GIS I Lab 3: Vector Analysis with GIS

Background and Goal:

The goal of this lab was to effectively use multiple geoprocessing tools and vector analysis to find a suitable habitat for bears in Marquette County, Michigan using data retrieved from the Michigan Gis Open Data. This will involve evaluating factors such as land type, proximity to water, and proximity to urban areas. In addition to this, practice with Python coding will be a secondary goal.

Methods

Objective 1: Map a GPS Excel file of black bear locations in Marquette County, Michigan

the bear_locations_geog$ data table was added to ArcMap as an event theme. This displayed X, Y data in ArcMap. It was saved within an individual Lab 3 folder.

Objective 2: Determine the forest types where black bears are found in the study based on GPS locations of black bears

All features in the bear_management_area feature dataset were added to the map. The landcover layer's symbol was changed to display unique colors based on the minor_type field. An intersect was performed between the bear_locations and landcover layers using a simple inside spatial join to create the new bear_cover layer. A summary of the "minor_type" field within the attribute table showed that the Mixed Forest Land, Forest Wetlands, and Evergreen Forest Land values were the most common locations for bear sightings.

Objective 3: Determine if black bears are found near streams

To determine if proximity to water is a requirement for bear habitats, the buffer tool was used on the streams layer. The buffer of 500 meters created a new layer. Using the select by location tool with target of bear_locations and the source layer as streams it was revealed that significantly more than 30% of the bear sightings were within 500 meters of streams. This means that proximity to water is an important component of bear habitats. 

Objective 4: Find suitable bear habitat based on two criteria

To find the most suitable bear habitats the select by attribute function was used on the landcover layer. After selecting the Mixed Forest Land, Forest Wetlands, and Evergreen Forest Land portions of the landcover layer, this selection was made into a new layer. This new layer was intersected with the stream buffer layer to find the proper land types within the 500 meter proximity of the streams. The dissolve tool was used to produce a more aesthetically pleasing layer that is not broken into many polygons. 

Objective 5: Find all areas of suitable bear habitat within areas managed by the Michigan DNR

The dnr_mgmt feature class was added to the map and the dissolve tool was used to aggregate the many polygons. This new layer was intersected with the suitable bear habitat layer, producing a layer that shows land that meats the natural requirements for bears and is managed by the Michigan DNR. 

Objective 6: Eliminate areas near urban or built up lands
A new layer was created from a selection of the landcover layer that found only urban or build-up land. A buffer of 5 kilometers was applied to this, creating a layer that shows the areas that are not sufficiently far from urban development. The erase tool was used to remove any portion of the DNR managed bear habitat withing this proximity of the urban development. A base was put behind the map and a location map showed where the study was done.

Objective 7: Generate a digital data flow model of the workflow and cartographic output

The results from objective 6 were edited to look more cartographically pleasing, and a model of the workflow was created. Both can be seen below, in the Results section.

Objective 8: Practice using Python

Results:

Sources:

ESRI ArcMap, ESRI ArcCatalog
Information, Marquette County (2002, November 01). Michigan 1992 NLCD Shapefile by County . Retrieved December 09, 2017 from http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/nlcd/metadata/nlcdshp.html

Natural Resources, Michigan Department (2001, August). Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Management Unit Offices. Retrieved December 09, 2017, from http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/metadata/wildlife_mgmt_units.htm

Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships. (2014, June 01). Michigan Geographic Framework: Marquette County. Retrieved Decemver 08, 2017, from http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/framework/metadata/Marquette.html
Data downloaded from the State of Michigan Open GIS Data:

http://gis-michigan.opendata.arcgis.com/

• Landcover is from USGS NLCD: http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/nlcd/metadata/nlcdshp.html


• DNR management units: http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/metadata/wildlife_mgmt_units.htm


• Streams: http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/framework/metadata/Marquette.html