GIS Applications Portfolio

GIS Applications Portfolio
By Jennifer Quinlivan

Site Selection Geog 483: Problem Solving with GIS
Map of Wisconsin depicting 3 cities that fulfill the requirements (listed above) of clients,
Jennifer and Barry in selection of a location for both their business and new home.
Site Selection
Requirements:
• Proximity to milk
production facilities or
farms
• A relatively large labor pool
• Major roads
• A crime rate less that 10%
• A relatively rural area and
within a short distance to
recreational areas
• Location with an airport.

Site Selection Geog 483: Problem Solving with GIS
Final candidate cities for client selection. Final candidates are indicated with a red asterisk.

Site Selection
Geog 483: Problem Solving with GIS
Project Objective:
1. Outside the floodplain and more
than 100 meters from a stream
2. Land use type of agriculture or
undeveloped
3. Aspect (slope orientation)
between 112 - 337 degrees or flat
land
4. Average maximum wind speed
less than 25 mph
5. Average minimum temperature
greater than 35 degrees
6. Soil depth between 31 and 72
inches
7. Medium - to highly drained soils
(values of 1.5 - 3)
The map above illustrates the area suitable for wine production based
on the stated criteria

Site Selection
The importance of creating
conservation areas is not a new topic.
President Theodore Roosevelt knew the
importance of conservation and started
creating and preserving land in the
early 1900’s under the Newlands Act.
Centre County, Pennsylvania wants to
analyze which areas of their county
would support “ a biological reserve
system within the region. If approved,
the reserve system would protect lands
that are unique in terms of species
richness (number of different species)
and habitat quality.” Important criteria
for identifying these areas are listed
here. (King, B. 2012 https://www.e-
education.psu.edu/geog483/l10_p1.ht
ml
All data and map measurements were
set to meters, cell size to 50 (meters)
and contain current projections. Much
of the data was in vector format and
later converted to raster format for ease
of analysis. Final site selections are
based on raster calculation of the
separate raster layers containing
suitable and unsuitable site
information.

Manipulating and Summarizing Attribute Data
Counties Affected by EF Scaled Tornados in Alabama on April 27,
2011. The State of Alabama experienced over 60 tornados with half
of them devastating Central Alabama. (King, B. (2012))
Project Objective:
GIS mapping is used in analysis or description of events
in geographic locations. The project in Lesson 2 examines
the impact of 2011 tornados on affected counties in
Alabama. The impact of the various tornado strengths is
revealed on the 47 counties affected by the chain of
tornados.
Scientists, emergency assistance and even government
agencies benefit from the analysis of this tabular data on
the tornados in relation to spatial features. For example,
scientists study the paths of the tornados as wells as the
related damage a EF1 (Enhanced Fujita Scale, 1 being
relatively mild in strength and 5 being the strongest,
most severe tornado) tornado as compared to an EF5
tornado causes. Emergency assistance leaders gain
valuable information to which locations need the most
assistance. This information is equally important to
government agencies in determining where to direct the
majority of aid and who will benefit most.
The data supplied for this project is unprojected in the
fact that no projection is noted. While unprojected data is
georeferenced, it is difficult to use in a GIS application as
distances, and other measurements are skewed. It is
important that all data is projected and also noted for
future use. The maps in this project have the coordinate
system, NAD 1983 UTM Zone 16N, and projected in
Transverse Mercator.

Tornado Property Destroyed by Tornados in Alabama, April 27,
2013. Destruction is directly correlated to strength of tornado as
well as concentration of tornados. Categories based on natural
breaks.
Tornado Property Damaged by Tornados in Alabama, April 27,
2013. Damage is directly correlated to strength of tornado as well
as concentration of tornados. Categories based on natural breaks.

Housing Density of Alabama Counties Affected by Tornado April
27, 2011. Map layers are not correlated. Only layer indication of
potential tornado affects. Categories based on natural breaks.
Tornado Property Destroyed in Dollar Value by Tornados in
Alabama, April 27, 2013. Destruction is directly correlated to
strength of tornado as well as concentration of tornados.
Categories based on natural breaks.

