GIS 5050 Final Project - Bobwhite Transmission line Analysis

 In our final project we were tasked with bringing all the skills we have acquired over the throughout the course as well as to research and utilize new ones.  We acted as the GIS analyst in this project which was the analysis of a new transmission line for FPL which would go through both Manatee and Sarasota counties.  The name of the project is the Bobwhite Transmission line.

Initially we created a basemap with the preferred corridor and the study area.  We then used tools like Intersection and Clip to create a map that indicates the conservation lands within the study area and the preferred corridor. 

We then added data from the National Wetlands Inventory, separated them into 2 categories, Uplands and Wetlands in order to map the areas that are located in the corridor and/or a 400ft buffer surrounding the corridor. The Buffer tool was utilized to create the buffer before adding the Inventory data. The acreage was calculated using the Calculate Geometry tool in the attribute table and percentage of affected lands were determined.

After this we used our skills to georeference homes located in the preferred corridor and again within the buffer zone.  We also went a step further and analyzed the parcels that were in the corridor an then in the buffer zone. Clip, intersection and georeference, were among some of the tools utilized.

We also relied on skills developed in our geocode and georeference labs to find the schools, if any that were located in the preferred corridor and the buffer zone.

All of the information was examined and it showed that FPL's Bobwhite-Transmission line preferred corridor was in fact an excellent selection. The number of homes that would be affected was small as most of the corridor contained agricultural lands.  The preferred corridor only contained 14% certified wetlands. No schools were located within the preferred corridor or the buffer zone. Overall, a low impact route selection.

 

 

 

 GIS5050 Georeference Lab

This week we dove into georeferenceing and explored georeferencing tools.  We added layers and then utilized the goereference tool to fit the layer to the page and began to add control points.  While doing this we examined the different transformations available and the requirements for each one.  We also looked at the (RMS) Root Mean Square Errors, how the effects the map and what are acceptable error ranges. We learned that you must balance you error value with the appearance of the map.  We also converted a pdf survey document into a jpg and utilized the gorreferencing tools to add that as a map layer as well.

We then worked on editing. In this portion of the lab we created a new polygon feature and experimented with the various digitizing tools available.  We also used snapping to tie a new section of roadway that we added to a map layer.

At this point we moved onto adding hyperlink data.  Four our lab this entailed downloading a photo into GoogleDrive and adding hyperlink to a pop up table for a point feature on our map.  This is the the hyperlink to the photo on my map:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gRKGH18KrIUXtCz9dwW7preiznvOhYaO/view?usp=sharing

Lastly, we created a multi-ring buffer around around a point in a map layer. In our case this was an eagles nest with a 330 and 660 foot buffer.  Once that was completed all that was left was the map layout.  I experimented with to layouts as show below.

Below is a screenshot of the completed map as well

If you look closely you can see the individual layers that we georeferenced.