutorial was about using the network analysis tool to locate facilities and determine which ones to keep open. This was determined by maximizing attendance between the pools and creating a map that showed the relationship between pools and block centroids. The fifth tutorial taught me how to perform data cluster analysis. The tool that was used in this tutorial was the multivariate clustering tool. This tool helped create clusters of the data based on gender, age, and the crime committed. From the data, I was able to see a table of information to see the data more easily compared to the map. 

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 was fairly straightforward to complete, introducing the concept of tracing on the map using vertices and other tools. Rotating and moving vectored shapes took a short amount of time to understand and complete, and were very helpful in the more difficult tutorials like tracing and transforming. Tutorials 1 + 2 directly followed the book except for the Your Turn section in Chapter 2. I was unable to complete it, as I was unable to find the bus symbol in general, even after searching the symbology page. After checking with a peer, we both concluded that it is either in another location, or removed from the symbology database. Additionally, in Tutorial 7-4, the CAD diagram on moved a few pixels maximum, even when the same procedure was continually ran. I could not get my diagram to align with what was shown in the book, but the command did successfully ran. After double-checking with two peers, we concluded that the actual procedure did not align with the book.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 was a short but helpful chapter in understanding geocoding and address location. I did not have issues with any of the tutorials, but notably, in later chapters, the tutorials do become more vague and difficult to understand at times. For example, some commands will be given to enter into a tool unprompted. While I was able to parse them out, Chapter 8 was far more difficult to understand than the earlier chapters. Additionally, I found this chapter to be helpful in understanding GIS in context, as mapping density by address or geographic factors is quite common in maps.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 marks the start of part 3 of the textbook, mainly dealing with applying previously learned knowledge. I found this chapter very helpful, especially as the final for this class deals mainly with applying our knowledge from the earlier chapters in the textbook. Unfortunately, I could not make Tutorial 9-1’s  buffer zones work, but it did not impact the rest of my work for the tutorial and merely only lacked the buffer zones shown in the textbook. I was, however, able to get the Your Turn section to work, and the buffer zones did appear after I entered that command. In Tutorial 9-2, the buffer zones and Pairwise buffer tool both worked without any issues, and I was able to complete 9-2 with no subsequent issues. Tutorial 9-3 was notably more difficult to understand, and often had instructions I found unclear or had to make me retrace my steps. I understand the vague terms are because of prior GIS experience, but some of the tutorial did require me to do an internet search to understand the prompt. From there, I had no issues with Tutorial  9-4 or 9-5.

 

Ch 4 Importing data and setting up folder connections is a vital part of GIS  you can organize details into spreadsheet tables, link separate information together .  You also learn how to choose the right map  so your shapes, distances, and areas don’t look distorted. Learning these steps ensures your data behaves correctly before you start running advanced map calculations or building final designs. Calculation tools contribute to success research of certain topics.

Ch5 Working with Map Projections was interesting, setting map coordinate system and layers is a very useful tool.  You Learn to import and organize complex external datasets, specifically focusing on linking US Census map layers with demographic data tables. I finally learned  how to successfully find, download, and bring  geographic files from the internet straight into your mapping software.

Ch 6 Geoprocessing   using tools to analyze, alter, and combine different layers of a map to uncover new information.  You can  clear away small internal borders, letting you group smaller neighboring zones into larger regions like a single unified district. The chapter also teaches you how to use the clip tool to trim away unwanted map data so you only focus on your specific area of interest. I learned after some time how to use overlay where you  extract neighborhood attributes to form study areas. This chapter puts valuable information into prospective.

 

 

 

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 introduced me to the process of manually digitizing features using various tools. I became more familiar with using basemaps throughout these lessons and learned how to edit and create vector map features. The tutorials were straightforward, allowing me to quickly grasp how to adjust polygons to align with building outlines by using the move, rotate, and resize tools. To achieve greater precision in aligning the polygons, I utilized the construction toolbar to add refined points, known as vertex points, to the corners of the buildings. Section 7.1 focused on the finer details of GIS work, helping me create polished maps at close range. In section 7.2, I gained valuable insights into symbolizing point features for parking lots and transportation locations on campus. However, the “Your Turn” exercise in section 7.2 posed some challenges, as the instructions did not clearly specify that I needed to change the feature class type to point. Additionally, I had difficulty locating the bus symbol and had to explore the symbology panel further to find the appropriate symbol. The next lesson guided me through editing polygon shapes and smoothing the green spaces. I practiced using the smooth polygon tool in the “Your Turn” section on Panther Hollow Lake. The final skill I learned was how to take a CAD layer and match it to the corresponding feature on the actual map.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 focuses on geocoding, which is the process of matching addresses from the locator database to tabular data. I learned how to place points using this table data, but I also discovered that even a small mistake can result in inaccurate data points due to mismatches. To address the issues I encountered, I used the calculation tool in the attribute table menu, which provided valuable insights into the data. I practiced applying geocoding processes using zip codes, which helped me visualize how geocoding can effectively illustrate the concentration of a specific feature in a given area.

Chapter 9 

This chapter introduced me to various analytical methods that can be used for multiple purposes. The four methods covered are buffers, service areas, facility location models, and clustering. The buffer tool helps identify features within a specific radius. In lessons 9.1 and 9.2, I applied my knowledge of the pairwise buffer tool using data from 32 pools to estimate the number of children aged 5 to 17 living within a radius of 0.5 to 1.5 miles. Lesson 9.2 focused on teaching me how to use a multiple-ring buffer, which enhances the capabilities of the buffer tool. I learned that the purpose of the multiple-ring buffer is to focus on different features that fall within the specified distances of the buffered feature. Service areas are essential when I am working on a map that focuses on travel data.

Chapter 4: File Geodatabases

• A file geodatabase (.gdb) is Esri’s preferred way to store feature classes and tables, so shapefiles and CSVs get imported into it first.
• A join only works when both key fields are the same data type, which is why the text GEOID has to be turned into a number before joining census data.
• Spatial Join counts points inside polygons, such as burglaries per neighborhood.
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Question: Why does SQL run AND before OR, and how often do missing parentheses give wrong results without anyone noticing?

Chapter 5: Spatial Data

• In raw latitude/longitude, the poles stretch into lines and Greenland and Antarctica look huge. Switching the map to Robinson fixes most of that.
• For the US I used Albers Equal Area Conic, the standard projection for USGS and Census maps, because it keeps areas accurate.
• Local maps use State Plane. Adding the Municipalities layer switched the whole map to PA South, and the lat/long Tracts layer was projected on the fly.
• Turned a table of NYC library X/Y coordinates into points. My first two tries came out empty because no coordinate system was set. Setting State Plane NY Long Island (3104) fixed it.

Question: If layers get projected on the fly anyway, when does it actually matter which coordinate system the data is stored in?

Chapter 6: Geoprocessing

• Pairwise Dissolve merged Manhattan block groups into neighborhoods by name and removed the inner boundaries.
• For the Upper West Side, I exported the neighborhood, used Select By Location on the streets, then clipped them so they stop exactly at the boundary.
• Merge combined five separate borough water layers into one NYC water layer.
  

Question: Clip, Intersect, and Tabulate Intersection all overlay two layers. How do you decide which one fits a question?