Assignment 7

Introduction:

This week's activity was to create field navigation maps that will allow each group in the class to navigate part of the University known as the Priory, using just our map and a compass. Each group of 3 made two maps and picked the best/easiest map to use when navigating. The purpose of making two maps was to have each in a different coordinate system. One map having a UTM Projected CS and the other having a Geographic CS in decimal degrees. When making the maps it was crucial to make sure the maps only had what was necessary for navigation. A map with too much will be crowded and confusing, but a map with too little will get you nowhere, literally.

Methods:

Starting with a blank work space in ArcMap the Priory Geodatabase, provided by our professor, was saved  into a personal folder. This geodatabase contained a bunch of information that could be used or not used when making the two navigation maps. First the Navigation Boundary feature class was added to the blank map. It was then made hollow and its outline enlarged and made red. Then an elevation raster was added. Using the clip tool, it was then resized to fit the Navigation Boundary. After clipping the elevation raster it was made into contour lines using the Spatial Analyst tool Contour. It was contoured to 2 meters because that seemed like a distance everyone can judge. Next the new 2 meter contour feature class was projected into the NAD 1983 UTM Zone 15 coordinate system. Then a nice backdrop was added to show detail underneath the contour lines, a true colour image was chosen.
Once all the data was added it was time to make the map. First was to change the page set up to landscape 11x17, this ensures that the maps would be formatted to be printed no matter whose map in our group got chosen. Next was to add the grid, this was a bit difficult. Under properties in the grid tab, select new grid, then choose measured grid. Confirm all layers are in the correct UTM CS and set the grid to be at increments of  50 meters on both axes. After the grid was figured out, the north arrow, title, legend, watermark, projection, and other information were added. This created the UTM map shown in Figure A in the results section below. For the Decimal Degree Map I started over in ArcMap with a blank map, added the NON projected 2 meter contour feature class, my GCS Navigation Boundary and a true colour image of the Priory. With all of these being in Geographic Coordinate System North American 1983 it allowed for a Decimal Degree grid to be placed on the map in layout mode. This map can also be seen below as Figure B in the results section.

Results/Discussion:

Figure A is the UTM map of the Priory area

Figure B is the GCS map of the Priory area

The goal of making these maps was to create maps that would aid us in navigating the priory. 2 meter contour lines were used because I believe that seeing the change in elevation, a compass, and the aerial imagery should be enough to help us navigate and do whatever zany activity is going on in lab that day to come. The UTM map may be better in general because meters are easier to understand and it has a finer grid.

Conclusion:

This assignment was very method heavy with not much instruction. We were just given a list of criteria and told to do the best we can with a shove in the right direction, which is probably what real life GIS people do most of the time. This assignment really required thought and skills to remember elements that go in to making a good map, and not just some run of the mill map for a blog post, but a map that each group has to use. Not to mention this map is going to be used to help us practice a skill that everyone should have, simple map/compass navigation.