Geography 291: Geospatial Analysis with Desktop GIS

Chapter 7).

In this tutorial I practiced the skills of creating and editing GIS features. We learned about the implementation of GPS receivers and applications. We worked with current features as well as to develop new features for the CMU campus of Pittsburgh. 

This first screenshot shows me adding and moving vertex points. The tutorial told me to add 4 to get the right shape, but I added about 6 and still got the same end result, it just took some time. 

I added a feature class and created a point feature for bus stops. I have a screenshot of this:

At the end of tutorial 7, I worked to rotate buildings, and transform polygons. There is a lot that can be done through the edit tab and I think it was super cool to be able to align the polygons of the floor plan with the actual building on the map. The building we worked with was Hamburg Hall in color on the map. I included two sequential screenshots of this process. Overall this chapter went pretty smoothly.

Chapter 8). 

Tutorial 8 was all about geocoding which connects location fields and the rows and columns of the data to the relative fields in feature classes. This maps the data from the data table. This process has many real life applications and uses. There are some limitations to geocoding in that not all matches will be accurate and so a rule-based expert system software is used by ArcGIS pro to facilitate as much correlation and precision as possible. I made sure not to use the World Geocoding Service within ArcGIS pro. 

For the 8-1 your turn exercise, I was able to add a new point to the map via the rematch addresses pane but in the table it was showing coordinates under the match address column whereas the other unmatched records showed as zip codes not coordinates. I can’t seem to find the slight error that is causing this but I still was able to do it. I think maybe the issue was that I corrected the zip code for that last record when I was just supposed to choose an approximate point.  

Once the survey data was geocoded to zip code center points, I symbolized the attendees feature class using graduated symbols, with symbol size increasing as the number of attendees increases:

In 8-2 I worked to geocode the street addresses. I ran into some bumps with the locator tool but I think I figured things out. I built a street locator and set its geocoding option, geocoded attendee data by street address, and then selected minimum candidate and matching scores. For the your turn exercises for 8-2, I found that 872 matched. The tutorial says 873 is supposed to be the number but I don’t think this matters too much. I included a screenshot where you can see the selected records through the attribute and on the map. In order to identify the number of matched records with a minimum score of 90, I used the select by attributes tool to build a query that expressed for the score to be greater than or equal to 90. The results showed a good geocoding performance. 

At the end of chapter 8, I symbolized and produced final geocoding results:

Chapter 9).

In this tutorial we learned the second part of the visualization of spatial data is the analysis of the data. Engaging in spatial analysis helps us to answer profound real life questions raised and displayed by the data. For instance, a map may show patterns or reveal an issue, but the analysis part allows for work towards solutions to that issue or recurring negative trend. The four fundamental spatial analytical methods we explored are buffers, service areas, facility location models, and clustering. I started off by using buffers for the purpose of proximity analysis. A buffer is simply a polygon that encompasses map features of a feature class. 

Here is a screenshot of the first your turn exercise in 9-1. We created a buffer of the pools feature class, particularly a one mile buffer. Then I performed some analysis, calculating the number and percentage of youths within that distance. I found that 42,548 youths are within that distance. About 87 percent of all youths in the city are close to a pool. 

This next screenshot is from tutorial 9-3 in which I created multiple-ring service-area polygons, spatially joined service areas and pool tags, calculated pool use statistics for service areas, and finally created a scatter plot.  I had some issues with the spatial join tool but I got through things it just took much longer than expected. 

For the very last part of 9-3, involving fitting a curve to the gravity model data points, I was able to open the excel spreadsheet but the beta values were already entered. Thus, the resulting average absolute error values were already there as well. And I’m not sure if we were supposed to just take a look at this stuff or actually do something. It seemed like we were just exploring the spreadsheet and noting those things so I moved on. 

