Final Geography 355 Stuff

1) Links to blog postings of your notes/comments on class readings. Please arrange these by week, date, and indicate author, book, chapter, etc. Please create a link so I can click on the week, date etc. and go directly to your notes/comments. If you are missing notes/comments fix it or indicate that you have no notes for the reading.

2) Link to blog postings related to your presentation of readings. You all did this once, typically as part of a group. Format as above in (1). Indicate whom you presented with.

I presented with Ryan Willis and we did the presentation on Schuurman’s book. The title of the chapter was called Bringing it All Together.

T F 3 Schuurman ch. 4

3) Link to your Delaware Data Inventory metadata assignment blog posting.

M M 2 Delaware Data

4) Link to any substantive project blog postings, timelines, research, etc.

Trees and Plants

Campus Map Green Site

DisOrientation Info

For the Mapping Green OWU project

Time Line for OWU DisOrientation Map

5) Link to any other substantial blog postings

Applications of Interest

Time Line for OWU DisOrientation Map

March 30-April 5: Continue to collect data for DisOrientation map of OWU. Talk to Admissions about data for International students.

April 6-April 12: Start to map out how to draw the map for local, national, and international places of internet. Start to answer questions about the creativity and readability of the map. What is our intended audience (everyone)? How to create a map that everyone will be able to understand.

April 13- April 19: Completed stats and information due for DisOrientation Map. Start to piece together the map- the visual and the information on the map together. Use Publisher to create.

April 20-April 26: Continue to create DisOrientation Map and editing process. Talk to Admissions and Orientation Team Leaders about Promotion of the map for Orientation

April 27-May 3: Presentation of the map to Krygier and fellow peers.

Chapter 20: Creating Models

Creating a model was a long process. I had to manually input all of the information and figure out all of its connections. Everything I did through the ArcGIS had a reason of why it connects with each other. The creation of the model looks good but it is definitely time-consuming.

Chapter 19: Making Maps for Presentation

In this section of the book, I learned how to create and manipulate maps for the country of India. As I slowly added the information needed to create the maps, I became fascinated by the detail that comes in creating the map. First, I had to alter the maps in its size so that they are visible and readable to another reader. The two insets of India had to be adjust to be exactly the same size. Then, I had to create the title and shift it over on its side with the correct size to fit in the created margin. The subtitle and the neatline that was later developed helped me stabilize the size of the title. Once that was settled, the legend had to be created. At first, I had trouble with adjusting the legend because every time I adjusted the legends, the legends would right or left adjust depending on how I pulled the legend. The legend did not easily justify itself. I had to manuever the legend a bit for it to not block India or the surrounding islands. Once I got that down to a science, I focused on sizing the picture of the tiger. This was not as difficult as the legend and I was surely happy for that. The final creation looks beautiful and informative. I am happy that I created something like that with the help of ArcGIS. Now to create this totally on my own.

Chapter 18: Making Maps from Templates

Making maps from templates was a long process but I think it is well worth it. Creating the map of Asia and giving structure to the map such as providing x,y data and drawing graphics on a map is practical for people who view this informaton. Drawing the layout for the path of the typhoon is a critical tool. Providing additional information such as the date, the day, the time, and the kilometers per hours can help you determine its path for the next couple of weeks as well as the past couple of weeks.

Chapter 17: Geocoding Addresses

In this part of the ArcGIS tutorial, I learned how to find the address locator which was difficult to do but I learned how to use the help button on the tutorial. Creating the address locator and using the match feature for the address makes the process of finding locations in a city a lot easier. By isolating the addresses, I was able to find the exact location of the Ace Market and other areas of Atlanta by playing around with the location feature. Geocoding separated all of the addresses in a specific area code. I used the Geocoding feature to review and rematch the addresses. Sometimes it is easier to rematch the addresses if the GIS does not catch the changes the first time. I also change changes in some of the data if Rematching the information I found through the GIS was very helpful.

Delaware County Data Review

Address Points-This data set shows where all of the valid addresses in Delaware County, OH are located.

Annexations- Confirms boundaries and divisions in the county from 1853 to now in Delaware

Archaelogical- This will show all of the archaeological (if there are any) features or structures of Delaware County, OH.

Bench Marks- Shows all of the benchmarks for Delaware County, OH

Building Outlines- This is used for all structures that are buil in Delaware, OH.

Census Block- These are areas that break down the population in block information to aid in conducting the census.

Census Block Groups- These are areas that break down the population in block group information to aid in conducting the census. More detailed.

Census Tracts- These are areas that break down the population in tract information to aid in conducting the census.

Farmlots- Identifying all of the parcels of land and their boundaries that is designated as a United States military or Virginia Military District of Delaware County.

Floodplain (100 yrs)- Locates boundaries of the flood plain that have existed for 100 years in Delaware, OH.

