Lab 2: Downloading GIS Data

Goals and Background:

The goal of Lab 2 is to learn how to download and map data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In this lab there are 8 objectives displayed below:

1) Download 2010 Census data (total population) from the US Census Bureau.
2) Download a shape file of the 2010 Census boundaries from the US Census Bureau.
3) Combine the downloaded data to the Census shapefile.
4) Map the data.
5) Download and map a variable of your choice.
6) Make a layout with both maps
7) Create a web map with one of the variables.
8) Indite a technical report and post it to this blog.

In preparation for the lab read the definitions of US Census Bureau, Census Boundaries, Statistical Boundaries, Census Tract, Block Group, Census Block, 2010 SF1% Data, and lastly American Community Survey Estimates in order to learn some background knowledge.

Methods:

Objective One: Download 2010 Census Data:

Begin by creating a lab 2 folder in your the workspace for the class. The first step is to choose a data set form with advanced search on the US Census Bureau Fact Finder Website. Click on the Topics option, choose People , Basic Count/Estimate, and lastly population total. Now choose all counties within Wisconsin in the Geography option. Find the P1 for Total Population from the 2010 SF1 Dataset, download the data, and then unzip it in your Lab 2 folder. Next, extract all the files from the new unzipped folder in order to open the CVS files. Find the DEC_10_SF1_P1_with_ann.xlsx file in order to save it as a Excel Workbook. Then go back to the Census website to download the shapefile.

Objective Two: Download the shapefile for the WI census data:

Start by downloading the Map in the geographies option, and again unzip the file. You will need all the files, so don't move anything around. Use ArcCatalog to see and manage shapefiles.

Objective Three: Join the data together

Create a blank map in ArcMap titled Lab 2, and rename the Layers tab "Population". Bring in the 05000.shp shapefile, and the DEC_10_SF1_P1_ann$ attribute table. Join the tables using the common attribute field "GEO_ID".

Objective Four: Map the data

For this section a quantities graduated colors value for D001 needs to be made. However one must complete various steps to fix the original string field type. In order to fix this, create a new field named D001 in the 05000 attribute table. Go to the new field, and use the field calculator. Double click D001 then hit "Okay". Now you can create a map with graduated colors.

Objective 5: Map a Variable of your choice

Going back to the census website, choose a variable to download and map. Repeat the same steps as before in order to create the newly mapped variable.

Object 6: Build a Layout

For this section you will create a cartographically pleasing layout with both maps of Wisconsin. Put the two maps from Objectives 5 and 6 into two separate data frames in a landscape layout. Make sure each map includes a title, legend, north arrow, scale, date, source, and author. Include the year of the census from which you gathered the data.

Objective 7:

The last part of the lab involves sharing and configuring a map by creating a web map service in ArcGIS online. You also need to create a web map, and lastly configure that web map.
Publish the finished population map, and name it Wisconsin_Demographic_Information_Morgan in the UWEC Geography and Anthropology GIS online account. is complete you are asked to add a pop up in the Configuration window.

Results:

Objective 4:

After creating the new D001 Field you can create a quantities graduated color map that should like the map in Figure 1.




Figure 1 is a map of the D001 field
for Total Population

Objective 5:

Just like objective 4 you used D001 to create a quantities graduated color map, but this time it was with a variable of your own choice. Figure 2 shows displays a map of the number of housing units in Wisconsin.

Figure 2 displays a map of D001 field
for total number of Housing Units

Objective 6:

This portion of the lab requires you to make the two maps from Objective 5 and 6 visibly pleasing (as shown in Figure 3.




Figure 3 shows two cartographically pleasing maps

Objective 7:

Once you configure the pop-up in the Configuration window it will appear for any county you click on (as shown in Figure 4). This is the hyperlink to show proof of finished product: http://uwec.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=fa3a20e0336b488a95c51ee20bcd657a

Figure 4 shows the pop-up configuration for the uploaded map

Sources:

All Data was acquired from the US Census Bureau in 2010

GIS Extra Credit: Geography Bee

Thursday, November 17th, 2016

Overview: 

The Geography Bee was a trivia challenge between 10 groups of pairs that lasted about an hour and a half. Question were based off of different Geographical studies with Multiple Choice and Fill in the blank. Each multiple choice question had 5 answers, A through E. There were a total of 3 rounds, and after the first round groups were eliminated. This event was ran Ari Anand, Ryan Weichelt, and Ezra Zeitler. 

Summary of Questions:

The first round's questions dealt with statistics. For example what are the top 5 largest lakes in the world. I answered 2 out of 5 of these questions with lake superior and lake Michigan. The remaining 3 were Lake Victoria, Lake Huron, and the largest of all, the Caspian sea. Another question was what are the top 5 largest. My partner and I again only guessed 2 out of 5 with the largest Tokyo and Shanghai. The other three were Delhi, Seoul, and Jakarta.  

The second round also dealt with statistical questions. The first question asked what the top 5 most popular parks are. We got Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon right. The other two were the Rocky Mountain national park, and the largest of all, the Great Smoky Mountain national park. The next question was what is the coldest temperature ever recorded. The answer was -162 degrees Celcius or 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and was recorded on July 20th, 1983 at Vostok Station Antarctica.

The final round consisted of two matching questions, and one statistical question. The first matching question asked to match up 5 physical features with 5 states. My partner and I got all 5 of the following correct answers right: Crater Lake is in Oregon, Mammoth Cave is in Kentucky, Carlsbad Cavern is in New Mexico, Shenandoah Valley is in Virginia, and Tortugas bay is on the coast of Florida. The second matching asked to match up monuments with their states. The only one we got right was Fort Sumter with South Carolina. The other four were Homestead to Nebraska, Dinosaur park to Colorado, Pipestone to Minnesota, and lastly Murr woods to California. The very last question asked what are the 5 oldest national parks. I guess Crater Lake, Yellowstone, and Yosemite correctly. The other two parks were Sequoia and Mt. Rainier.

Conclusion:

By the end of it all there was one winner who received the Goat Trophy. All participants received prizes. Although I did not win, I learned new facts that I would not be aware of if I hadn't gone. It was a great time, and I will definitely be in attendance next year.