Lab 3- Introduction to GPS

Goal and Background

My goals for this lab were to learn how to create a geodatabase in ArcCatalog, use a Trimble Juno GPS to collect spatial data of the new UW-Eau Claire campus mall, and to create a map that includes the features I collected with the GPS.

Methods

The first step I took for Lab 3 was to make a new geodatabase in ArcCatalog and add point, line, and polygon feature classes to the database. Next, I imported a shape file of the buildings on campus and a raster of the UW-Eau Claire campus to the geodatabase. Then I used the extension called the ArcPad Data Manager in ArcGIS to set up my data to be used on the Trimble Juno GPS by choosing the option to check out my geodatabase layers. Next, I deployed my geodatabase folder to the Trimble Juno so I could go to the campus mall and collect my data. The next step I took was to go to the campus mall and collect point, line, and polygon features. I made sure that my GPS was activated so that I could get satellite signals. I collected six grassy areas using the point averaging and streaming data collection techniques. In addition, I collected the location of one line feature (the footbridge) and six point features which included trees and light poles located on the campus mall. I made sure to enter attribute information for each feature I collected. For example, I entered whether a specific point was a light pole or a tree. After I collected all of my features on the GPS I checked my data back into ArcMap by using the ArcPad Data Manager tool. As I checked in my data I made sure to select the point, line, and polygon features I collected to add to my map. Now I was ready to start creating my map. I chose appropriate symbols to represent each feature on the map. I made the symbol for the campus buildings a light color to de-emphasize them because the buildings are not the focus of the map. To finish my map I included the main components of a map such as a title, legend, north arrow, scale bar, source information, the date the data was collected, and the date the map was created.

Results

The Old Davies Student Center was recently demolished and a new campus mall with walkways and green spaces was constructed that took its place. The campus imagery in the map has not been updated and still includes the location of the Old Davies Center. In the map the new green spaces overlap the Old Davies Center building. In the map I located new trees and light poles that were placed in the new campus mall area. I also included the footbridge on campus as a line feature.

Figure 1. Map of the Physical Features on the UW-Eau Claire campus

Sources: GPS data- collected by Brianna Joslin-Zirngible on 10-16-13  

              Aerial photo- National Air Photography Program

Lab 1 Technical Report

Goal and Background

The construction of a new complex called the Confluence Project is being planned by UW-Eau Claire, the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center, and Haymarket developers that will include a community arts center, housing for university students, and shopping space. My goal for Lab 1 was to learn about spatial data sets that are used for public land management, administration, and land use for the city and county of Eau Claire. In addition, I wanted to gain the ability to create a map to represent the Confluence Project.

Methods

For this project I created a map of the Confluence Project that includes a civil divisions, census boundaries, PLSS, city of Eau Claire parcel, zoning, and voting district data frames. For each data frame I first added the necessary feature classes that I wanted to include in the frame as well as a basemap. For each data frame when it was appropriate I changed the transparency of the layers so that the basemap was visible. I added a scale bar to each map and when applicable I included a legend. I first made the civil divisions data frame by adding the county boundary of Eau Claire. The next data frame I created was for the census boundaries. In the census boundaries data frame I included the block groups and tracts feature classes. In the census boundaries data frame I chose to display the population per square mile. Next, I created a data frame with PLSS data for the city of Eau Claire by adding the PLSS data from the city and county of Eau Claire’s geodatabases. Next, I made a data frame for the city of Eau Claire’s parcel data by including parcel area, centerlines, and water features. Then I created a data frame for zoning information by adding the zoning areas feature class and labeled the features according to the zoning code. Lastly, I made a data frame for voting districts and labeled the features according to the ward number.

Results (See Figure 1)

The civil divisions data frame indicates that the proposed site for the Confluence Project is located in the city. Based on the frame the surrounding area of the city of Eau Claire consists of towns and villages. The census boundaries data frame shows that the Confluence Project is situated in an area of the city where the population is between 4000 and 5000 people per square mile. The census boundaries data frame indicates that as you move farther away from the city the population decreases. The city of Eau Claire Parcel data frame indicates the location of the proposed site in relation to other parcels in Eau Claire. The zoning data frame shows that the Confluence Project is situated near the public properties district and central business district. A pattern that is relevant in the zoning data frame is that in the residential areas there tends not to be land designated for the central business district and industrial. Another pattern is that much of the land designated as the public properties district is located next to water and the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers. The voting districts data frame indicates that the Confluence Project is located in voting district 31.

 

 

 

Figure 1

City of Eau Claire's Property and Assessment Search Website= http://www.bis-net.net/cityofeauclaire/search.cfm