Week 9 Lab: Final Mini Project!

   The Station Fire of Los Angeles Country started on August 26, 2009 (New NASA Image...) and lasted until the early hours of September 2, 2009. It spread throughout the center of Los Angeles County, and was contained within Acton, Little Tujunga, San Rafael Hills, and Henninger Flats. It burned a total of 160,557 acres, mainly forest, but did destroy 89 residential houses (Thompson, The Station Fire) as well as Los Angeles Fire Department Camp 16 (Camp 16 Incident). This made it one of Los Angeles County's largest fires to date (New NASA Image...). In total, the cost of putting out the fire, as well as damages to the area, reached approximately $95 million (US Forest Service Fact Sheet).
   While the fire was started by an arsonist (US Forest Service Fact Sheet), it was fueled by a combination of flammable shrubbery reaching up to fifteen feet tall, a significant drought affecting all of LA County, and sloping between 20 and 60 percent.  It initially expanded in a North/North West direction, while heading West throughout the last few days. Wind did not play a significant role in the fire spread (Thompson, The Station Fire).
   The second map shows the proximity of the 2009 Station Fire to Significant Ecological Areas in LA County. These are areas deemed by LA County to be "integral to the preservation of rare, threatened or endangered species and the conservation of biological diversity in the County," (Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning). Based on the perimeters of the fire in relation to the county's SEAs, it appears that protecting the biodiversity in Los Angeles county was a big priority. With
    This is especially prevalent when looking at the most Western perimeter of the fire on August 30, 2009 at 9:14PM. The fire appears to be touching the very boundary of SEA, but does not appear to overlap it, insisting that there may have been significant effort put forward to preserve these areas and protect them from the fire. The very most northern part of the fire perimeter, also from August 30, 2009, shows another example of the fire approaching, yet not overlapping, another one of Los Angeles County's SEAs.
   With a majority of the Los Angeles County National Forest destroyed, and significant damage to major waterways in the area (US Forest Service Fact Sheet), it was crucial to save such ecologically important areas as those highlighted in green above. While these areas could grow back with enough time and money, LA County's SEA housed many endangered plants and animals (Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning), which no amount of money could but back. For these reasons, along with the visual evidence above, it is obvious that saving these SEAs from fire damage was a priority concern for both the firefighters and environmental groups in the area.

References:

Camp 16 Incident: Burnover and Fatal Vehicle Accident. Rep. no. CA-LAC-09196997. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Fire Department, 2010.

Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning. "SEA Home." SEA Program. Web. 01 June 2012. <http://planning.lacounty.gov/sea/>.

"New NASA Image Shows Extent of Station Fire Burn." NASA. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Web. 01 June 2012. <http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/asterb20090908.html>.

Thompson, Richard, Curt Kaplan, and David Gomberg. The Station Fire: An Example of a Large Wildfire in the Absence of Significant Winds. Rep. Los Angeles/Oxnard: National Weather Service Forecast Office.

US Forest Service Fact Sheet: Station Fire Restoration. Issue brief. Los Angeles: United States Forest Service, 2011.

Week 8 Lab: Census Data Maps!

This map of Asian population density based on the 2000 census shows higher concentrations of self-described Asians on the west coast (particularly southern California) and in the upper east coast (particularly the New York area). There are a few exceptions however, with Asian population density surpassing 70,000 members in the upper right region of Texas. For the most part, as a pattern, the Asian population is highest in big city areas such as San Diego, Los Angeles, San Fransisco/ Bay Area, Dallas, New York City, and Boston.

This map of the African American population density based on the 2000 census shows a general trend of high African American population density in the central and southern parts of the west coast/ Arizona area and the southern portion of the east coast/ eastern Texas area. There appears to be a much higher population of African Americans throughout the United States than of Asian Americans.

This map of the population density of other races (not African American or Asian American) based on the 2000 census shows a must more sporadic and spread out trend than either that of the Asian Americans or African Americans. The population density is highest in the San Francisco/ Bay Area portion of California as well as the Albuquerque area of New Mexico. Lower, yet still significant population densities are found throughout most of the west coast, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, as well as smaller areas of concentration around southern Florida, South Carolina, and the upper east coast.

