GIS Analytics By Sam

  This map displays the location of a bald eagle's nest within the UWF campus. Highlighted in yellow and orange are the two buffer zones, 330 feet and 660 feet, designed to protect the nest from campus development and preserve the surrounding habitat. The inset map provides context for the nest’s location within Escambia County, Florida.

Geocoding Schools in Manatee County, FL Geocoding is a fundamental tool for spatial data analysis, particularly when working with address-based data. From preparing raw data to resolving mismatches, this weeks lab provided a comprehensive introduction to the geocoding process. By learning how to overcome common issues, we can ensure that our data is accurately represented on the map. I'll walk through a high level overview of this weeks module and address some of the challenges I encountered. The final result of this geocoding exercise was a map showing all public schools in Manatee County, FL, placed based off their addresses. The map is publicly accessible and can be viewed  here .  Step 1: Preparing Data  I began by cleaning the raw address data for Manatee County schools that I gathered from the Florida Department of Education  (FLDOE) website. This involved organizing the school names, addresses, phone numbers, and ZIP codes into a format that ArcGIS Pro could i...

Potential Campsites  in  De Soto National Forest In this weeks lab we focused on a variety of vector analysis. Utilizing what we learned in part one of the vector analysis lab I was able to identify suitable locations for different sized camping locations within De Soto National Forest while also focusing on minimizing environmental impact. Firstly I utilized ArcGIS tools to analyze various environmental factors and spatial data to determine the best locations for campsites. The criteria included several key factors such as proximity to water sources, accessibility, and lastly consideration of conservation areas. We determined these using buffer zones. One essential component was to use the Erase tool in order to remove areas designated as conservation zones from the buffer zones. The map above shows the potential campsite areas. The graduated color scheme breaks down the areas into a few main categories: Small Campsites: 0-2 hectare (Lightest green)  Medium/Large Campsit...

 This week’s GIS lab focused on two major tasks: performing an area comparison analysis for four counties in Florida using different map projections and collecting public safety data. Below, you will find the map showcasing the comparison analysis as well as a brief summary of my findings and this week's tasks. The three data frames, each present the areas of Alachua, Escambia, Miami-Dade, and Polk counties in three different projections: Albers, UTM 16N, and Florida State Plane N. The table compares the area calculations of the counties across the three projections, highlighting slight differences based on the projection used.  Those slight variations reinforce the importance of using consistent projections for spatial analyses. Using ArcGIS Field Maps, I collected data on emergency exits within the Aloft Hotel in Aventura, FL, I had the pleasure of staying with my family this week. Each exit was evaluated on a scale of Excellent, Fair, or Poor. Setting up domains correc...

  Map of Escambia County, Florida This week, I created a map of Escambia County, Florida, focusing on the essential elements of cartographic design. The goal was to make the county stand out against its neighboring regions in a visually pleasing and informative manner. I selected a color scheme that ensures readability and clarity, highlighting Escambia County with a light green color, contrasted by a peachy orange for the surrounding counties. This choice allows the county to be easily identified without overwhelming the viewer. I also took care in the placement of the map's elements. The title, styled in a bold Arial font, is positioned prominently at the middle right portion of the map accompanied by a subtle logo. The north arrow and legend are placed on the lower right, maintaining balance while ensuring key navigation aids are readily available. Additionally, I included a discrete scale bar in the bottom-left corner to maintain the clean and uncluttered aesthetic. I manually ...