Address Geocoding
Utilizing geocoding to identify addresses with
in an area that have performed and submitted
radon tests. Homeowners or professionals use a
home radon testing machine to determine if the
radon level found within the home is an
acceptable level. The amount of radon found in
a location is affected by the soil and geology of
the area. Based on soil type and geological
mapping along with the home radon test an
address can be determined as high or low risk.
Project Objectives:
Based on the following radon analysis a certain
address is determined as high or low risk for
radon. By geocoding the addresses, ArcMap
applies a geographical coordinate to the
address. Some address needed to be corrected
in the database in order to have a complete
listing of geocoded, matched points on the
map. Then by overlaying these addresses with
the analysis of high risk soil and geology, one
can determine if the address in question is high
risk. It also allows for the prediction on high
radon areas and corrective measures can be
taken in advance of property development or
purchase. Many times real estate buyers
require proof of radon levels and removal in
order to secure a loan and peace of mind.
Maps depict the rock types and soil types associated with the area.
Some rocks emit more radon gases than other. This analysis is used to
determine high level locations of potential Radon.

Address Geocoding Geog 483: Problem Solving with GIS
Map illustrates the merging of addresses found in the first and second
data set.
Maps depict the rock types and soil types associated with the
area. Some rocks emit more radon gases than other. This
analysis is used to determine high level locations of potential
Radon.

Georeferencing Raster Images
Geog 484 GIS Database Development
Map illustrates the merging of addresses found in the first and second data set.
Corrected Vertical Photo of State College
This image depicts the associated links with the georeferencing of the vertical photo image. 8 control point pairs were selected. This map does have a coordinate
projection of State Plane Pennsylvania-North FIPS 3701, NAD 1983 (Meters) added to the vertical photo image. The dataset properties illustrate the
applied coordinate projection.

Historical Map Orthophoto Rectification
For further reference see attached Adobe document
The file geodatabase has been
assembled and the Sanborn map
is used as a guide to digitize both
street centerlines as well as
polygons representing the
buildings as well as adding
appropriate attributes to the
tables which were predetermined
in the design process. The process
of accomplishing this allows for
the opportunity for deficiencies or
omissions in the design of the
initial database to be revealed.
Digitizing of several maps in a
large project such as this could
then allow revisions to the overall
database design before starting
the complete digitizing process
as, and a document such as this
one could be used as a guide to
this database revision.

Historical Map Orthophoto Rectification
Conclusions
This exercise to this point
emphasizes the need for both a
well thought out database, but
also the need for a trial
implementation of the database
to validate the design and make
changes as necessary before it is
implemented on a wide scale
basis. The Sanborn map for
Charlottesville, VA contains 36
maps, so a trial run is necessary
with several maps to ensure
that a project such as this would
be a success.

Environmental Analysis
Geog 487 Environmental Application
For further reference see attached link
Environmental Analysis Final Presentation GEOG 487: http://screencast.com/t/lEK1gyRT7tp

Hydrologic Analysis using USGS DEM
GEOG 480: Exploring Imagery and Elevation Data in GIS Applications
Analysis
For the most part the boundaries of the map
shown above match the boundaries delineated by
the PASDA Subbasin for the Susquehanna River.
The only difference may be more delineation
values or classification as the map above shows
more basins than the PASDA Subbasin map that
depicts three basin areas for the study location.

Elevation Change Analysis using PASDA Lidar Data
Analysis
As one can see from the maps on the right the
elevation differences between the DEM which
takes into account the ground surfaces, omitting
the elevations of objects found above the ground
surface. A DSM takes into account the ground
surfaces and the elevation of objects found above
the ground surface, evident in the higher
elevations noted in the DSM raster above. An
nDSM removes the object elevations of the DSM
and normalizes the ground elevations between a
DEM and DSM.

Visibility analysis using clean DSM
Below are maps depicting the viewshed from the different points in the study area.

Site Seletction Utilizing Imagery Products
Analysis of the study area for site selection of
a new building area. The criteria for the area
are listed below.
• Parcel 80 acres or more
• Two contiguous acres with views of
Beaver Stadium LED Logo signs from at
least one side, Tuscarora Slope and the
fireworks display.
• A slope of 10 degrees or less with in the
two contiguous acres
• One body of water measuring one to two
acres in size with in the two contiguous
acres.

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