Module 4: Vector Analysis

 

    This week's lab had us performing different geoprocessing functions such as unions, multiple ring buffer, calculate field, multipart to single part, and others to create a specific area for possible campsites to be displayed on our map. 

    We created and edited several fields that allowed us to distinguish between different distances from either lakes or rivers or roads to create a buffer around each to shows varying distances from the features. We then created a multiple ring buffer to more accurately display these varying distances. 

    With this completed, we adjusted one of our buffer fields with similar attributes that allowed us to perform a union so that we could combine the buffers and their attributes into one table. We then looked for our created fields in that table that indicated where our two features buffers, roads and water, overlapped and separated those areas for their ideal campground sites. After this, we added in a conservation layer to again, perform a union to combine the table, selected all the features that did not intersect the conservation areas, and separated them into the map we see above.

    Lastly, we added one more field for area, used the calculate geometry tool to find the features areas in hectares, and labeled them with graduated color symbology to show the largest through smallest areas for potential campsites in the De Soto National Forest region. 

    This lab was excellent for helping to build spatial joining and union skills. Utilizing the tools and having us find the processes for ourselves truly helps prepare us for more serious GIS work.