Floodplain (500 yrs)- Locates boundaries of the flood plain that have existed for 100 years in Delaware, OH.

Floodways- Facilitates in showing the viewer where the floodways of Delaware County, OH are.

Historical Local- Documents where the areas in Delaware County, OH has a local historical feature.

Historical National- Documents where the areas in Delaware County, OH has a national historical feature.

Hydro- prefix for water. Used for water features.

Hydro Detail-Shows all features for hydro items in Delaware County, OH only with more detail and more structure as to how they connect with each other.

Landmarks- This shows where all of the different types of landmarks or points of interest that are located on the map.

Muncipalities-Facilitates in the process of identifying municipal boundaries within Delaware County, Ohio

Natural Heritage ODNR- Ohio Department of Natural Resources shows where the sites of natural heritage in Delaware County, Ohio

Orthophoto 2008- An orthophoto is an aerial photograph geometrically corrected such that the scale is uniform: the photo has the same lack of distortion as a map. An orthophoto can be used to measure true distances, because it is an accurate representation of the earth’s surface. This orthophoto will measure the basics of the surrounding area of Delaware, OH.

Orthophoto Detailed 2008- An orthophoto is an aerial photograph geometrically corrected such that the scale is uniform: the photo has the same lack of distortion as a map. An orthophoto can be used to measure true distances, because it is an accurate representation of the earth’s surface. This orthophoto will measure the basics of the surrounding area of Delaware, OH.

Parcels- Facilitates and enhances the property appraisal  process.

Precincts- This data set was created to aid in the process of locating voting precincts within Delaware County.

Public Land Survey System- Identifies the two public land survey districts: U.S. military and the Virginia military.

Railroad- Shows the viewer the locations of railroads in Delaware County.

Road Center Line- Shows the process of geocoding, mapping, and transportation analysis for all roads in Delaware County, OH

Road Right of Way- Shows how to locate road right of ways in Delaware County, OH

School Districts- Locates all of the school districts within Delaware County, OH

Soils- Identifying the boundaries for soil types in Delaware County, OH

Subdivision- Aids in the process of locating subdivision and condo boundaries within Delaware County, OH

Tax Distribution- Shows where all of the tax distribution within Delaware County, OH

Topography- This feature shows the study of the Earth’s surface; this time, it is from the vantage point of Delaware County, OH and maybe some specific region in Delaware County, OH.

Topo Shapefiles are subdivided into separate township files.

Townships- Shows where the 19 townships are located in Delaware County, OH

Townships Historical- Shows where the 18 original townships are located in Delaware County, OH.

Watersheds ODNR- Ohio Department of Natural Resources shows where the watersheds are located in Delaware County, OH

Wetlands- This data set shows where the wetlands in the surrounding area of Delaware County, OH is located.

Woodland ODNR- Ohio Department of Natural Resources shows where the woodlands in Delaware County, OH are located on the map.

Zip Codes- Shows on the map where the zip codes for Delaware County, OH are located and its boundaries.

Zoning- This data set shows where the zoning boundaries for housing is located in Delaware County, OH whether this is retail, residential, or commecial.

Chapter 16: Editing features and attributes

I can create features on the last chapter but this time, I can delete modify already made features if need be. You can zoom in to the feature that you want altered and insert features such as vertexes. Using the Editor menu all throughout the exercise made me realize that the editor will be very useful to future projects in the class on ArcMap. You can lengthen and shorten features, split and merge features, and much more. The parcel sites can be adjusted accordingly and made to fit. Attributes values can also be edited through the attribute table and the field calculator.

Chapter 15: Creating Features

In this lesson, I learned how to create features especially when utilizing parcel information. I learned the art of snapping whenever I needed to manipulate or create a new environment. Creating a line that is calculated by the fields that you are in the attributes is another features that I had a chance to use when creating features for a map. Using the feature construction tools, I was able to manipulate the environment to add new sides for the subdivision layer. This included adding a new rectangular plot to the area and I used the auto-complete polygon to accomplish this. Measuring the distance and the length to create a perfectly made plot of land was an interesting feature of the creation process. The plot does not have to interfere with the already created subdivisions since you can toggle on and off.

Chapter 14: Building Geodatabases

In the Building Geodatabases data, I learned how to use a feature class to feature class tool from ArcCatalog to ArcMap. This information turned into shapefiles that are accessible once they are on the ArcMap system. I used a feature class tool that implemented multiples of features to be transferred, the values were water valves and fire hydrants. I also added the feature class of Water Lines as an extra feature to look at and use.  I must admit, I had a little difficulty in figuring out how to relay that information because the information on how to do it in the book is different that trying to do it on the actual application. Finally, I added some fields and domains for the personal geodatabase. I had to change a couple of things in order for the information to be correct. There was a little bit of confusing information in translating the information from the book to the actual application. Once I figured this out, I was able to add these domains for the type of water line that is installed.