Lab 3 - Vector Analysis with ArcGIS

Goals:

The main goal of this lab was to better ourselves on the process of vector analysis in ArcGIS, we would do this by using various geoprocessing tools to help us find suitable habitat for bears in the area that we were given, or in this case the study area of Marquette County, Michigan. We were asked to complete multiple objectives in order to complete the lab, each objection using different tools and different feature classes.

Background:

            What we are trying to accomplish with this lab is finding the most suitable land areas in the study area for bears to live. We have many different forms of data to help us determine which locations would be most suitable. Some of the data that was provided are bear locations, streams, and the land cover types. All of these forms of data will make finding suitable living arrangements for these bears much easier than if we had nothing at all.

Methods:

            Throughout this lab we were asked to use multiple different tools for each function and were asked to create different maps showing different. All of the information that we were using had to do with the features that are located in Marquette County, Michigan and our job was to determine which areas in the study area would be best suited for bears to live in. The first step of the lab was to map the different x, y coordinates for the locations of each bear in the study area, and create an X, Y event theme out of all the points. Then we needed to export all of the data that we had just collected so than we could use it later in the lab. The next objective was for us to use spatial operation tools to generate new feature classes for the ID number of each bear and the land cover type where the bears reside. The next step in this objective is to perform the exact same procedure but this time we are using these spatial operation tools to help us find out what are the 3 top habitat types.

            The third objective is for us to try and locate the bears that are closest to the streams, we needed to determine how many bears are within 500 meters of a stream. In order to do this we used the “select by location” function, the “bear_locations” feature class and the “streams” feature class. Once we got all of that information entered into the function, the next step was to make sure that the features that are selected are either 500 meters or closer to the streams. Objective four asked us to do the exact same thing but not use the “select by location” instead we needed to use different tools such as the “buffer” and “dissolve” tools so than we can locate the land cover types that are most suitable for the bears by locating them on the map and bolding those areas in a different color. In order to do this we needed to create an actual feature class that showed the buffer for within 500 meters for a stream. After this step was complete we had to analyze the map, once we analyzed the map we noticed that all of the polygons were now combined from more than one layer. Our next task is to try to remove all of the internal boundaries that are within the answer that we just acquired, in order to do this we would need to dissolve the surrounding area to make a feature class that is showing only the area that are within the streams.

            The next two objectives that needed to be completed are objectives five and 6, for objective five we needed to add the DNR management area within the study area. Our main task for this objective is to find the areas of suitable habitat within the management areas that we just added to the map. Do accomplish this task we used the “select by attribute” tool and selected the bear_location feature class and dissolved that feature class so than we can see which areas are most suitable for bears to live in that are also near a stream. While objective six is asking us to use our answer from objective four, apply it to the DNR and use that data to help calculate the bear management areas and try to locate them five kilometers away from Urban or Built up lands. In order to locate the bear management areas that are five kilometers away from the Urban areas we need to first locate the Urban or Built up lands, we will do this by going to land cover and finding them by using “select by attributes.” Once we have them selected we can now create a feature class of that data, and then we use buffer, dissolve, and erase to the selected feature class in order to get our final image needed for the lab. After we created the map we were asked to do some python coding, in order for the python coding to work from the beginning we needed to make sure all of the correct feature classes were selected so than we wouldn’t get an error right away. We used many different functions and types within python so than we could import the correct information and perform the correct types of analysis. Below is the work flow model of all of the different procedures that I created in this lab, and the final output for the python coding.

Results:

                After looking at the final image we can tell a lot of different things about the map and about bear locations, which are best suited for the bears. If you were to look at map you would notice that all of the most suitable locations for the bears are right by streams which would be a fresh source of drinking water and a good source of food. As you can see most of the suitable areas for bears are not close to the Urban and Built up land areas because they want the bears to be in seclusion and to live in their natural habitat away from human life. Below is the final map of the lab, showing both the study area which contains all of the data on the bear locations, urban and built up land, and the most suitable areas for these bears to live.