For the 9-4 tutorial your turn exercise, I was able to do the first model run and create the first map but when I tried to do the second model run I kept getting Solve errors. I was able to work with using Network Analyst to locate facilities and see what this looks like, but when I kept getting errors for the second model I tried to figure out the issue but it kept occurring. I included a screenshot of what I produced and I learned that this sort of map is used for visualization. You can see the lines and essentially the lines show the demand relationship between pools and block centroids.

For the your turn exercise of tutorial 9-5, I was able to run the summary statistics tool and create the table with the mean values, but there were a few rows that were in different places then what arcGIS pro showed. I got all the exact same values, things were just in varying positions. Below is my work from 9-5 with performing a cluster analysis. 

CHAP 7:

•  Shows us how to edit polygons, adding or subtracting features deleting and tracing them
• Shows us how to use cartography tools to smooth features
• How to export a CAD drawing

 

CHAP 8:

• Talks about geocoding
• shows us how to use ZIP locators to find Zip codes and then how to geocode them
• Shows us how to rematch data
• Also shows similar traits for street address stuff

 

CHAP 9:

• Shows us how to turn buffers into pairwise buffers, removing the overlapping lines
• Shows us how to build centroids to buffers
• Shows how to make multiring buffers
• Allows us to make a “clipping group” of sorts with buffers
• Allows us to make “pools”, shows us how to make scatterplots,
• shows us how to table data cluster data

Chapter 7

 

Chapter 8

 

Chapter 9

Week 6:

Chapter 7: In this chapter, we were editing, creating, and deleting polygon features, creating and digitizing point features. Use cartography tools to smooth features. Work with CAD drawings. And spatially adjust features. I was doing good, however, in the 7-1 tutorial, I was really struggling to do a few things. I could easily move and rotate the polygon features, but when it came time to split features, I really struggled with that. I did eventually just move onto 7-2. 

Chapter 8: In this chapter, we worked with importing data from zip codes and addresses. We dealt with how to geocode and process them. 

Chapter 9: In this chapter, we worked on creating buffers. We also looked at proximity within our data to a certain area. 

Chapter 7:

Chapter 7 went over mostly edit, creating, deleting, and modifying polygon features. Cartography tools were used to smooth the edges, points were created for easier access to edit these polygons, and this chapter had us work with CAD drawings to insert them into the map and edit them.

 

Chapter 8:

Chapter 8 dealt a lot with geocoding tools and the process. We learnt about how geocoding can select and pinpoint specific attributes and show them. We did this with zip codes and addresses. It then went over what happens if there are non-matches and how to address them.

Chapter 9:

Chapter 9 went over using buffers for spatial analysis and proximity analysis. We learned how to do multiple ring buffers and did a gravity model of demand versus distance from a nearby facility, and then made a scatterplot of it. We then did a cluster analysis of various crimes and explored its data.

Chapter 7

In Chapter 7, I learned how to edit, create, and delete polygon features, create and digitize point features, smooth features using cartography tools, utilize CAD drawings, and perform spatial adjustments of features.  It was difficult to rotate and place them on the map, but I found it interesting to realize that bus stops we often see on maps are created in this way.

Chapter 8

 

 

In Chapter 8, I learned to understand the geocoding process, perform geocoding using ZIP codes and street addresses, and I was surprised that approximate matches could be made even when the data did not match perfectly.

Chapter 9

In Chapter 9, I learned about proximity analysis using buffers, the use of multiple-ring buffers, creating service areas to estimate a gravity model of demand based on distance to the nearest facility, optimal facility location using ArcGIS Network Analyst™, and exploring multidimensional data through cluster analysis, and I was able to learn this chapter smoothly.

