Geographic Information Systems Lab 4

GIS 1: Lab 4
Michael Lewis



Goals and Background:

Through various lectures in class, and additional outside reading material, we learned how to effectively query data to find selected attributes. By learning the basic forms of single queries, we then progressed to forming multiple attribute queries, stringing long operations to find a select data set. Using data provided by ArcMap and additional Instructor provided data, we were able to narrow down very specific data that match select characteristics. The goal of the lab was to effectively and efficiently find the data that matched certain qualities. After those qualities were found, maps were produced to display our findings.

Methods:

Using the data provided by ArcMap and the Instructor, I was able to analyze it using the select by attributes tool and select by location tool. Using the Boolean operators, I put together complex queries matching the set criteria. After my selections were verified and made, I exported the data to create a new feature class. Then, by differing that feature class from the original data, may selections stood out on a map. By adding map features like a legend, a north arrow, and a scale bar, I produced several maps that help better understand the data and what is being displayed.

Results:

Starting with the first question, I had to find counties with population between 300 and 400 people in 2010 and also all counties in 2010 that had a population density of at least 100 persons per square mile. To do so, I added the counties shape file and input the following query.

                                                      1A. Query table for first selection

With that, I found that 194 selections fit my query from 34 different states. Virginia had the highest number of counties matching the criteria. Interestingly, California only had 8 counties that matched. The following is a map of my selected counties. 

1B. Map of selected features

For Question 2, I was tasked with finding counties from the the states of Wisconsin, Texas, New York, Minnesota, and California where male population is greater than female and the number of seniors is over 6500. To do so, I put in the following query. 

                                                     2A. Query table for selected features

With that, I found that 46 counties matched my criteria, and Texas contained the most of these counties at a total of 14. In my home state of Wisconsin, 5 counties, Grant, Waupaca, Sheboygan, Columbia, and Dodge county all were selected. The following is a map displaying my selected counties. 

    2B. Map showing counties that matched the identified qualities. 

I then adjusted my query to include all other seniors in Washington, Maryland, Illinois, Nebraska, District of Columbia and Michigan who reside in counties that have more than 30,000 housing units. My county total then became 120. To do this, I input the following query.

                                                     3A. First query expression.

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                                                     3B. Second query expression. 

I created the following map to help display my new selections.

     3C. Map displaying the new query and the selections from it. 

Next, narrowing in on my home state of Wisconsin, I was tasked to find cities with populations between 15000 and 230000, an area of at least 5 sq. miles, and where the female population is greater than the males, and the city is within 2 miles of a lake. To find this, I put together the following queries.

Then, with my results selected, I created a map to help display my findings.

Lastly, I was tasked with finding the total length of 13 Wisconsin Rivers. To find this, I put together the following query.

After getting my results, to better display my findings, I created this map.

All in all, these 13 rivers run for 759 miles.

Sources:

Mastering ArcGIS, 7th edition by Maribeth Price (2015) [DVD-ROM]. McGraw-Hill Higher Ed: Dubuque, Iowa.