Lab #7: Census 2000/2010

In this lab we are able to connect US Census 2000 data to that of GIS. In doing this we are able to find and collect data from a secondary source and apply it to GIS. All of the maps represent data that was collected during the US Census in 2000. The data is divided according to the percentage of each race (Asian, Black or Some Other Race) that is concentrated by county. Thus, for the first map the data is divided according to the percentage of Asians living in each county. Through looking at the legend we are able to learn that the areas on the map in light blue represent areas with a low population density of Asians living in the United States. Colors represented in darker shades of blue represent higher percentages of population density. Thus, we are able to learn that there are high concentrations of Asian people living within the state  of California, Washington and in the upper East Coast. The highest percentage of Asians living within a county is that of 46% and it is represented by dark blue on the map. 

In the second map we have the distribution of African Americans living in the United States ranked by percent. Once again we can tell that the areas in light blue represent low population densities whereas areas in darker shades of blue represent higher population densities. From the map we can tell that there is a high concentration of African Americans living in the South in states such as Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama just to name a few. A reason as to why there are high percentages of African Americans in the South might have to do with the history of the slave trade and the plantations that originated in the South. The highest percentage of African Americans concentrated in a single county is that of 86.4% and it is represented by the darkest shade of blue on the map.  

The last map shows us the distribution of "some other race" living in the United States ranked by percent. The light colors represent low population densities and the darker colors represent higher population densities. From the map we can tell that there are high concentrations of "some other race" on the western part of the United States particularly in areas such as California, Texas and Arizona. There is a high percentage of "some other race" as well in Southern California, particularly that of Los Angeles County. The highest percentage of some other race is that of 39% and it is represented by the darkest shade of blue. 

In addition, we can tell that there are large percentages of Asians, African Americans and "Some Other Race" in California, particularly in Los Angeles County. One of the reasons as to why this might be is due to all of the ethnic enclaves situated in Los Angeles as well as to the wonderful melting pot that Los Angeles is!

Lab #6: DEMs in ArcGIS

In this week's lab we are looking at digital elevation models or DEMs. DEMs contain an array of elevation measurements that are usually organized as squares or rectangular grids. DEMs help highlight locations with dramatic elevation changes such as mountains, volcanoes and canyons. 

The area of interest that I selected was that of the Malibu/Ventura area. The map highlights Point Mugu which is a naval base in Ventura County shown in the lower left part of the map. The lower right area of the map features Highway 23, which is also known as Decker Canyon. Inland we have the 101 freeway which passes through agricultural land in Fillmore, Moorpark and Oxnard. Along the coast section of the map runs Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). I chose this area of interest because I have grown up camping and surfing in this area. Thus, I was interested to see what it would look like in a DEM. There are also great hiking trails and canyons as well in this area which represent the changes of elevation present in this area. 

What I found most interesting in this DEM was the contrast in elevation from that of sea level to the Santa Monica Mountains which surround the area. In the shaded relief model the blue color represents low elevation, i.e. sea level and below sea level, and the yellow and red represent increases in elevation. The red represents the Santa Monica Mountains. Furthermore, in the Slope map we see that the slope is very steep and rapidly increases. It goes from being flat (green) to being very steep (red). Lastly, the 3D image of my location helps show the increase in elevation from sea level to that of areas of high elevation, i.e. mountains. The points of highest elevation are represented in dark blue. 

All in all, I found this to be a very interesting lab exercise because Digital Elevation Models can tell us many things. For example, by looking at the elevation of certain areas we can figure out what types of flora and fauna are present in these regions based on the types of elevations that they live in. This is just one of the few things that DEMs can tell us. 

Here is some additional information about my maps:

Extent: 

top: 34.29 degrees, left: -119.15 degrees, right: -118.74 degrees, bottom: 34.03 degrees

Geographic Coordinate System:

GCS North American 1983

Lab #5: Map Projections in ARCGIS

The focus of this week’s lab was that of map projections. A map projection can be defined as “the transformation of coordinate locations from the earth’s curved surface onto flat maps.” Basically map projections are ways in which three-dimensional bodies can be represented on a plane. There are three ways to project the earth onto a developable flat surface based on geometric shape: azimuthal (plane), cylindrical (cylinder) and conical (cone). Without map projections we would not be able to create maps. Maps help us transform the 3D world into a two-dimensional surface.

However, all map projections distort the surface in some fashion, as some properties are lost at the expense of the others. Every distinct map projection distorts each map in a unique way.  Some of the properties that are affected by this distortion include area, shape, direction (angles on the map), bearing, distance and scale. While it preserves some of these qualities others are compromised. By realizing how map projections distort reality an increase geographic awareness and map appreciation can be made.

