Class Plan (November 22)

Monday, November 22, 2010

  1. Work on your own files for the shortest path exercise. Things have been wild leading up to GIS Day last week, and an unfortunate accident happened to my son. This combined to push me out of work and email for some time and let's just take care of this right now.
  2. Discuss remaining schedule
  3. 3D Visualizations Exercise (DATA) - Fun Stuff! (data source)
  4. Export to Google Earth

** No Class Nov 15 **

Monday, November 15, 2010

** No Class Nov 15 **

Last Minute GIS Day Preparations driving me crazy.

Hopefully see many of you guys on Wednesday!

I think I have now received all group terrain edits and will redistribute by this afternoon.

Thanks guys!

Class Plan (11/15)

Monday, November 8, 2010

3D Exercise

  1. Download Exercise
  2. Exporting to Google Earth using 3D Analyst and also KML manual editing (for higher resolution)

Class Plan (10/08)

Monday, November 1, 2010

:: Shortest Path (least cost) analysis will be done in Spatial Analyst.

:: Each team will turn in a KML file, not ArcGIS files. We will discuss ArcGIS 3D Analyst and Google Earth next week.

:: Least Cost Procedure Background

  1. Run through Military Path demo
    1. Down data here
    2. Download guide here (incorrect version, will post corrected version after class)

  2. Each team will create a new (and unique) military terrain in the San Juan Mountains.
    1. Create, by hand:
      1. Mission Points
      2. Known/suspected mine fields
      3. Known/suspected enemy locations
      4. Edited highway layer
    2. Please make it possible for other teams to generate a path
      1. Take into consideration that the path cannot traverse over:
        1. Water Bodies
        2. Highways (delete segments to create a passable terrain)
    3. Teams will then trade these created terrain scenarios.
    4. Shortest path project will be based on:
      1. Traverse through the military terrain provided to each team, taking into consideration any of the datasets provided in the San Juan Mountain geodatabase (download from UTA server). The more datasets included in the generated path, the better. The best projects will make unique and creative uses of the various datasets available.
      2. Why San Juan Mountains and not here in Texas? Our topography is boring.

Turn in a .ZIP file via MavSpace or CD

In the .ZIP:

  • + Instructions for me. (I assume you will want me to install the data directly to the c:/ DRIVE)
  • + Data
  • + MXD (bonus if you create a toolbar with buttons that work)
  • + Toolbox

Seems there were some issues with the Erase tool, which is actually a very powerful analysis tool.

I heard over the weekend that it is not available on the student license. Oops, this is correct and I forgot.

I heard right before class that there were SQL errorsd when run. I will investigate this over the week.

Bottom line? Forget about the homework. I appreciate all efforts to complete it and I am sure the frustrations just make you all like me *even more*! Everyone gets full credit and I will investigate.

Class Plan (10/01)

  1. Reminder about GIS Day
  2. Go over exam
  3. Add a custom toolbar in ArcMap and add a button referencing a geoprocessing tool
  4. Review Pizza Demo model as a reference
  5. Open session to work on projects

Code to call a geoprocessing tool from VBA button:

Private Sub UIButtonControl1_Click()
Dim pApp As IApplication
Set pApp = Application

Dim pUID As New UID
pUID = "esriGeoprocessingUI.ArcToolboxExtension"

Dim pATBExt As IArcToolboxExtension
Set pATBExt = Application.FindExtensionByCLSID(pUID)

Dim pAtb As IArcToolbox
Set pAtb = pATBExt.ArcToolbox

Dim pTool As IGPTool
Set pTool = pAtb.GetToolbyNameString("buffer_analysis")

Dim pParams As IArray
Set pParams = pTool.ParameterInfo

Dim pParameter As IGPParameter
Dim pParamEdit As IGPParameterEdit
Dim pDataType As IGPDataType
Dim sValue As String

'First Parameter
Set pParameter = pParams.Element(0)
Set pParamEdit = pParameter
Set pDataType = pParameter.DataType
sValue = "D:\workspace\Newfoundland.mdb\roads"
Set pParamEdit.Value = pDataType.CreateValue(sValue)

'Second Parameter
Set pParameter = pParams.Element(1)
Set pParamEdit = pParameter
Set pDataType = pParameter.DataType
sValue = "D:\workspace\Newfoundland.mdb\roads_buf"
Set pParamEdit.Value = pDataType.CreateValue(sValue)

'Third Parameter
Set pParameter = pParams.Element(2)
Set pParamEdit = pParameter
Set pDataType = pParameter.DataType
sValue = "500 Meters"
Set pParamEdit.Value = pDataType.CreateValue(sValue)

Dim pCommand As IGPToolCommandHelper
Set pCommand = New GPToolCommandHelper
pCommand.SetTool pTool
pCommand.Invoke pParams
End Sub
Also need to ensure the ESRI GeoprocessingUI Libraries is referenced.

