JHU Environmental Applications of GIS with Isaacs

Ref: Dr. Rachel Isaacs (2019). Environmental Applications of GIS. JHU Course AS.420.603.81. Email: risaacs6@jhu.edu  

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Summary

• An overview of the fundamentals of mapping, photogrammetry, geographic information science, and remote sensing. 

• Textbook: Zhu, Xuan GIS for environmental applications: a practical approach.

• Programs: Google Earth Pro, ArcGIS Pro, 7-Zip.

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GIS Analysis

1. Define the problem.

2. Determine a project area.

3. Locate, acquire, and prepare data.

4. Determine appropriate methodology and geospatial analysis.

5. Communicate your results.

• Map Elements: Title, Legend, Scale, Caption, Compass, Inset Map.

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ArcGIS File Types

• Shapefiles: Composed of 3 mandatory files: .shp, .shx, and .dbf.

  • .shp: Gives features their geometry (points, lines, polygons in a map).

  • .shx: Used to search files.

  • .dbf: Standard Database File used to store attribute data and object IDs.

• .prj: Contains metadata associated with the shape files coordinates and projection system.

• .xml: Contains the metadata associated with the shape file.

• .sbn: Optimizes spatial queries.

• .sbx: Speeds up load times and works with .sbn files to optimize spatial queries.

• .cpg: Describes the encoding applied to create the shape file.

• .arpx: Project File- contains maps, scenes, layouts, data, tools, and other items.

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GIS Terminology

• Data

  • Primary Data: Information collected in the field.

  • Secondary Data: Information collected by organizations and shared.

• Resolution

  • Spatial: Area visible to the sensor.

  • Spectral: Ability of a sensor to define wavelength intervals.

  • Temporal: Amount of time before site revisited.

  • Radiometric: Ability to discriminate very slight differences in energy.

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GIS Resources

Federal Websites:

• http://guides.library.jhu.edu/gis

• USGS EarthExplorer

• USGS Earth Resources Observation Science (EROS)

• USGS National Gap Analysis Program (GAP)

• USGS National Map

• NPS Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA Portal)

• USDA Geospatial Data Gateway

• EPA Geospatial Resources

• CDC Geo-spatial Data Resources

• NOAA National Weather Service GIS Portal

• NOAA Fisheries GIS Data

• NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

• NOAA National Hurricane Center

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Geospatial Services

• FEMA GIS Services

Academic/Private/NGOs/Other:

• NSIDC (National Snow and Ice Data Center)

• PRISM Climate Data

• SNAP sub-Arctic and Arctic Alaska and Canada Climate Data

• UN Environmental Data Explorer

• The Nature Conservancy Conservation Maps and GIS Data

• Ducks Unlimited

• ESRI Living Atlas of the World

• ArcGIS Open Data

Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network:

• LTER Network Data Portal: All site data

• Niwot Ridge, Colorado

• Bonanza Creek, Alaska

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