Today's lab was my first experience using ArcPro, or any GIS software, we completed a tutorial program in which we were using geospacial data to observe and predict the effects of road construction in the town of Rondonia, Brazil. In addition to learning the basics of using ArcPro this lab served to demonstrate fundamental GIS concepts, which I hope to pass on here.
1- What makes data geospacial?
If I had to summarize it in one sentence; Geospacial data is data about things and events as it relates to specific points on the globe. I understand that may sound a little vague, but it really can be just about anything.
2- What makes data in a GIS different from a digital map?
The key difference between GIS data and a digital map is that we can different "layers" of data to the map to establish relationships between objects and phenomenon with their surroundings. For example, if we want to understand how road construction will affect the ecosystem we can input layers of data for existing and planned roads, local flora, and the potential area for deforestation. (Foreshadowing much?)
3- Why is understanding geospacial concepts and geospacial data fundamental to working with UAS data?
Just like how GIS data can have many layers of data, there are many "layers" to successful to UAS operations in a professional sense. Geospacial data can be a huge asset to UAS mission planning by allowing UAS operators to create databases containing all the relevant info they may need to plan a mission, i.e. terrain features, airspace restrictions, ground control points, crew placement, lines of sight, wildlife concentrations and much more. UAS can be and are a great method of gathering geospacial data due to their flexibility as a remote sensing platform.
4- What are some of the key geospacial concepts that this lab addresses?
Aside from the basic of using the software this lab addressed the concepts of databases, information sets, the use of correct projections and datum's.
Methods & Lab Assignment:
With that established, lets get started on what the lab actually entailed.
1- Finding what your looking for:
The first thing we had to do in the tutorial after opening the database provided was find the area we were interested in. We started with a topographical map of Brazil as our basemap an used the locate function to zoom in on the town of Rondonia. For this step its significant that the basemap was a topographical one as it helped to visualize where existing roads were in relation to their surroundings; and later on, making sure that the existing roads layer we added matched with their real world location.
2- Symbology and layers:
Once we added the first few layers we needed (existing roads, deforested areas, and protected areas) we started configuring their symbology and attributes to make the map clearer. Symbology in ArcPro allowed us to change various attributes of the layers such as, their color, names, transparency and their order of importance within the layer catalog. The symbology also allowed us to select layers by their attributes; meaning, we could select layers based on things like their relation to other layers.
3- The buffer tool:
With the basic map coming together we began adding in elements that would provide the data we were looking for, in this case the deforested area created by the road construction. We did this by using the buffer tool on a planned roads layer that created using attribute data from the unofficial roads layer we previously added. The buffer tool, much like its name implies, creates a shaded buffer region around a selected object or in this case a whole layer. We made the buffer extend 5.5km from the planned road to predict the amount of deforested area that would result of this road were built.
4- Finishing touches:
With the planned road and the deforested area buffer added we had all the relevant information we needed for the project. However, to turn this from a basic image to a usable map we still needed to add some finishing touches. First of all, no map is a map without some sort of legend or key so we added a list of features and their symbology from the relevant layers of the dataset. Next we added an area map showing the relation of the working area compared to the rest of South America. And lastly a title. If i was going to make a change to this project I would also add a scale somewhere on the map for reference. The final product of the lab is show below.
Conclusions:
The ArcPro system is pretty intuitive as a GIS software, though that is speaking as a beginner with no experience on any other system so take that for what you will. But I was able to follow the tutorial pretty easily and only hit a few snags. What makes it stand out to me is the ability to have different layers of data interact with each other, such as when we digitized the purposed road over the planned road later and made it it's own thing. With all that being said the tutorial me nearly four hours to complete, it felt like drinking out of a fire hose. There are also a lot of nuances to how ArcPro works; for example, when you're trying to change the transparency of a layer you have to select the layer you want from the catalog pane not the one that's visible on the map. I also had some weird errors when it came to naming attributes that I still don't fully understand. Tying all this back to UAS, its clear to me the implications this type of information can have in UAS and how UAS can further improve upon GIS. Being as this proposed road would go through thick jungles which would not offer easy access UAS would be a valuable tool to use in the planned of proposed construction or in assessing the damage that deforestation would cause.
Evaluations
1. 1. Prior to this activity, how would you rank yourself in knowledge about the topic. (1-No Knowledge at all, 2-Very Little Knowledge, 3-Some knowledge, 4-A good amount of knowledge, 5-I knew all about this)
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2. 2. Following this activity, how would you rate the amount of knowledge you have on the topic (1- I don’t really know enough to talk about the topic, 2- I know enough to explain what I did, 3-I know enough to repeat what I did, 4-I know enough to teach someone else, 5- I am an expert)
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3. 3. Did the hands-on approach to this activity add to how much you were able to learn (1-Strongly Disagree, 2-Disagree, 3-No real opinion, 4-Agree, 5-Strongly Agree)
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What types of learning strategies would you recommend making the activity even better
I don't really know if I can offer a suggestion, this was my first experience with any software like this so I expected to be a little overwhelmed.
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