GIS4043 Week 11: Vector Analysis 2

The lab exercise this week introduced students to the types and methods of creating buffer zones, ArcPy scripting, and overlay operations. After preliminary practice exercises, these were utilized in the creation of a map of sites within a national forest which would be suitable for future development as campgrounds. Buffers were created around roads, lakes and rivers and then the union tool was used to filter out sites which did not fit established proximity criteria. The erase tool then was used to remove areas which met the proximity criteria but were within conservation areas which needed to be avoided. The result was numerous sites which did meet the criteria.  Because of the newness of these techniques, frequent “Save As” of the map provided intermediate progress points from which I could resume work if I ever ended up at a point of no return which would require starting over.

Several different basemaps were tried and deemed unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. Finally, a topo map was chosen for the basemap so that planners reviewing the sites would have the maximum amount of information in a minimal package. Having topography at hand would enable reviewers to determine suitability of the potential sites relative to the terrain with just a quick glance.

DeSoto National Forest: Potential Campground Sites

A map such as this would give forest planners a starting point for the development of a new campground. If the different sites had been classified according to acreage, planners would be able to compare areas and eliminate those which are too small. This also could be accomplished to a degree just by visual inspection of the map. Reviewing the map on a topographical basemap would enable planners to further determine which sites are reasonably level in general for tents or trailers and which sites are suitable given the river/road relationships. With the possibilities narrowed down by the use of a GIS product, planners would spend their time efficiently going into the field to review the physical sites to determine which site or sites would be best suited for development of a new campground.

Although I love camping in national forests, I probably won’t be visiting this future campground. Mississippi state troopers and I don’t see eye-to-eye on a certain matter of signage, so I’m boycotting the state until I recoup my costs. Although they won monetarily, I won on the matter of principle as the Mississippi state traffic engineer personally confirmed my interpretation of the signage. Life is good. Let’s go camping.