Mount St. Helens!

Hillshade of Mount St. Helens


3D Hillshade of Mount St. Helens

Lab 5: More Practice with Spatial Analysis

Lab 5 Questions

1. How many counties does the State of Iowa contain? (2 pts)
There are 99 Counties in Iowa.

2. Which county in Georgia contains the largest number of people, as of the year 2001? (2 pts)
Colquitt County had the largest number of people as of 2001 with a total of 42802 people.

3. How many cities, with populations greater than 15,000, are located within the State of Washington? (2 pts)
39 cities within Washington have populations greater than 15,000.

4. How many miles long are all of the interstates that are crossed by the outline of Los Angeles County? (2 pts)
The sum of all the interstates that cross the outline of Los Angeles County is 3851.13751 miles.

5. Simplify the UrbanBoundaries feature class so that only the urban areas of Los Angeles County are visible (Hint: you will use one of the overlay functions: clip, intersect, or union). Include a screenshot of this new layer in your blog. How many acres of urban area lie within Los Angeles County? (2 pts)


There are 1367445.890625 acres of urban area within Los Angeles County.

6. How many zip codes have their centroid in Los Angeles County? (2 pts)
522 zip codes have their centroid in L.A. County.

7. Create a layer displaying the provinces of Canada using the data provided to you in the Canada dataset. Save this new layer under the Canada dataset using the name Provinces. Include a screenshot of this new layer in your blog. (2 pts)



8. Which Native American Indian Reservations lie within 75 miles of the City of Thurso in Quebec, Canada? (2 pts)
Doncaster Indian Reserve 17, Kitigan Zibi Indian Reserve, Kahnawake Indian Reserve 14, Kanesatake Indian Reserve 16, and Akwesasne Indian Reserve 15 lie within 75 miles of the City of Thurso in Quebec, Canada.

Lab 4: Working with Tables in ArcGIS

The map above divides the United States by counties and depicts what percent of the general population is black. Black population concentration is broken down in the legend, where increasing percentage of black population corresponds with the shade darkening from white to black. The map shows that the highest percentage of black population is located in the southeast states of the U.S., having the most clusters of black population percentage that is between 46.34 and 86.49 percent. Moving west from this area, the percentage decreases, but this does not necessarily mean that the black population simply doesn't exist. It may be largely due to the fact that the general population as a whole is less in the Midwest as there there is more open land for agriculture and national park uses, and less urban areas.




The above map shows percentage of Asian populations, divided by counties in the United States. Similar to the Black population legend, here, the concentration of Asians goes from the lightest shade being the least to the darkest shade being the most. The map shows a pattern of more Asians populating the Southwest region of the U.S. This may be caused by Asia's location just across the Pacific Ocean. Also, there is a high percentage of Asians populating Hawaii. I family has many friends whose family decided to settle in Hawaii when coming to the U.S. from the Philippines, possibly due to a similar setting to their home country as well as a high concentration of similar cultures.



The "Others" population map above depicts individuals who did not identify themselves as either Asian or Black and similar to the first two maps, percentage goes from lowest and lightest shade to highest and darkest shade. While this leaves a vast number of races to choose from, the map is able to give us information that we can use to come up with a hypothesis as to who "others" might be. According to the map, the highest population of "others" are located along the southern borders of California, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico which all just happen to be our states that touch the northern Mexican border. From this information, we can hypothesize that these people are most likely immigrants from Mexico who are obviously not Asian or Black. Another reason they may choose to identify with "other" is that many of them may not yet be legal citizens in the U.S., so they choose to be more ambiguous when identifying themselves.


The Census Map Series really helps to show patterns of race concentration according to percentage in the U.S. The fact that it is broken down into counties helps to more closely identify these regions, giving more detailed information that can be used. If the percentages were just identified by state, we would have less of an idea of how these areas are composed racially. These patterns also can give rise to hypotheses about why certain people are located where they are. For example, high Black populations in the south may simply be reflective of our history and how Black populations originated there when our country was first developed. The same may go for Asians as they traveled across the Pacific and encountered the West coasts of the U.S. first, so they settled there. These census maps took simple information and laid it out so that we could find ways to interpret and analyze it.

