Check out a story map I recently built using Web GIS. The story map depicts the Forest Reserves in Belize (greater than 15,000 hectares) which are prone to forest fires. Below is the link:


http://www.arcgis.com/apps/StoryMapBasic/index.html?appid=d7c8b15162d044b7b618f7dfb730544c

In this activity, students were tasked to import tabular data. Tabular data is usually stored in the form of a table, usually in Microsoft Excel. The table contains X and Y coordinates which will be displayed as points. Another technique used was table join, which is performed when you need to attach the information in a table to existing features. You can perform a join on a point, line or polygon feature layer as long as there is a single common field between the table and feature layer.  Using these techniques, a map was produced which shows the parcel value, contaminants and plaintiff properties. A basemap was also added for better representation. After that, all map essentials such as title, author, date, sources, legend, north star, scale bar and scale text were added. The map was later exported and saved as a picture, which can be seen above.

We have been learning a lot about about projections and coordinate systems. Based on what was taught, students were tasked to create a map of Miami using Albers and UTM datasets. As taught, there are many ways that you can project data. Therefore when dealing with different data sets that have different projections, it is vital that one knows how to change these projections to their desired outcome. This is important because in most analytical functions used, multiple data sets are to be in the same condition coordinate system. Therefore, in this activity, we learnt how to re-project data sets. Firstly, students utilized one of several tools found in ArcToolbox. A tool named Project tool was used change the coordinate system to UTM instead of Albers and having both in separate data frames. Upon viewing these data frames separately, a slight change was observed only. In addition to changing coordinate systems, students learnt how to add new fields in the attribute table and also add data into the new field. Therefore, a field labeled "Area" was added and thus, the value for area being displayed was added to that field by using the calculate geometry function. This was done for both data frames( Alber and UTM). Although the change between the two projections was slight, a difference was clear when the area of both data sets were calculated since the areas was different for both. At the end of the exercise, a map showing the two different projections was made. It also displayed the area of the two projections for four counties: Alachua, Escambia, Polk and Miamia-Dade. The map was finished by adding basic map features such as the scale bar and scale text, legend, title, north arrow, and author name and date.

In this activity, unreferenced and referenced raster datasets were georeferenced using the ArcMap software. The unreferenced raster and already referenced dataset showing the same area were added. The fit to display feature was used to bring the layer to reference into the current area being viewing and it was manipulated  to display so that features can be seen clearly on both the known and unknown layers. Then, I visually identified feature to represent in both layers and used the add control points feature to create links. The RMS errors were review for the links made and some were deleted or changed as needed. A transformation type was chosen to better display the data. I used 1st order transformation for the top portion of the map. Lastly, the Update Georeferencing feature was used to complete the map. The steps mentioned were repeated a second time for the bottom half of the map using 3rd order transformation. Also, three features on the map was digitized. A new building, road and the athletic fields were digitized. All map features such as legend, author name and date, north arrow, map title, scale bar and scale text and a note showing the RMS errors. 

The above map was created using several GPS points collected around the University of Belize's Belmopan Campus using a handheld GPS device by a group of students. The GPS waypoints were then converted into a shapefile so that it can be added into the ArcGIS software. Firstly, it is important to note that GPS points were collected for the four corners of the Coatimundo Building, three trees around campus, and one of the major walkways on campus. Notice the line that appear as zigzags on the map. This line represents the said walkway. To have achieved true representation of the map, students had to mark waypoints for every single bend or curve along the walkway.Also, non spatial data were collected for each type of data. For the trees marked, the height and species were noted. For the road/walkway, the condition was noted. For the building, the name of it was noted. Now, as it relates to constructing the map, the following steps were taken. After the waypoints were converted into a shapefile, all data collected were categorized by creating individual shapefiles for trees, building and buildings. This was done in ArcCatalog. Students had to select their working folder in ArcCatalog and select the file "GPS.shp". Then, the "New shapefile" option was selected after right clicking. For the name enter “Trees” and select point as the type. Next, "Edit" was selected and WGS_1984 Coordinate System was located. The same process was repeated for Roads (Polyline) and Buildings (Polygon). The three shapefiles were added into ArcGis. The data was edited using the editor toolbar to connect the points for the four corner of the building and the walkway. After this, non spatial data collected were entered for each waypoint so that it can be shown on the map. Next, a topographic base map was selected and two insets were created to show where Belize is located in Central America and also, where Belmopan is located in Belize. Lastly, map essentials were added as follows: date, authors, sources, legend, title, north arrow, scale bar, and scale text. The map was exported and saved as a picture (jpeg) as shown above.

The map above shows a polygon of the Toledo District of Belize depicting all the major roads, protected areas, rivers and towns and cities located within the polygon boundary. The main objective of this class activity was creating a map with data found on several websites. Mostly, Biodiversity & Environmental Resource Data System of Belize (BERDS) provided the most accurate and updated mapping layers. The process was a bit tedious and stressful but it has allowed me to really learn how to build maps without step by step instructions of the lecturer. The main geoprocessing tool used in this activity was the clipping tool. Each layer was clipped to display only the parts of the road and rivers that run through Toledo and only the protected areas within the boundaries of Toledo rather than displaying them for the whole country. Names were then assigned through the labeling properties of each clip in the Table of contents. An inset was created to give a better picture or view of where on the Belize map is Toledo located. Lastly, the map essentials such as date, author, legend,  scale bar and scale text, north star and title were added. 

A third version of the map was created. This time, its purpose is to display the elevation of Mexico using Raster Symbology. Firstly, all layers were removed except for the World_countries layer. Next, mex_elev layer was added into ArcMap. There are two types of raster representation, classified and stretched. I experimented with both type and as instructed, used stretched symbology (represented in the above map). lastly, a color ramp was chosen and an inset was added to show the location of Mexico on a wider geographical scale. All map essentials were added, including the north star, scale text, scale bar, legend, author name, date and the title of the map- "Elevation of Mexico". The file was then saved and exported as a jpeg file as displayed above.