   As a whole the census data shows a lack of African Americans, Asian Americans, and other races (and therefore diversity) in the northern and central parts on the United States. There seems to be higher portions in well-established and known big cities, such as California's Bay Area, San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York City. The population of African American in the United States seems to easily surpass that of Asian Americans and as a whole rivals that of other races (although the density of other races is must more spread out). All in all, the census data and subsequent maps seem to provide both a good visual and an informative source.

   In terms of GIS, the possibilities immense. It is relatively easy to use once trained and provides excellent visuals to make sense of endless and sometimes confusing data. It ability to be easily changed, managed, and manipulated make it vastly superior to hard copy maps and user generated online mapping websites. Although GIS mapping is extremely helpful and useful when used properly, in order to maintain the integrity of GIS technology it should not be available for use by the general public, but should instead be reserved for professionals and college level students seeking understanding and mastery of the technology.

Week 7 lab: DEMs in ArcGIS!

Shaded Relief Model
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Slope Map
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Aspect Map
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3D Map

   My area is part of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in California. Because of the mountains, the area has a wide variety of elevation levels that span across it. The extent information is as follows: Top (37.4744 degrees), Left (-119.2928 degrees), Right (-118.3767 degrees), and Bottom (36.9642 degrees). It's geographic coordinate system is GCS_North_American_1983 using the North American 1983 datum with an angular unit of 0.0176.

Week 6 Lab: Projection in ArcGIS!

Original Map GWGS1984 

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Mercator Map Projection (conformal)

Distance from Washington D.C. to Kabul:
geodesic: 6,934.47 miles
loxodrome: 8,112.0607 miles
great elliptic: 6,934. 4838 miles

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Eckert I Map Projection (conformal)

Distance from Washington D.C. to Kabul:
geodesic: 6,934.47 miles
loxodrome: 8,112.0607 miles
great elliptic: 6,934. 4838 miles

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Eckert VI Map Projection (equal area)

Distance from Washington D.C. to Kabul:
geodesic: 6,934.47 miles
loxodrome: 8,112.0607 miles
great elliptic: 6,934. 4838 miles

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Bonne Map Projection (equal area)

Distance from Washington D.C. to Kabul:
geodesic: 6,934.47 miles
loxodrome: 8,112.0607 miles
great elliptic: 6,934. 4838 miles

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Equidistant Conic Map Projection (equidistant)

Distance from Washington D.C. to Kabul:
geodesic: 6,934.47 miles
loxodrome: 8,112.0607 miles
great elliptic: 6,934. 4838 miles

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Equidistant Cylindrical Map Projection (equidistant)

Distance from Washington D.C. to Kabul:
geodesic: 6,934.47 miles
loxodrome: 8,112.0607 miles
great elliptic: 6,934. 4838 miles

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   Map projections give us the opportunity to view the earth (in this case in its most basic outlines) in different ways. There are obvious pros and cons to the use of different map projections. The benefits of using different map projections is that we are given the chance to see the world through different perspectives. We have the option of choosing whether to preserve angles (conformal, i.e. the first two maps on this blog), area (equal area, i.e. the second two maps), or distance (equidistant, i.e. the last two maps) when viewing a map.
   One of the main problems with map projections is that while we can decide what characteristics of the Earth we would like to perserve, we can't make a map that preserves everything. All three forms of map projection must sacrifice some aspect of our earth in order to perserve the others. This is because our planet is a sphere, and paper is not. No matter how we try to project it, some aspect of a map projection will always be distorted.
   Along these same lines, many members of the public that are unfamiliar with the perils of map projection look at maps online and do not question them. This leads them to believe that certain countries are larger than they really are, or that two countries are a lot closer together than they are in reality. The flaws of map projection are then passed on to people as truths of the world, causing false information to spread like wildfire.
   As unfortunate as these errors in map projection may be, this doesn't mean that improvements aren't possible. We are living in an era exploding with technological advances. Soon we might find ourselves lucky enough to find technology that can combine the uses of conformal, equidistant, and equal area map projections without any sacrifices or distortion.

Week 4 Lab: Introducing ArcMap!

   Using ArcMap for the first time was a little intimidating. Personally I have never been much of a computer savvy person, so doing anything besides printing and saving documents was new for me. Luckily all the directions made sense and were easy to follow. Not only am I extremely proud of what I was able to accomplish, but I have a much better understanding of computers in general now, which is helpful outside of geography and GIS.