My overall impression of GIS is that there is a TON of potential for so many people in so many ways. At first GIS was pretty intimidating because it encompasses so many different things, but the more practice I get through these labs, the more comfortable I'm becoming with the concept, the software, and the uses. I came into this class not really understanding what GIS was and although we are simply learning the tip of the iceberg of what it has to offer, I feel more aware of its purpose and more eager to explore more.

Lab 3: Map Projections Galore!

The significance of multiple types of map projections such as conformal, equidistant, and equal area projections is that each is designed for certain uses. These different types of maps may vary from one another despite trying to convey similar information. Conformal maps, which preserve angle, are typically used for large scale mapping. An example of when it may be used is when planes are flying in between areas. Equidistant maps preserve distance on a line between two points which may be more useful for directions on the street level, while equal area maps preserve area which may be useful when trying to convey statistical information on a region.

One potential problem with having different types of map projections is that information such as distance may vary between maps. For all six maps made for this lab, the distance between Washington D.C. and Kabul are different in every single map. This may be a problem for users who are not familiar with the types of map projections. For the average person using a map, having varying distances between two points may be really confusing. Continuing with confusing distances, the fact that the scales are different for these maps may also confuse the average map reader, who may try to apply one scale to multiple maps.

In the case of the Mercator Projection above, its potential has been used for navigation such as for "nautical purposes because of its ability to represent lines of constant course" (Wikipedia.org). However, it exaggerates land area that is located further away from the equator. This paints an inaccurate picture of how large the land masses are that are closer to the poles. This can prove to be very misleading for people who may read a Mercator map with the goal of understanding how large, location, and relative distance between the land masses that occupy our Earth. An example would be that on some Mercator maps Greenland appears to have relatively the same land mass as Africa, but in reality, Africa's land area is actually about 14 times greater.

The main potential of having so many different map projections is that each type of map projection can accommodate each type of map user. It can also help with differing opinions on area or boundaries. With so many people in the world, it would be really difficult for everyone to use, settle on, and agree on one type of map. By having so many types of map, people can choose which one would be best suited for them, whether it be for navigating up in the air, out in middle of the ocean, or simply across town.

Lab 2a/b: Google Maps, ArcMap, Neogeography, oh my!

Working with ArcMap was really intimidating the first time around because of all the options and steps the program had. Although it is a definitely useful tool for maps, the only way to become even remotely familiar with this software is through practice. When I performed a step and didn’t receive the predicted outcome, it was fairly frustrating trying to figure out where I went wrong or what I forgot to check (or uncheck). Without the introduction to ArchMap tutorial, there is no way I would know how to navigate through the software. However, there are obviously tons of advantages to this program, if it is used correctly.

I feel like one problem ArcMap may present is that in order to obtain the desired map projections, there is a long series of steps to take and if one tiny mistake is made then the user may end up with map errors or a map projection that contains unwanted data. There were times where I looked over the steps multiple times and still couldn’t figure out why I had reached a dead end where I couldn’t continue making my maps. With Mrs. Maas’ help, I found out all I had to do was check a specific box for a data set in the contents, although it wasn’t specified in the steps!

A definite potential of ArcMap is the endless possibilities of what you can create out of the data you obtain. With the correct data, the user is able to communicate their research and main points visually through maps, tables, etc. With the given data, many different map projections were made possible and compiled into easy to read figures. Once mapping the data was complete, organizing the data sets with titles, legends, and scales was fairly simple and easy to remember. It’s only when deciding what data goes where and what you’re trying to show that tons of practice is really needed.