New Due Dates

Monday, October 25, 2010

NOVEMBER 8 :: New Coastguard Facility Automated Model

NOVEMBER 22 :: Military Terrain Path

HW (Due 11/01)

Geoprocessing in ArcGIS (pdf) - (DATA)
- must download on campus

Read through Page 67. Do the Quick Start Tutorial. Print off result and bring to class.

Class Plan (10/25)

Create a Site Selection Suitability Model


Download it!

Model I Made!

Reminder about GIS Day!

Grade Distribution

  • 100%: 8
  • 90%: 2
  • 80%: 7
  • 70%: 2
  • Below 70%: 2
OK, I am overall pleased with these grades. 17/21 earned an 80 or higher, which is fantastic. But I want to give you the opportunity to bump your grades higher, if you wish.

Redo any question you did not answer correctly and resubmit exam next Monday for 1/2 credit of each question missed. For this reason, I will not go over the exam until next week.

By the way, question 9? Most exams that did not earn 100% got this one wrong, and the wrong answers were not all the same. Please note this question simply asked you to multiply the three layers together, nothing more.

Midterm Exam

Monday, October 18, 2010

Access the EXAM

You will also need this DATA

EXAM - DATA

Due to the excessively high (in my opinion) numbers of students who have contacted me about not being able to attend this evening's class to take the midterm, I have decided it best to let everyone take the exam as a take-home exam instead of designing customized exam situations for those who cannot make it. I think is the most fair for everyone involved.

So, here is how we will play this one...

At 5:30pm, when class/exam *would* have started, a post will be made on this site with a link to the exam. It will be filled out on the online form that the link will direct you to. The exam must be submitted but tomorrow (10/19) 7pm. At this time the form will be taken offline. No exceptions. Zero. None. This is the most fair I can think to make this and any further problems any students may have will need to be worked around.

As this exam is now completely take-home, there is no need to come to class at 5:30pm this evening. But, of course, you may if you wish take the exam in the classroom during class time. I will not be physically in class this evening (as I do not expect a large showing), but I will be on Meebo chat (IM) to help with any confusions.

Remember the following exam rules:

+ Be Honorable!
+ Open books, notes, internet
+ No working with any others in any way (Be honorable, please do not cheat. Even if not caught, it is never worth it.)
+ GOOD LUCK!

EXAM - DATA

Midterm Exam Example Questions

Monday, October 11, 2010

Exam Details:

  • In-class
  • Open textbook, notes, Internet
  • No sharing or communication during the exam (in-person, texting, chatting, etc.)
  • All questions will be straight answers. This means there will be no images printed nor files submitted.
  • Partial credit is not to be expected and is available only under specific and unique situations.
  • The exam will be given to you in print and online. You will fill the answers on the print paper and submit it.

Sample Questions
  1. Create a layer representing the slope of Arlington Quad. If you create 10 equal classes, what is range that represents the highest values (steepest)? [31.92996713 - 35.47774124]
    1. Data
    2. projectednad83 file elevation is meters and spatial reference is nad83 (arctoolbox/data management tools/projections & transformations/raster/project raster) - Use UTM NAD1927 Zone 14N -OR- Set data frame to that reference and export raster same as data frame
  2. Create a layer representing the distance (in feet) from major roads in Tarrant County. If you create 10 equal classes, what is the range that represents the highest values (furthest)? [33,601.44376 - 37,334.9375]
    1. If you do not have a major roads file readily available,download pizza demo for major roads (arterials)
  3. Situation: Particular animal species known to always travel within .5 km of a particular vegetation type. If you were to create a reclassification scheme of the distance to this vegetation type, in order to identify possible locations to find the species, (1) what is the minimum number of classes you need to create? and (2) what would be the break points of these classes? [2 classes] [.5 km and max value]
  4. If you needed to include population density, that was obtained from the American Factfinder Census website, as an input into suitability analysis, would you use distance-straight line or convert feature to raster? [convert feature to raster]
  5. An analyst used the Raster Calculator to multiply two raster layers together. Afterward, he could not locate the generated Grid file to back up his work? What could he have done to ensure that the result of the Raster Calculator will store the result in a folder of his/her choosing? [specify working directory in spatial analyst options]
  6. Take these two raster files and compute a weighted average. The weight of the d_roads file will be 25% and the wieght of the income file will be 75%. If you create 15 equal classes, what is the range that represents the highest values? (data) [394,166.8793 - 422,321.6563]

