Map 1

Map 2

Map 3

The population percent of African Americans in the continental U.S. for the year 2000 is shown in Map 1. A large number of African Americans live in the southeastern states, ranging anywhere from 5 to 90 percent of the population. This is depicted by the darker blue colors. Northwestern states have very low African American populations, ranging from 0.01 to 2 percent of the population. This is depicted by the light green and pink colors. The overall trend of this map shows that African Americans populate coastal areas, primarily the southeast, and very few live inland.

The population percent of Asians in the continental U.S. for the year 2000 is shown in Map 2. Large numbers of Asians live on the coasts of the United States, ranging anywhere from 5 to 50 percent of the population as depicted by the darker blue colors. The map shows that more Asians live on the west coast than the east coast. Very few Asians live inland, ranging from 0.01 to 5 percent of the population. This is depicted by the light green and pink colors. Like the African Americans, Asians tend to live in coastal areas although Asians favor the west coast while African Americans favor the southeast.

The population percent of "Some Other Race" in the continental U.S. for the year 2000 is shown in Map 3. Data for this classification is taken from the ethnicity box titled "other". A large number of other races live in the southwestern states, ranging anywhere from 1.5 to 40 percent of the population. Very few people from other races live east past Texas, ranging from 0.01 to 1.5 percent of the population. Other races follow a trend from both Asians and African Americans: they favor the west coast and large populations expand inland toward Texas.

This series of census maps show us important trends in the population of certain races. Asians, African Americans, and other races tend to populate coastal areas over inland areas. Asians strictly stay on the coasts and favor the west coast over the east coast perhaps due to proximity to the orient. African Americans populate the southeast states, again due to proximity from the Dominican Republic and Africa. Finally, other races are the only ones to have any significant population of midwest states, although they primarily live in the southern most midwest states. This shows that the northern midwest states lack any strong ethnic influence. It's also interesting to notice that most "No Data" came from this region of the United States.

ArcGIS serves many purposes in visualizing data and decision making. We have read a considerable amount of material on the program, GIS as a whole, and how important it is to crime, politics, and landscaping, to name a few. However, actually using the program on these lab assignments really emphasized the varied and unique uses of GIS. I thoroughly enjoyed familiarizing myself with ArcGIS; not only is it an emerging technology that can be applied to multiple fields, but it's a lot of fun. This was a great program and a great class!

Lab 7: Spatial Analysis

Map 1: Station Fire Area as of 9/2/2009

Map 2: Slope Map of San Gabriel Mountains

The 2009 Station fire was the 10th largest megafire in California since 1933, lasting from August 26th to October 16th. The Station fire was responsible for burning 160,577 acres of the Angeles National Forest, destroying 209 structures, and killing 2 firefighters. Map 1 shows the total area of the Station fire as of September 2nd. The fire was a result of arson near the U.S. Forest Service ranger station which was concluded from an unidentified substance at the source of the blaze. The arsonist has not been caught and there is a $150,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the arsonist.

Southern California weather conditions and terrain made this fire so devastating. Droughts are not uncommon to the area, often lasting years; Southern California is currently on its fourth straight year of below average rainfall. Lack of precipitation combined with dry and hot summers makes Southern California prone to wildfires. Once wildfires start, the terrain becomes an issue. Fire travels quickly uphill and steep terrain restricts access for firefighters. Map 2 is a slope map of the San Gabriel Mountains to better illustrate the terrain. Notice that the terrain primarily has slopes greater than 60 degrees.

The fire was attacked from firefighters on the ground and from water-dropping aircraft. Only 38% of the fire was contained by September 3rd, costing $27 million. The northern and western perimeters of the fire were the first to be controlled to protect as many houses as possible. This is demonstrated in Map 1 because the fire slowed its advances north and west over time. Shortly thereafter, the focus shifted to the southern perimeter to protect the 210 freeway as flames got so close to the freeway that they were visible to drivers. By September 15th, 91% of the fire was contained and $93.8 million had been spent battling the fire. The fires were 100% contained on October 16th due to moderate rainfall.

The consequences of the Station fire still continue and they affect all of Los Angeles County. Debris and oil left from burnt chaparral bring the threat of mudslides to homeowners and reservoirs when winter rains come. The Angeles Forest watershed, which makes up 35% of the Los Angeles area water supply, has been damaged because now there are no shrubs to direct water. Finally, 40 miles of State Highway 2 have been closed indefinitely due to fire damage.

Residents placed initial blame on the government and land managers because they did not clear “underbrush” which presumably provided fuel for the fire. They request stripping some of the backcountry of native shrubs like manzanita and chaparral to create fire buffers and protect their homes. Not only would this action destroy wildlands but it would also allow potentially flammable weeds to grow in their place. In fact, underbrush is not even the problem. A report was released stating that the cause of the spread was actually the terrain, which didn’t allow for quick action from firefighters. The only way the spread of the fire could have been limited was starting water-dropping aircraft sooner. I believe safety measures such as sprinkler systems should be implemented by structures in regions prone to wildfires (i.e. homes, businesses, roads) to reduce the negative impacts of future wildfires.