GIS is an evolving technology that relies on the information obtained and input by others. This can be considered both a potential and pitfall. Its potential is that the world is made available to the masses through the hard work and research done by the people who dedicate their careers to expanding the abilities and information GIS offers. Through GIS a lot of the world is readily available at our finger tips, a mere click away from our homes, offices, and classrooms. This may also be seen as a slight pit fall, because although GIS has come a long way, knowledge is still being added every day, so we cannot simply rely on GIS alone to give 100% accurate data on places we may want to become more familiar with.

View Let's Go Camping! in a larger map

Neogeography has become a huge part of many people's lives, although they may be unaware of it. I didn't even know what it was until taking this course. Neogeography has made geography a common subject among Internet users by taking its tools and information and providing it for personal use for experts and non-experts alike. The advantages of neogeography is that it is easily accessible and mostly user friendly when creating personal maps. The map I made above of campgrounds I have visited or would like to visit was fairly easy to set up and detail with road lines and location descriptions. Geography becomes personal as people are able to make their own maps of whatever they like and have them seen on the web. Somewhat like the Wikipedia site, people are able to input their own opinions, knowledge, preferences, in geographic terms through their personal maps and sites.

This freedom for people to provide their own insight although they may not be experts is also the major pitfall of neogeography. Because it is so commonplace to make things your own through bias opinions and knowledge, what is posted online may not be the most reliable resources. There are millions of people with computers who are able to simply make something up, post it, and dress it up as if it is legitimate information, although it isn't. With multiple authors providing multiple "sources", it can become difficult to distinguish between what is real and what isn't. The web has become flooded with faulty information that simply "googling" something can provide tons of sites, some reliable, many not. Although I see neogeography as a positive for bringing geography into everyday lives of people and making its information more accessible, it worries me how many people can abuse that freedom to try and create false resources.

Lab 1b - Beverly Hills Quadrangle Analysis!

1. What is the name of the quadrangle?

The name of this quadrangle is Beverly Hills Quadrangle.

2. What are the names of the adjacent quadrangles?

The adjacent quadrangles are: Canoga Park, Van Nuys, Burbank, Topanga, Hollywood, Venice, and Inglewood.

3. When was the quadrangle first created?

The quadrangle was first created in 1966.

4. What datum was used to create your map?

The National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, North American Datum of 1927, and the North American Datum of 1983 was used to create the map.

5. What is the scale of the map?

The scale of this map is 1:24000 (1 inch on the map = 24000 inches on the ground).

6. At the above scale, answer the following:

a. 5 centimeters on the map is equivalent to how many meters on the ground?

5 cm x 1 in/2.54 cm = 1.97 inches  1.97 in/1 in = x/24000 in  x = 47280 in. on ground  47280 in. x 2.54 cm./ 1 in. x 1 m/100 cm = about 1200.9 meters on ground

b. 5 inches on the map is equivalent to how many miles on the ground?

5 inches on map = 120000 inches on ground, 120000 in. x 1 foot/12 in. x 1 mi./5280 ft. = 120000/63360 = 1.89 miles.

c. One mile on the ground is equivalent to how many inches on the map?

1 mile on ground = 63360 inches on ground  63360/24000 = 2.64 inches on map

d. Three kilometers on the ground is equivalent to how many centimeters on the map?

3 km x 1000m/1 km x 100 cm/1 m x 1 in/2.54 cm = 118110.24 inches on ground

118110.24/24000 = 4.92 inches on map

4.92 in x 2.54 cm/1 in = 12.5 cm on map

7. What is the contour interval on your map?

The contour interval of this map is 20 feet.

8. What are the approximate geographic coordinates in both degrees/minutes/seconds and decimal degrees of:

a) the Public Affairs Building?

34°4’27” N, 118°26’21” W, 34.0742, -118.439

b) the tip of Santa Monica pier?

34°0’27” N, 118°30’ W, 34.0075, -118.5

c) the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir?