Class Plan (10/11)

Items Discussed Today:

  1. Geoprocessing Tools in ArcToolbox
  2. Creating a Model
  3. Including Geoprocessing Tools in Model
  4. Adding Parameters
  5. Environmental Settings
Exercise #1
  • Convert this table into a shapefile.
    • First convert to temporary event class
      • Right-click/Display XY Data
      • X: Long
      • Y: Lat
      • Spatial Reference: NAD 83
    • Second export the event class to new shapefile
      • Right-click/Data/Export Data
Exercise #2
  • Convert this table into a shapefile exclusively using the Geoprocessing Tools. (No right-clicking and no toolbars.)
    • Create Temporary Layer: ArcToolbox/Data Management Tools/Layers and Table Views/Make XY Event Layer
    • Copy to New Shapefile: ArcToolbox/Data Management Tools/Features/Copy Features
Exercise #3
  • Create an Automated Model that does the same thing as the above procedure.
  1. Create a new Toolbox in ArcCatalog (right-click/New Model)
  2. Add this Toolbox to ArcMap (right-click ArcToolbox/Add Model)
  3. Create a new Model in the Toolbox (right-click/New Model)
  4. Edit Model (Right-click Model/Edit)

Class Cancelled (10-04)

Monday, October 4, 2010

Thank you for working hard and turning in your projects!

Enjoy the cool weather and the week off! Have fun!

Project Notes

Monday, September 27, 2010

Turn in via Mavspace

Steps:

  1. Which variables to select
  2. Ensure that all files are in a linear projection system (I suggest TSMS)
  3. Set the working directory and extent of spatial analyst
  4. Decide for each individual layer you have whether you need (1) proximity or (2) Straight values
  5. Reclassify
  6. Use raster calculator to calculate the weighted average
  7. Use boolean expression to locate most suitable locations
Turning in:
  1. Packed up zip file containing:
    • Word file
      • Team member names
      • List of variables used
      • Rationale to the reclassification and weighting decisions
    • MXD File
      • Work!
      • Neat
      • Remember this is the first thing I will look at.
    • Data

HW (and good system for projects)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Example file

Convert the following files to the TSMS used in the above file:

  1. Elevation (prepared NED)
  2. Number of households (prepared households)

ESI Metadata

-
1
walls and other solid structures (least sensitive shoreline type)

-
2A
Scarps/steep slopes in clay

-
2B
Wave-cut clay platforms

-
3A
Fine-grained sand beaches

-
3B
Scarps/steep slopes in sand

-
4
Coarse-grained sand beaches

-
5
Mixed sand and gravel or shell beaches

-
6A
Gravel or shell beaches

-
6B
Exposed riprap structures

-
7
Exposed tidal flats

-
8A
Sheltered riprap structures

-
8C
Sheltered scarps

-
8D
Sheltered rocky or karst shores
New shoreline type added by William White to describe karst outcrops in Baffin Bay, Texas

-
9
Sheltered tidal flats

-
10A
Salt and brackish marshes

-
10B
Freshwater marshes (herbaceous vegetation)

-
10C
Freshwater swamps (predominantly woody vegetation)

-
10D
Mangroves or woody vegetation in salt water

Extra Credit

Two ways to earn generous heaps of extra credit in this class.

First, 2 points will be added to your overall final grade every time you attend a Library-sponsored GIS workshop. This is a poptential 6 points added to your final, overall grade. First one is this Thursday! Awesome if you can make it.

Second
, 5 points will be added to your final overall grade for each student who volunteers to create a poster for this year's GIS Day activities. More information here: http://library.uta.edu/gisday.
__________________________

Title: Consumer Data, Demographics & GIS
Description: Come and have fun learning about geographic information systems (GIS) and the various types of socio-economic data we all have access to. This hands-on workshop requires no GIS experience. Open to everyone.