T: 1-1 Introductions

 

Saving Project Name

 

Project (next to map,insert, analysis, etc tab) → save project as

 

Name Tutorial number Name.aprx

 

Displaying a Map

 

Bookmarks→map of choice

 

Basemaps

 

Basemaps = layers for what you wish to represent (rivers, topography, etc)

 

Contents Pane

 

View + Pane = select contents 

 

Contents = selector for what layers you wish to eliminate and keep 

 

Catalog Pane

 

 View tab → windows group → Catalog Pane

 

Allows for easy access to all project components

 

Export Layer tool

 

Share tab (after project, map, insert, etc under the logo in left top corner) → export layer

 

Saving Images

 

1. On the File Type drop-down menu, click PNG.

 

1. For Name, click the Browse button, browse to save the file to your top, and rename it FQHCAndUrgentCareClinics.png.

 

150. For Resolution, type 150.

 

1. On the Color Depth drop-down menu, click 24-bit True Color.

 

1. Click Export to run the tool.

 

T: 1-2 Navigating Map Display

 

Navigation of Map

 

Map tab→full extent→explore button = center map/info on features

 

Bottom right buttons do things

 

Wheel button Zooms in 

 

Map Back button

 

Map tab→Navigate→ arrows

 

Turing all Feature classes on/off = ctrl on press hold + check box click = on/off for all

 

Bookmarks

 

Bookmarks = zooms to thing you select

 

Creating new bookmarks = bookmarks (navigate) + new bookmark + name

 

Manage bookmarks = bookmarks (navigate) + manage bookmarks

 

Selecting Attributes data = Right clicking + attribute table + select by attribute = where + Name + is equal to + location 

 

Technical things turn me into a zombie…  my eyes just glaze over after a while. I know I’m missing things in these chapters and it’s led to a lot of confusion! Definitely going to look over these tutorials and the previous ones as well before the final, because I keep getting to parts of the tutorials especially in chapters 5 and 6 where it will ask me to do something but the data is missing or the function doesn’t make sense. I gotta say it would be nice if some of the references to past tutorials would direct me towards the specific function that was used, not a refresher but a better reminder (that might just be my lack of working memory talking though).

Anyways chapter 4 wasn’t TOO too bad. Importing and exporting things are pretty self explanatory.(i did forget to choose colors for the outlines but it still works)Altering attribute tables was pretty simple too.

Some of the parts with symbology were what I needed a refresher on. Also the joining part was feasible, if not comprehensible.

In 4-3, I had to mess with the queries a little but i think I got it?

Spatial joins were mentioned later on only for me to forget them and looking back is reminding me what those were. Also Krygier pointed out that one error in the set can throw the whole thing off and lead to a bunch of null data. I guess I have to make sure everything is lined up and the same!

I had to fiddle around again to get the center points to work because x and y weren’t filling in on the tool (and then I failed to take a screenshot of that but I can’t replicate it not working so thats good?)

Finally 4-6 wasn’t too bad either, still pretty intuitive. (I could have chosen more effective symbols though)

Now I’m on to chapter 5, posting this late because I need to redo a few parts. Like I said, there were definitely a few things I glossed over. Changing projection systems was pretty ok though.

The local and state plane coordinates were pretty intuitive as well

This took more messing around with but I did figure out the coordinates.

The census data site is kind of confusingly laid out… i definitely need to be told exactly which map is needed. Also the bike data is where I really screwed it up and didn’t clean up the tables properly. This is the best I could do… moving on!

The pairwise dissolve tool was cool!

But I didn’t get the label part.

Then I did something weird trying to select the west block groups in the Upper West Side.

Pairwise clip tool is kind of like a layer mask. The above image is from before I did it but it worked fine. Merging layers was similar!

Here’s another bad join!

So yeah. Mostly ok, still pretty confused but I’m just gonna keep powering my way through and review things as needed.

Chapter 4: 

Adding a folder through the Catalog pane enables you to access and import data from that folder into your current project.
Older shapefiles can be converted into feature classes, ensuring they can be fully utilized within ArcGIS. ArcGIS provides tools to create, modify, or delete fields in a feature’s attribute table, as well as apply Python expressions to manipulate the data they contain. By joining tables, you can extract only the information relevant to your analysis from a larger dataset. With SQL queries, you can filter datasets to locate only the records you need, using search terms combined with Boolean operators. Spatial joins make it possible to count the number of features within a defined boundary and generate the results as a new layer.

