Final Project Solution Help

IT 242 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

The final project for this course is the creation of a report using a geographic information system (GIS) to analyze a spatial problem. GISs are important because they allow users to manage, analyze, and display geographic information on maps. Through the use of layers, these maps help users visualize data in different ways in order to identify patterns and relationships. GISs are used in areas as diverse as transportation systems, municipal planning, marketing, ecology, and emergency dispatching. For this assessment, you will write a report using a GIS to analyze one of the spatial problems listed below. You should choose a spatial problem that falls within your area of interest.

1. Disaster Management: Meltdown at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station 2. Conservation: Storm Wing Falcon Populations in Arizona 3. Business Decisions Support: Museum for Gold Mining in Yavapai County, Arizona 4. Waste Disposal: At-Risk Areas Near Waste Tire Disposal Sites in Arizona

You will also be provided with a spatial database that contains layers and shapefiles that will allow you to solve any one of the spatial problems. It will be up to you to identify and refine data sets within this database to provide a solution. The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four, and Five. The final project will be submitted in Module Seven. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

 IT-242-01: Apply fundamental concepts of geographic information science and technology in analyzing basic spatial problems in various disciplines

 IT-242-02: Differentiate between types of spatial data for organizing data and assessing data quality

 IT-242-03: Utilize basic functions of industry-standard geospatial software and tools to manipulate data in geographic information system applications for addressing discipline-specific spatial problems

 IT-242-04: Apply basic cartographic design best practices and principles to develop technically correct maps and visualizations for informing geospatial analysis

Prompt Your report should answer the following question: What spatial problem can you solve using a GIS? Write a detailed report explaining how to solve this problem using a GIS. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Statement of Problem A. Discipline: Select a spatial problem from the list provided. Why did you choose this spatial problem? B. Question: How can you use spatial techniques to answer the question?

II. Data

A. Spatial Data: Describe the spatial data that can be used to address the problem you selected. What type of spatial data did you identify? How is it different from other types of spatial data?

B. Organization: How can you organize this data to be used in addressing the spatial problem you selected? How does the type of spatial data affect your method for organizing the data?

C. Quality: Assess the quality of your spatial data. In other words, is the data is reliable, and is it from a trusted source? How does the type of spatial data affect the quality of the data?

III. Methodologies

A. Outline: Outline the steps involved with converting your spatial data to the type of data needed to solve the spatial problem you selected. In other words, what data-scrubbing methods did you use? For example, you might need to convert U.S. Census data into a spreadsheet that can then be imported into ArcGIS.

B. Data Set(s): Describe your data set or sets. Did you have more than one? If so, describe the process you used to join or combine your data sets. If not, why was one data set sufficient?

C. Geoprocessing Tools: Use geoprocessing tools to manipulate your data to address your spatial problem and the question you developed. Examples of tools you could use are Clip and Buffer. Which tools did you use? Why? Support your explanation with screenshots.

D. Symbols: Apply appropriate symbols to the layers you created using geoprocessing tools. What did you consider in choosing your symbols? Include screenshots that show your application of symbols.

E. Map(s): Create a technically correct map or maps using cartographic design best practices and principles. Ensure that your map or maps address the problem you selected.

F. Best Practices: Which cartographic design best practices and principles did you apply to the creation of your map(s)? Why?

IV. Conclusions A. Observations: What observations can you make about the map(s) you created? How do your observations relate to the spatial problem that you

selected? B. Recommendations: What recommendations for solving the problem can you make based on the map(s) you created and your observations?

Justify your recommendations. Why are they appropriate?

Milestones Milestone One: Draft of Statement of Problem In Module Two, you will submit a draft of Section I of the final project (Statement of Problem). You will include the reasoning for your selection and describe how you will use cartographic techniques and spatial analysis to solve your chosen problem. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Draft of Data In Module Four, you will submit a draft of Section II of the final project (Data). You will describe the spatial data that can be used to address your chosen problem, explain how you can organize the data to address the problem, and explain how the type of spatial data affects the organizational method. You will also assess the quality of your data, including whether it is reliable. Be sure to provide a screenshot of the spatial database you created to address your spatial problem. Finally, you will explain how the type of spatial data affects the quality of the data. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Draft of Methodologies In Module Five, you will submit a draft of Section III of the final project (Methodologies). You will outline the steps involved with converting your spatial data to the type of data needed to solve your chosen spatial problem. You will also describe your data sets and provide an explanation of the tools you used. Furthermore, you will apply appropriate symbols to the layers you created using geoprocessing tools, and you will create technically correct maps using cartographic design best practices and principles. You may submit this milestone in bullet point format. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Three Rubric. Final Project Submission: Report In Module Seven, you will submit a report using a geographic information system (GIS) to analyze a spatial problem. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final project. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This should include final maps, a spatial database, methodologies, and a conclusion. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