   One of the biggest benefits of GIS is its effectiveness at storing and displaying data. Through these programs its possible to turn endless amounts of numbers and statistics into a clear, easy to read visual that incorporates all the information. This not only makes projects, demographics, etc. understandable to people unfamiliar with geography, but also simplifies things to avoid mistakes made by those undertaking said projects (like an airport expansion plan).

   The biggest pitfall of GIS is probably its difficulty to access. It has to be done on computers with special programming installed, and it doesn't come cheap. This makes things harder for those attempting to learn how to use GIS and restricts where and when learning can be done. Because of all this, many members of the general public are not aware of the benefits of GIS, and its potential is hindered.

   If GIS was made accessible to the public, its potential could be limitless. Although it can be difficult to learn such a complex system, once learned it could become a mainstream form of displaying data in the same way that GoogleMaps and MapQuest have reinvented mapping and directions. While websites like GoogleMaps have their downfalls (see last week's post) it would be ridiculous to say that they have not had a positive impact on modern society.

Week 3 Lab: Neogeography!

View Best Tattoo Shops Across the United States in a larger map

   Neogeography is a great way for members of the general public (with low skill level in regards to map reading, making, etc.) to learn the basic concepts of maps, navigation, and geography. It allows for direct and interactive involvement in vacation planning, visiting a friend, and general tourism, with visual and continually updating information (a..k.a. instant gratification) that today's society finds so pertinent. In a way, neogeography (along with social networking) is helping push the people of our planet towards a paperless, and completely virtual society.
   Unfortunately, their are quite a few downsides to neogeography. First of all, it is slowly creating a society unable to actually understand the methods behind map reading and making. Not many people in the new generation can understand what exactly it means to "get directions" on Google Maps, much less read an actual paper map. Secondly, unverified, public made maps are surfacing and being used by others and accepted unquestioningly as truthful. Everyone has access to to the internet and many incompetent people are littering these sites with erroneous information. Lastly, these maps are produced for free by the public, and then used by big corporations without compensation to the original maker of the map. Without knowing, millions of people are lending themselves out as free labor sources, only increasing the power of big corporations such as Google.

Week 2 Lab: USGS Topographic Maps!

1. Name: Beverly Hills Quadrangle California-Los Angeles Co. 7.5-Minute Series (Topographic)
2. Adjacent Quadrangle Names (starting NW and going clockwise): Canoga Park, Van Nuys, Burbank, Hollywood, Inglewood, Venice, and Topanga.
3. This quadrangle was first created in 1995.
4. The North American Datum of 1927, the North American Datum of 1983, and the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 were used to create this map.
5. Scale: 1 : 24,000
6.
      a. 5 centimeters on the map = 1,200 meters on the ground
      b. 5 inches on the map = 1.89 miles on the ground
      c. 1 mile on the ground =  2.65 inches on the map
      d. 3 kilometers on the ground = 12.5 centimeters on the map
7. Contour Interval: 20 feet
8.
      a. Public Affairs: Latitude: 34*04'25" (34.074*) ; Longitude: 118*26'16" (118.438)
      b. Santa Monica Pier: Latitude: 34*00'35" (34.009*) ; Longitude: 118*30'00" (118.500)
      c. Franklin Canyon Reservoir: Latitude: 34*06'13" (34.104*) ; Longitude: 118*24'43" (118.412)
9.
      a. Greystone Mansion: approx. 520 ft. (158 meters)
      b. Woodlawn Cemetery: approx. 140 ft. (43 meters)
      c. Crestwood Hills Park: approx. 780 ft. (238 meters)

10. This map's UTM zone is 11S.
11. UTM Coordinates (for lower left corner):  361000 E. and 3763000 N.
12. Each cell of the UTM gridlines contain an area of 1,000,000 meters squared.
13. The approximate elevation levels for the coordinates on campus are 520 ft. at the 3771000 N and 366000 E intersection and 440 ft. at the 3771000 N and 367000 E intersection.

14. The map's magnetic declination is 14 degrees (249 miles).

15. In the intermittent stream between the 405 freeway and Stone Canyon Reservoir, the water flows in a Northern direction (starting off towards true north and slightly veering towards the magnetic north at the end).16.