Chapter 5:

Because the Earth is spherical while maps are typically displayed on flat, two-dimensional surfaces, different map projections are used to translate the 3D surface onto a 2D plane—each with its own strengths and limitations. The Robinson Projection is commonly used for general purposes when displaying the entire globe. No matter which projection is chosen, the larger the area being represented, the greater the distortion that will occur. In GIS software, shapefiles are a widely used format for storing vector data. Many sources of spatial data are freely available online, allowing you to download only the datasets that are relevant to your project. Esri’s Living Atlas provides access to extensive collections of geospatial data, which can be added directly to your project using the Add Data tool.

Chapter 6

GIS provides tools to aggregate data by dissolving or combining smaller groups into broader categories. The clip tool allows you to reduce a larger dataset to a specific region, aligning it more closely with the focus of your project. Multiple datasets can be appended together to form a single, larger feature class. The union tool enables you to merge two polygon feature layers into one combined output layer.

Chapter 4

• database- container for the data of an organization, project, or other undertaking for record keeping, decision-making, analysis, or research
  • geodatabase is Esri’s database for geospatial data

Tutorial 4-1

• software automatically creates geodatabase when you start an ArcGIS project
• can connect to other folders for easy access
• shapefile- spatial data format for a single point, line, or polygon layer
• 

Tutorial 4-2

• much of what is displayed by GIS depends on attributes- columns of data in tables
• you can download data from external sources (ex: US Census Bureau) to map
• added a column to Tracts attribute table
• 

Tutorial 4-3

• GIS links tabular data to spatial features in feature classes
• SQL criterion: attribute name <logical operator> attribute value
• 

Tutorial 4-4

• count burglaries by neighborhood
• created choropleth map based on the join count I added

Tutorial 4-5

• GIS creates central points when you use graduated colors for symbology for polygon layer
• created fields to find coordinates of central points
• Feature to Point calculates central points instead of centroids

Tutorial 4-6

• creating code table and necessary fields/data

Chapter 5

• learn about latitude and longitude coordinates and their geographic coordinate system
• map projections- making flat maps from the nearly spherical earth

Tutorial 5-1

• Longitude: 0-180 east to west
• Latitude: 0-90 north to south
• 100+ map projection in GIS
• graticule- networks of lines on the map (30-degree intervals east-west and north-south)
• changed map shape
• 

Tutorial 5-2

• working with US map projections
• Albers equal-area standard projection for US Geographical Survey (USGS) and US Census Bureau for US maps
• larger part of world you need the more distortion

Tutorial 5-3

• Foe medium/large scale maps use localized projected coordinate systems specific to the study area
• need to use a reference map to determine what zone you are in to apply the correct coordinate systems
• adding layer adopted new coordinate system to the map

Tutorial 5-4

• review file formats for vector spatial data
• GPS and many other databases provide coordinates with x,y values
• KML is the file format used to display geographic data in many mapping applications (international standard for Open Geospatials Consortium)
• 

Tutorial 5-5

• use data from US Census Bureau
• learned how to clean up data in Excel
• trying to export files into the ArcGIS crashed my computer and I had to restart it and couldn’t finish the tutorial

Tutorial 5-6

• rasters are large files and should probable be stored elsewhere
• 
• Bicycle Count Stations wasn’t there where it said it would be

Chapter 6

• geoprocessing- framework and set of tools for processing geographic data

Tutorial 6-1

• 

Tutorial 6-2

• workflow for creating study region from layers that have more features than needed
• created feature class from selected features

Tutorial 6-3

• merging water features into a new single layer
• 

Tutorial 6-4

• use Append tool to add features to an existing feature class
• Added FireHouses and PoliceStations to the attribute table

Tutorial 6-5

• intersecting features to determine streets in company fire zones

Tutorial 6-6

• Union tool overlays geometry and attributes of two input polygon layers to generate a new output layer
• 

Tutorial 6-7

•