Ian Mesoznik
Lab 4
Part 1: Questions for Lab Report
1.Do the points and lines represent the data with the same level of abstraction? Discuss in terms of their representation of the two data layers(cities, roads) that we have added so far, and in terms of other types of data that they might represent.
The points representing cities and lines representing roads do not have the same level of abstraction. The roads simply represent what road number they are and where they are on the map. Alternately, the dots represent cities but also much more. It represents the racial makeup of the city as well as other demographical statistics.
2. What happens when you use the identify tool? Is the option to change the layer(s) being
identified useful?
The identify tool allows the user to look at all of the recorded data for an area that is selected. When clicking a city, I was able to examine its statistics such as data of weather and population. Being able to the change the layers very useful. It is possible to compare and get a large amount of information about different areas for different methods of spatial analysis.
3. Why do you think the Field Definition requires that you differentiate between text and numeric
data types? Why do you need to specify the field width?
Field Definition probably requires to differentiate between text and numeric data types for database purposes. Being able to search and see information about areas is very helpful, however if the system was confusing text and numerical data sets it probably would not work. It is necessary to specify the width in order to allow the program to be able to join the table with the other so that it knows how much data is being put in.
4. What has changed in the table after joining?
There is now a new field titles Weather
5. How is the original attribute data from the States layer distinguished from the Weather data that you joined?
The weather column is now the last field in the table.
6. What would happen if you tried to join the attributes from the States layer to the Weather data
(rather than joining the Weather data to the States data as you just did)?
It would not work because you have only defined weather for a certain amount of states. There would therefore be an error.
7. Print screen of selected record
8. Print screen of new attribute table
Part 2: Questions for Lab Report
9. What does the reclassification step in Step 1 accomplish?
Reclassifying the layer allows us to reduce the number of different types of roads in the legend and for the map, so that we can both simplify the map as well as correspond them to a different scheme titled Road Scores which are classified 0-10 by multiples of 2.
10. Please include a JPEG of roadscore (end of Step 1). This should be a completed map (i.e.
ready for display), exported into your student folder, and inserted as a picture into lab report.
11. Please include a JPEG of hydroscore (end of Step 2). This should be a completed map (i.e.
ready for display), exported into your student folder, and inserted as a picture into lab report.
12. At the end of Step 3, what does the map tell you in terms of the developer’s office building
project? What do the highest scores represent? What do the lowest scores represent?
The map tells you how desirable the location is with a higher score being a more desirable location. This is because nearness to roads gets a high score while far distances get you a low score. This is inverted for hydrology, which the developers are avoiding, by giving high scores to far distances from water and low scores to near distances to water. The developer wants to look for the highest score to choose a location.
13. What does Step 4 accomplish towards producing the final suitability data layer?
Step 4 allows the user to distinguish the best areas in locations that have the correct zoning ordinances to avoid looking into areas that are unusable for office space. It also creates a final suitability score that allows the user to find the most suitable and eligible places to locate the office building.
14. Please include a JPEG of final suitability layer (end of Step 4). This should be a completed map (i.e. ready for display), exported into your student folder, and inserted as a picture into lab
report.
15. Prepare a brief executive summary (~2 paragraphs) to the developer, summarizing your results. Include a short description of the analysis you performed and indicate the locations you think would be the best choices for her office project.
After creating a map representing the most suitable areas, it is clear to see that there are certain areas that are more fit for the location of the office building that others. The formula used the basis of finding the correct zoning usage areas with areas that are both close to roads and far from hydrology. To do this, areas close to roads were ranked with closer being a higher score and the same for water with closeness resulting in a lower score. The scores were then matched up against the zoning use to cancel any areas that were unsuitable legally to be build upon. The formula therefore calculatedthe best locations for the building coding themas the number twenty, found as bright pink on the map.
There are two different locations that fall under this category on the map found either down Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. or down State Highway 54 away from the UNC campus. I would recommend the land plot down Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. It is a highly built location with both areas for shopping and food surrounding it, while also being easily accessible from Interstate 40, and both areas of Chapel Hill and Durham.