34°7’15” N, 118°24’35” W, 34.1208, -118.41

9. What is the approximate elevation in both feet and meters of:

a) Greystone Mansion (in Greystone Park)?

580 feet or 176.8 meters

b) Woodlawn Cemetery?

140 feet or 42.7 meters

c) Crestwood Hills Park?

700 feet or 213.4 meters

10. What is the UTM zone of the map?

Zone 11 is the UTM Zone for the Beverly Hills Quadrangle.

11. What are the UTM coordinates for the lower left corner of your map?

11S 361472mE 3763170mN

12. How many square meters are contained within each cell (square) of the UTM gridlines?

1000 square meters are contained within each square of the UTM gridlines.

13. Obtain elevation measurements, from west to east along the UTM northing 3771000, where the eastings of the UTM grid intersect the northing. Create an elevation profile using these measurements in Excel (hint: create a line chart). Figure out how to label the elevation values to the two measurements on campus. Insert your elevation profile as a graphic in your blog.

14. What is the magnetic declination of the map?

The magnetic declination of the map is 14 degrees east or 249 miles.

15. In which direction does water flow in the intermittent stream between the 405 freeway and Stone Canyon Reservoir?

The intermittent stream between the 405 and the Stone Canyon Reservoir flows south.

16. Crop out (i.e., cut and paste) UCLA from the map and include it as a graphic on your blog.

3 Cool Maps

This first map shows Griffith Park and its surrounding areas during a fire season in 2007. The map has been provided by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. I feel like if this map were more defined it would be a really good map because it provides scale, relief, points of interest, streets, etc. In this map the urban areas are shown as well as the large Griffith Park. Transportation networks are mapped out and elevation is shown, although it may not be that clear. I find this map interesting because I frequently visit the Griffith Park Observatory and the LA Zoo, but beyond these two locations I have a very limited knowledge of Griffith Park. I didn't even know it was this big and that it had high and low elevations. I really only knew the very outskirts of this area in CA, although it is close to where I live.



The map to the right shows California's vegetation composition, showing the various habitats and land types that make up the Golden State. This map was created by Jeremiah Easter, a herpetology student at the University of California Berkeley. This source may not be as reputable or reliable as other official sources, but I feel that Easter did some extensive research when I look at the detail of his map. The map shows 21 different types of vegetation or habitat, their locations and area size. Each area is identified by a given color as seen in the legend. This map is interesting because it shows how diverse our state is. I don't know of any other place that has a land composition that varies as much as the state of California. This map shows me the different kinds of places I could encounter. Living in Long Beach, I've gotten an idea of our state's land diversity, as the beach, the mountains, and the forests were a simple drive away and this map shows me exactly that.


The map on the left depicts the Mt. Whitney Zone in the Inyo National Forest here in California. The map is provided by the US Forest Service for hikers interested in taking the North Fork Lone Pine Creek Trail to Mt. Whitney. The map highlights key points of interest in the area such as neighboring mountains, bodies of water, trails, and recreation areas. It also provides simple elevation information as a relief map, making the topography of the land visible; somewhat turning "2-D into 3-D". I find this map interesting because my family takes a trip to Lone Pine and the Whitney Portal Recreation Area every year. Being able to see the land I visit from this point of view really gives me an appreciation for my surroundings. Also, I go fishing on the Lone Pine Creek and I always see the beginning of the trail that leads up to Mt. Whitney. It's really cool to be able to see where that trail leads, what elevations a hiker would encounter, and how the land is built. The fact that Mt. Whitney is the highest mountain in the contiguous United States makes this map even more interesting because I am able to see the elevation building around the summit and the mountains that neighbor Mt. Whitney. Through this map I am able to know more about the place I visit every year. When I'm surrounded by desert, mountains, creeks, etc. it's hard to know what the land is like beyond what I can see around me. With this map I have a glimpse of what is beyond what my eyes can see.