Time: Thursday, Septerber 23, 3-5pm
Location:Central Library, B20

Title: GIS in 3D: Flythroughs, Topo, & CAD
Description: Learn how geographic information systems (GIS) can build interactive 3D terrain models and work with topographic and even CAD data. This hands-on workshop requires no GIS experience. Open to everyone.

Time: October 14, 3 - 5pm
Location: Central Library, B20

Title: A New Hogwarts Extension in North America
Description: Like Harry Potter but wish there was a Hogwarts extension campus here in North America? Me too! Learn how geographic information systems (GIS) can help identify the best location to build such a campus of wizardly learning. This hands-on workshop requires no GIS or experience. Open to everyone.

Time: Thursday, November 17, 3-5pm
Location:Central Library, B20

Class Plan (09/20)

!! CLASS ENDING 630PM !!

!! NO HOMEWORK DUE NEXT WEEK !!

Plan for Today's Class

1. Explore datasets for Coast Guard site selection project.
- Texas General Land Office: GIS (source) (backup)\
- GLO NRI Data
- A good background map (base map) is: Geography Network/Census 2000 ArcIMS layer

2. Class Exercize:
We are the xSkaters and need to find a cool place in Tarrant County to practice our downhill skateboarding.

Criteria (2 cut for abbreviated class):

  1. Steep slope as possible
  2. Far from major roads
  3. Low number of households
  4. Prefer not to be within .5 KM of schools
Data:
  1. Elevation (prepared NED)
  2. Major Roads (Texas GLO)
  3. Number of households (prepared households)
    • For those of you who may have concerns about how/where to access the demographic data for your projects, use this file!
  4. Schools (TEA)

To convert a file's coordinate system, use ArcToolbox/Data Management Tools/Projections & Transformations/

Coast Guard Project Due Oct 4

Monday, September 13, 2010

Coast Guard Project Due Oct 4

Class Plan (09/13)


  1. Review homework & ensure everyone is member of team.
  2. Introduce the Spatial Analyst Toolbar
  3. Explore Surface Analysis functions
    1. Download 30-meter DEM for Arlington Quad from TNRIS. [DIRECT LINK]
    2. ArcGIS can not read DEM (digital elevation models). It must be extracted to a location on your computer with no spaces in the path. Then use ArcToolbox/Conversion Tools/To raster/DEM to Raster
    3. Create contour lines, slope, aspect, and hillshade.
  4. Class Exercise: Where in the D/FW Metroplex should we open a new pizzeria?
    1. Download materials here
      1. We will be following (kind of) the Guide_WithoutGeoprocessing.doc.
      2. Same dataset we used last class and homework.

HW (Due 09/20)


  1. E-Book (Using Spatial Analyst) (on-campus access) -- Through page 39. Take screenshot of results of the Quick-Start tutorial (new school) and bring to class.

  2. (Add team members on this paper) Write a 1-page paper (as short or long as you need to make it - a single paragraph or two is fine if you hit the following two points) explaining how the site suitability process works. I am looking for two items. First, I want you to explain how the process works...the steps. Second, I want you to provide an example from your research (or personal) interests where site suitability process is applicable.
    1. Background Info
    2. Examples:
Suitability Analysis with Raster Data - Part 2

Land Use Suitability Analysis for Florence Township, Goodhue County, southeast Minnesota, U.S.A.

Using GIS for Grape Suitability Analysis

A GIS APPROACH TO HABITAT RESTORATION SITE SELECTION AND PRIORITIZATION IN THE NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY HARBOR ESTUARY

1) Fossil site prediction using geographic information systems (GIS) and suitability analysis: The Two Medicine Formation, MT, a test case

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Volume 251, Issues 3-4, 8 August 2007, Pages 354-365
Kathryn B. Oheim
Full-Text (Campus Only)

2) GIS-based land-use suitability analysis: a critical overview
Progress in Planning, Volume 62, Issue 1, July 2004, Pages 3-65
Jacek Malczewski
Full-Text (Campus Only)

3) A GIS-based multi-scale approach to habitat suitability modeling
Ecological Modelling, Volume 169, Issue 1, 1 November 2003, Pages 1-15
Ron Store and Jukka Jokimaki
Full-Text (Campus Only)

4) Integrating spatial multi-criteria evaluation and expert knowledge for GIS-based habitat suitability modelling
Landscape and Urban Planning, Volume 55, Issue 2, 10 July 2001, Pages 79-93
Ron Store and Jyrki Kangas
Full-Text (Campus Only)