Of the six map projections in this lab, two are classified as equal area, two are conformal and two are equidistant map projections.  Due to the fact that all projections result in some distortion of the earth, they are classified based on the properties that they maintain. Conformal projections preserve shape and area, equal area projections preserve area and equidistant projections preserve neither shape nor area but rather distance over a short area.

For my equal area maps I chose both the Mollweide and the Hammer-Aitoff projections. In both of these maps the area is preserved. For my equidistant projections I chose a Sinusoidal projection and a Conic projection. Both of these maps help preserve distance over a short area from a standard point or line. This can be seen in the fact that when comparing the two maps the distances from Washington, D.C to that of Kabul, Afghanistan do not differ by that many miles as seen in the other projections. The scale for these two maps is also the same, that of 9,000 miles. The Equidistant Conic Projection provides a “bird’s eye view” of the world resulting in a view from above.  In both of these equidistant projections the shape and area are not preserved and one can witness a sort of stretching. For the conformal projections I chose both a Mercator and a Gall Stereographic Projection. Both of these maps help preserve shape and area but not distance. This can be seen in that fact that the distance from Kabul to Washington D.C. varies the most in these 2 projections.

All in all, map projections are very useful no matter what their distortion. No map is 100% perfect but that does not take away from their usefulness. Depending on what your needs are will help you figure out what map is best for your specific project or needs.   

Lab #4: Introducing ArcMap

In Lab #4 the students of Geography 7 at UCLA were introduced to ArcGIS. In this lab we learned how to use ArcMap and ArcCatalog, both of which are crucial elements to ArcGIS. Our finished product was a full-featured map that had a background, scale bars, title and legend just like most ordinary maps. However, the map that we created was in fact quite unique. Not only did it have these map essentials but it also represented different layers. These layers provide thematic information for forming a GIS map. In addition to forming layers, students also learned how to digitize maps as well as export data, work with attribute tables and add data, and manipulate a road. We have learned all of this in our very first tutorial, which started with the mere basics of how to open ArcMap and ArcCatalog and use the toolbar for simple tasks such as zooming in and out.

In working with GIS we have been exposed to some of the difficulties and pitfalls in working with ArcMap. Let me start off by saying that for someone who is technologically challenged this was quite a difficult lab to overcome. For someone like myself who is not very good with computers this lab proved to be very frustrating and time consuming. With practice it is supposed to get easier and faster but I have a feeling that it will take lots and lots of practice. I think that the most difficult task for me was properly saving my work. Due to the many drives (S, D, F drives) that we are working with it became quite difficult to make sure that my work was saved in the right folder so that I could work on it at a later time. I’m going to be honest; I’m still very confused on how to save my work to the right folder and to copy the files. This was a huge problem for me as I had assumed that I saved all of my work on the flash drive only to return to it not being there. Instead I was greeted by a whole bunch of red exclamation marks. This brings me to the conclusion that GIS is a very difficult field and is geared toward people who are tech savvy. I feel like GIS is not geared toward the everyday person but rather is geared to a specific audience. Yes, the tutorial was straightforward but along the way there are bumps in the road probably due to my unfamiliarity with the program. All of these bumps I took as learning experiences and I’m sure that with time and practice that understanding how to use ArcGIS will hopefully get better.

In addition to the pitfalls of ArcMap within GIS there are also many possibilities. The potential is overwhelming and it is with this potential that GIS has taken unsurpassed importance and popularity within the growing academic world. GIS can be used not only for geography and information technology but it can also be applied to urban planning, public health, environmental work and conservation just to name a few. GIS is also beneficial as it allows students, who previously probably would never have been exposed to this tool, the opportunity to learn a new skill. Knowing GIS and how to use it properly will be a very important skill for people to learn especially in this very competitive job market.  Maps created on ArcMap are unlike normal ordinary maps that we are used to. Rather, they are complex maps composed of different layers that have all been created from different data frames located within the geodatabase. What is also quite important is the expanse of this geodatabase. I found it absolutely amazing! GIS in the right hands is quite a powerful tool if utilized properly. Lastly, another thing that I noticed was that with time steps that had to be repeated became easier. Troubleshooting, and doing the steps over and over again until I got them right also helped in learned how to use basic tools on ArcMap.

All in all, ArcGIS has both pitfalls and great potential. In my opinion the possibilities are endless and outweigh the pitfalls. With the growing field of geography and its large expanse I believe that GIS will become an even more important tool for scholars to utilize. GIS is going and is having a large impact on geography and other disciplines of the like. In addition, with the emergence of neogeography GIS also has great potential. Everyday people and scholars are taking geography into their own hands and are changing the field forever. Currently, GIS is extremely expensive and therefore is only limited to a certain audience. However, with a growing interest in map making as seen on the internet with Google maps and mashups who knows what the future will bring to our society…only time will tell!