References:

1) "2009 California wildfires." wikipedia.org. Web. 19 Nov. 2009

2) "Station Fire: Incident Updated 11/10/2009." inciweb.org. Web. 20 Nov. 2009

3) Boxall, Winton. "Reward for arsonist in Station fire could top $150,000 today." latimes.com. 8 Sep. 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2009

4) Becerra. "Southern California wraps up 4th straight year of below-average rainfall." latimes.com. 29 June 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2009

5) Starr. "Firefighters close to containing half of Station fire." cnn.com. 3 Sep. 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2009

6) Pringle. "U.S. Forest Service report: Station fire terrain too steep to fight safely." latimes.com. Web. 19 Nov. 2009

7) SteamGeek. "LA Water Supply in Danger From the Station Fire?" nowpublic.com. Web. 19 Nov. 2009

8) Allen. "Perspective on SoCal Wildfires - Station Fire, 2009." californiagreensolutions.com. Web. 20 Nov. 2009

Lab 6: DEM

The area depicted above is the northeastern part of Utah that makes up part of the Rocky Mountains. I chose this region simply because it was visually appealing and it contained everything from peaks to flat areas. The area is defined by the following decimal degrees:

Top: 40.583

Left: -111.757

Right: -110.896

Bottom: 39.989

As seen in the shaded relief model, the elevation of this region falls between 1366 and 3578 feet. Most of the region depicted above is mountain terrain which is why the slope map shows a majority of steep slopes. Furthermore, the land faces in every direction, which makes sense for a region composed of mountain terrain. This is observed in the aspect map and the 3D image.

Lab 5: Map Projections

Equidistant Map Projection

Equal Area Map Projection
Conformal Map Projection

This lab assignment was a good learning experience because experimenting with the different types of map projections provided me with a better understanding of them. Patterns were noticed between conformal, equal area, and equidistant maps which emphasized the purpose of each map projection. For example, the latitude lines of both equidistant projections are evenly spaced which isn't true of the conformal or equal area map projections near the Earth's poles. Distortion is apparent in many of the examples shown above (i.e. Cylindrical Equal Area and Mercator) which drastically changed the distance between Washington D.C. and Kabul from the other map projections. Each projection has the miles separating Washington D.C. from Kabul in its title. As expected, the equidistant maps have the smallest change in distance between the two examples.

Each map projection has a purpose: conformal maps maintain angular relations, equal area maps maintain area, equidistant maps maintain distance. Specified purposes are made easier through ArcGIS because all of the information can be stored digitally instead of on multiple paper maps. Furthermore, having different map projections saves time and eliminates some uncertainty for the viewer. For example, the equidistant maps shown above have the smallest difference in distance from Washington D.C. to Kabul than the conformal or equal area maps. This demonstrates the purpose of equidistant maps, though I believe the measurement performed in ArcGIS was inaccurate.

The biggest problems with different types of map projections include similar reference points and similar geometric projections. Conformal, equal area, and equidistant map projections maintain their specific features from a given reference point. If this reference point is changed between maps, the feature that should be maintained will be skewed (i.e. the distance from Washington D.C. to Kabul). I don't know if it was possible to make our own reference points in this assignment, so I assume this wasn't a major issue.

Similar geometric projections were an issue in this assignment. Most map projections were cylindrical and therefore had a rectangular shape, but some map projections weren't cylindrical. I think the ArcGIS measuring tool altered the distance between the two cities on these maps. For example, the distance on the equidistant conic map wasn't measured parallel to the latitude lines like the equidistant cylindrical map was. I believe this resulted in the 2000 mile difference between the two projections.

Week 4: ArcGIS

Using ArcGIS was definitely a learning experience. Most of the program features were inherently understood because of general familiarity with other computer programs. The ability to map different causes and effects of expanding an airport was very enlightening. There were definitely more effects of expanding an airport than I originally thought, so this exercise was definitely useful.

One of the largest benefits of using ArcGIS is developing the big picture: discovering the connections between originally unique subjects. For example, seeing the effect an airport expansion will have on schools within the noise contour or land usage surrounding the airport. ArcGIS gives users and viewers so much information in one location so planning and decision making can take place. These decisions can now be made on topics such as economy, environment, and population simultaneously rather than just focusing on one topic and neglecting other effects. Without the program there would be several paper maps that could not be viewed together at once making updating and decision making significantly more difficult.

The primary downfall of ArcGIS is learning the program. Going through the walkthrough the first time had absolutely no learning value to it; it was simply going through the motions to complete the assignment. Program functions were understood a little more after the second walkthrough and by the third walkthrough it was very comfortable. However, everything was given to us when we used ArcGIS for this assignment (i.e. land plots), we didn't need to develop any ourselves. Furthermore, we have only used the program functions in a narrow set of circumstances so we still don't know everything the program is capable of.