Deliverables

Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading

One Draft of Statement of Problem Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric

Two Draft of Data Four Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric

Three Draft of Methodologies Five Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric

Final Project Submission: Report Seven Graded separately; Final Project Rubric

Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your report must be 10 to 12 pages in length (plus a cover page and references) and must be written in APA format. Use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Include all data sources used, cited in APA format.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Statement of Problem: Discipline

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and description demonstrates nuanced understanding of relevance of problem for discipline

Explains choice of selected discipline and describes spatial problem to be solved

Explains choice of selected discipline and describes spatial problem to be solved but with gaps in detail or clarity

Does not explain choice of selected discipline or describe spatial problem to be solved

5.9

Statement of Problem: Question

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and question demonstrates nuanced understanding of spatial problem

Develops question that is practical, related to identified spatial problem, and solvable with cartographic techniques and spatial analysis

Develops question, but question is not practical, is not related to identified spatial problem, or is not solvable with cartographic techniques and spatial analysis

Does not develop question 5.9

Data: Spatial Data Meets “Proficient” criteria, and description demonstrates keen insight into types of spatial data

Describes spatial data to be used to address question, identifying the type of spatial data and differentiating it from other types

Describes spatial data to be used to address question, identifying the type of spatial data and differentiating it from other types, but description is cursory or inaccurate

Does not describe spatial data to be used to address question

7.9

Data: Organization

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and explanation demonstrates keen insight into spatial data organization

Explains how data can be organized to address identified spatial problem and how the type of spatial data affects organizational method

Explains how data will need to be organized to address identified spatial problem and how the type of spatial data affects organizational method, but explanation lacks clarity or detail

Does not explain how data will need to be organized to address identified spatial problem or how the type of spatial data affects organizational method

7.9

Data: Quality Meets “Proficient” criteria, and assessment demonstrates keen insight into spatial data quality

Accurately assesses data quality and explains how type of spatial data affects quality

Assesses data quality and explains how type of spatial data affects quality, but with gaps in accuracy or detail

Does not assess data quality or explain how type of spatial data affects quality

7.9

Methodologies: Outline

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and outline demonstrates nuanced understanding of geospatial software and spatial analysis tools

Logically and accurately outlines the steps to convert spatial data to the type of data needed to solve spatial problem

Outlines the steps to convert spatial data to the type of data needed to solve spatial problem but with gaps in logic, accuracy, or detail

Does not outline the steps to convert spatial data to the type of data needed to solve spatial problem

7.9

Methodologies: Data Set(s)

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and description demonstrates nuanced understanding of geospatial software and spatial analysis tools

Describes data set(s), explaining process used to combine them or why one set was sufficient

Describes data set(s), explaining process used to combine them or why one set was sufficient, but with gaps in detail or clarity

Does not describe data set(s) 7.9

Methodologies: Geoprocessing Tools

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and explanation demonstrates nuanced understanding of geospatial software and spatial analysis tools

Explains use of geoprocessing tools to manipulate data, supporting explanation with screenshots

Explains use of geoprocessing tools to manipulate data, but explanation lacks detail, clarity, or screenshot support

Does not explain use of geoprocessing tools to manipulate data

7.9

Methodologies: Symbols

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and use of symbols demonstrates keen insight into cartographic design best practices and principles

Applies appropriate symbols to layers, explains symbol choice, and includes screenshots as support

Applies symbols to layers and explains symbol choice, but symbols are not appropriate or lack screenshot support

Does not apply symbols to layers

8

Methodologies: Map(s)

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and map demonstrates expert, professional use of cartographic design best practices and principles

Creates technically correct map(s) using cartographic design best practices and principles and ensuring that the map or maps address the developed question

Creates map(s), but there are gaps in technical correctness or use of best practices, or the map or maps do not address the developed question

Does not create map(s) 8

Methodologies: Best Practices

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and explanation demonstrates keen insight into cartographic design best practices and principles

Explains application of cartographic design best practices and principles to map creation

Explains application of cartographic design best practices and principles to map creation, but with gaps in detail or clarity

Does not explain application of best practices and principles to map creation

8

Conclusions: Observations

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and observations demonstrate nuanced understanding of problem solving using GIS

Makes logical, accurate observations about map and relates them to spatial problem

Makes observations about map, but observations have gaps in logic or accuracy or are not related to spatial problem

Does not make observations about map

5.9

Conclusions: Recommendations

Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendations demonstrate nuanced understanding of problem solving using GIS

Makes and justifies appropriate recommendations for solving problem based on map and observations

Makes and justifies recommendations for solving problem, but recommendations are not based on the map and observations, or recommendations are not appropriate

Does not make and justify recommendations for solving problem

5.9

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy to read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

5

Earned Total 100%