Lab 10_digital mapping own map

GUS 0821: Digital Mapping Spring 2017

Lab 10: Creating your own map_1st part

Submit this lab assignment through Canvas by clicking on the assignment and uploading this completed document. This assignment is due on April 23d @11:59pm.

This lab assignment meets the following learning goals:

General Education Learning Goals

· Critical Thinking

· Information Literacy

Quantitative Literacy Learning Goals

· Recognize, use, and appreciate mathematical thinking for solving problems that are part of everyday life;

· Retrieve, organize, and analyze data associated with a quantitative model.

Course Learning Goals

· Understand the mathematical models underlying digital maps

· Describe the geospatial and other technologies used to create digital maps

Objectives : This activity is part one of a two-part project activity that will take students through the entire process of cartographic production: from the gathering of field data to the creation of a finished map that can be presented to fellow classmates. This week's project exercise will provide students hands-on experience conducting an inventory of geographic locations of features within a theme, while next week’s project will focus on mapping these features in Google Maps.

Introduction : The term fieldwork is used in the natural and social sciences as a term for the collection of data in situ, or in place. Surveying refers to the gathering of information through observations. Before we begin, consider the variety of problems (environmental impacts of human activity, tracking the spread of a deadly disease, planning for natural disasters, etc.) and themes (immigration and emigration, dog walks, demographic data) that are the focus of fieldwork and the construction of digital maps.

Look at the following examples of Google Maps from past semesters for ideas before considering how you will go about collecting the field data for the creation of your own map.

· Abandoned Rail Infrastructure in Philly: http://tinyurl.com/PhillyAbandonedRail

· Attractions in Philly: http://tinyurl.com/7nkv8xh

Directions :

1. Consider the project as a whole and choose a theme. You have a fair amount of leeway in deciding how you will design your project. What will your area of inquiry be and how will this affect the scale of the map you create? The location where you chose to conduct your research can be on or near Temple University's Main Campus or elsewhere. What kind of theme would you like to focus on? What kind of features could be included in your theme? What kind of attribute data about your features can be collected? Can the collected data be easily mapped? The following themes (and theme features) are examples that have been used by students in the past. You may choose your own theme and features. Please do not choose a theme that can be easily found on Google map, such as restaurants or cafes! Try to be creative and focus on what you know well or what you are interested in most!

· Theme: Universal accessibility features on Temple Main Campus. In order to ensure that Temple University is in compliance with all federal laws, you have been hired by the University to conduct research on the universal accessibility of Temple’s campus. Features of this theme may include: handicapped accessibility ramps, clearly marked handicapped parking spaces, safety railings on stairs and near ledges, signage, and other design elements of buildings and infrastructure meant to accommodate the needs of individuals with physical disabilities.

· Theme: Green Philadelphia. Imagine you are hired by the city as a consultant to take an inventory of the positive externalities of environmental amenities and green space in Philly. Features of this theme may include: the locations of city owned and operated parks, guerilla D.I.Y. urban gardens, well-organized community gardens, vacant lots, nurseries and greenhouses, concrete-covered areas that could become green spaces, water drains where non-point source pollution can make its way from city streets to our precious waterways,

· Theme: Campus Safety. The Philadelphia Police Department is interested in ramping up their activity to combat crime in and around Temple and they need you to make recommendations as to how their efforts will be most effective. Features of this theme may include: the locations of different types of student housing on or adjacent to main campus, security cameras, security booths, emergency blue phone locations, streetlights, and/or other features you identify.

· Theme: Skate Park Campus. Imagine that Thrasher Magazine has hired you as a writer and your task is to make a map to convey to your readers where the best skate spots in Philly are located. Features of this theme may include: popular skateboarding areas on campus, skate parks in Philly, rails, ledges, stairs, skateboarding shops, and other features important to Philadelphia skateboarders.

2. Data Collection: Once you have chosen your theme, you will want to think about the features to be included in the theme before you design your data collection methodology. Think about the points, lines, and polygons you can use to eventually depict your data on the Google map you will create. Some data, such as individual point data, may be appropriate for plotting individual locations on a map. Other data may be accurately depicted with polygons or with lines. You need to record at least 15 spatial features within your chosen theme . For example, if your choose to map trees or parks in Philadelphia, you will need to include at least 15 total trees or parks in your Google map.

Your fieldwork activity will require you to not only do a spatial inventory of 15 spatial features in the physical or cultural landscape but also require you to identify 6 attributes (variables or characteristics) of each spatial feature inventoried , which distinguishes those spatial features from one another. For example, if your choose to map trees or parks in Philadelphia, the attributes might include tree species, height of trees, deciduous or evergreen, width of trees, local native or foreign exotic tree. For parks in Philadelphia, the attributes might include 1) state, city or national park, 2) historic, natural or recreational park, 3) camping. picnicking, hiking or fishing facilities, etc……

A. How will you record the location of the data so that you can plot it on a map later? One way is to create a paper map that you will take with you into the field for the recording of your data. You may print out imagery from Google Maps to use as a base map for the data collection. The coordinates of your locations can later be deciphered using a digital source ( http://www.findlatitudeandlongitude.com/ ). The map should include the boundaries within which you will conduct the inventory. You should locate the features you investigate on the map. Each location should be marked with a latitude and longitude identifier(s); a narrative description of the feature; and a notation of the characteristics you are investigating for each feature.

B. Now you will create a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet or Microsoft Word Table where your data will be recorded. You may design individual tables for each feature being recorded. Below is an example of a spreadsheet that was designed to collect feature data. You can delete the text in each cell of the table below and then insert your field data.

Feature ID	Feature Name	Lat/long	Var. 1 Size of entrance	Var. 2 Ramp present	Var. 3 Elec. Door 0pener	Var. 4 Sign at entrance	Var. 5 Number of signs	Var. 6 Number of ramps
1	Andersen Hall
2	Gladfelter hall
3	Bell Building
4	Campus Safety Ser
5	Conwell Hall
6	Paley Library
7	TU Rec. Center
8	The Sac.
9	Beury Hall
10	Speakman Hall
11	Pearson Hall
12	Curtis Hall
13	Student Pavilion
14	Liacouras Center
15	Barrack Hall
16	Tuttleman
17	Walk Auditorium

Deliverables: Answer the following Questions:

In order to receive full credit, you will need to submit (1) the answers to the following questions and (2) any spreadsheets or tables that you created to contain your data.

1. In a paragraph or more, explain your choice of theme and the potential uses of the survey you conducted. Explain how you chose the features within your theme. What considerations or restrictions did you think of when planning your fieldwork and data collection?

2. In a paragraph or more, describe a plan for mapping the features you surveyed. How could you represent the features? How could you differentiate between the variables you surveyed on a map? How could you depict similarities and differences, and scale on a map?

3. Include the completed spreadsheet that you created below.