GIS Lab 3: Vector Analysis with ArcGIS

Introduction:

The goal of this lab was to use geoprocessing tools in ArcGIS for vector analysis to find suitable bear habitat in the specified study area in central Marquette county in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan based on the physical environment and population data for the area. We were to create a data flow model and learn some python commands as well as create a map.

Methods:

In the process of attaining the suitable bear habitat, I used the tools Join, Buffer, Intersect, Dissolve, Clip, Select (Query), and Erase. Figure 1 is the data flow model used in the analysis. 

Figure 1

First, I found the area that was best for the bears based on where bears had been recorded via GPS and the proximity to streams. Then I used the DNR management areas to find where the best areas for bears that would also be managed by the DNR. Finally, I used the Urban or Built Up areas to make sure the Suitable Habitat would be away from areas of high human population. 

Figure 2

I learned some basic python coding for a similar process demonstrated in Figure 1. Figure 2 is the coding in python to find the area within 1 km of streams and outside 5 km of urban areas.

Results:

Figure 3

The map in Figure 3 was generated using the model workflow in Figure 1. The light purple areas represent All Suitable Habitat - the areas 500 meters from a stream and in the most favorable types land cover areas for bears. The dark purple areas inside All Suitable Habitat represent DNR Managed Suitable Habitat, where All Suitable Habitat overlaps the DNR Management areas for Marquette County. These areas are not near any orange areas because the orange represents any Urban or Built-Up Lands - there is a higher density of people in those locations, which is not ideal for bears.

Sources:

All data was downloaded from the State of Michigan Open GIS Data http://gis.michigan.opendata.arcgis.com/

• Landcover from USGS NLCD

 http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mgdl/nlcd/metadata/nlcdshp.html

• DNR management units from

 http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/metadata/wildlife_mgmt_units.htm

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