Other downfalls of ArcGIS involve users. This program is available to such a wide range of people, so data and conceptual models can be skewed. ArcGIS is so expansive that errors aren't uncommon. This raises questions. Is this data valid? How can maps maintain uniformity with such a large user base? When used in small groups, interpretation and data checking aren't major issues. However, used on a larger scale where multiple agencies or populations are contributing towards a common goal, there is significant room for error.

Week 3 Lab: Dodgers 2009

View Dodgers 2009 in a larger map

The Dodgers 2009 map shows where each player on the current Dodgers roster went to high school. It's meant to show where a majority of baseball players come from (granted it's a limited sample set) and how far these people have traveled to play baseball professionally.

Making this map was an interesting learning experience. The "My Maps" function on Google provided easy to use tools to make participating in neogeography a possibility for everyone. I learned more about geography and the Dodgers than I expected to when I started this assignment because I was actually interacting with and integrating topics. This is the potential of neogeography: to expand the knowledge of users. The act of creating a map and integrating topics into it is fun, creative, and personal, yet it provides a deeper understanding of how subjects are interconnected for the creator and the viewer. The maps become dynamic and interactive for everyone, which stimulates people to learn and/or create something new. As this trend propagates, new conclusions can be made about the influence of space.

There are some drawbacks to neogeography. From a creator's perspective there is a slight learning curve involved with making a map. I noticed this when using Google's "My Maps" application. Fortunately I found a walkthrough online but I ran into trouble with "My Maps' when I accidentally double clicked on a marker and erased all the data it contained. This happened two or three times. It was definitely frustrating.

From a viewer's perspective, how does one know if the information in a created map is accurate? In my map for example, I couldn't find the location of some high schools. Instead of trying to "fudge" the information I simply placed the marker in the city the player was known to be from. There is too much room for error in reporting information properly.

Finally, the subject matter can be a concern. Issues like privacy and copyright can come into play when information, videos, or pictures are incorporated into a map. What is or isn't acceptable is at the discretion of the creator and their ethics.

Week 2 Lab: Beverly Hills Quadrangle

1. What is the name of the quadrangle?

Beverly Hills Quadrangle

2. What are the names of the adjoining quadrangles?

Canoga Park Quadrangle (top-left)

Van Nuys Quadrangle (top)

Burbank Quadrangle (top-right)

Topanga Quadrangle (left)

Hollywood Quadrangle (right)

Venice Quadrangle (bottom)

Inglewood Quadrangle (bottom-right)

3. When was the quadrangle first created?

1966

4. What datum was used to create your map?

North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

5. What is the scale of the map?

1:24,000

6. At the above scale, answer the following:

a) 5 centimeters on the map is equivalent to how many meters on the ground?

1200 meters

b) 5 inches on the map is equivalent to how many miles on the ground?

1.9 miles

c) one mile on the ground is equivalent to how many inches on the map?

2.64 inches

d) three kilometers on the ground is equivalent to how many centimeters on the map?

12.5 centimeters

7. What is the contour interval on your map?

20 feet

8. What are the approximate geographic coordinates in both degrees/minutes/seconds and decimal degrees of:

a) the Public Affairs Building;

DMS:

Latitude: 34°04’30”N

Longitude: 118°26’15”W

DD:

Latitude: 34.075

Longitude: -118.4375

b) the tip of Santa Monica pier;

DMS:

Latitude: 34°00’30”N

Longitude: 118°30’00”W

DD:

Latitude: 34.0083

Longitude: -118.5

c) the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir;

DMS:

Latitude: 34°07’15”N

Longitude: 118°24’30”W

DD:

Latitude: 34.1208

Longitude: -118.4083

9. What is the approximate elevation in both feet and meters of:

a) Greystone Mansion (in Greystone Park);

560 feet, 170.69 meters

b) Woodlawn Cemetery;

140 feet, 42.67 meters

c) Crestwood Hills Park;

700 feet, 213.36 meters

10. What is the UTM zone of the map?

Zone 11

11. What are the UTM coordinates for the lower left corner of your map?

North 3,763,000 and east 361,500

12. How many square meters are contained within each cell (square) of the UTM gridlines?

1,000,000 sq. meters

13. Obtain elevation measurements, from west to east along the UTM northing 3771000, where the eastings of the UTM grid intersect the northing. Create an elevation profile using these measurements in Excel (hint: create a line chart). Figure out how to label the elevation values to the two measurements on campus. Insert your elevation profile as a graphic in your blog.

14. What is the magnetic declination of the map?

14°

15. In which direction does water flow in the intermittent stream between the 405 freeway and Stone Canyon Reservoir?

South

16. Crop out (i.e., cut and paste) UCLA from the map and include it as a graphic on your blog.