GE 4150/5150 Natural Hazards Mitigation

Hazard Mapping with ArcView GIS – Final Lab Report

Turn in: completed lab and write-up. This must include at least one hazard map - you may (should) use more as appropriate, for example to highlight different features or at different scales.

Making your final map presentation

Components of a map (see chapters 21 and 22 in "Getting to Know ArcView GIS"). You should be able to incorporate all of these into your final map project:

neat line: solid boundary line forming a frame for the visually active part of the map

border: white space between the neat line and the edge of the medium (no information in this area)

scale: relates distance on the map to a ground distance (e.g., 1:24,000; 1" = 2000')

scale bar: miles, meters, feet, etc.

ground: area surrounding the figure up to the neat line; can be blank, used for other information (charts, tables), water.

labels: text to add information to the symbols (e.g., road names)

legend: an explanation of the graphic symbols and colors on the figure.

title: text, descriptive, and short as possible

credits: date produced, authors, owners, sources of information (known as "metadata")

north arrow: compass, cross, arrow as desired.

Write-up

As always, follow the lab writing format given on the class web site. The final report must include (page lengths are given as GUIDES only):

Title: specify where and what hazard(s) you are creating the project for)

Introduction (1-2) Describe the hazards you are considering in your map project, the utility of GIS for hazard mitigation studies, and how your hazard maps would be used.

Methods (1-2) Technical aspects of the procedures you used, software and data used.

Results (1-2 text) Hazard maps with explanations.

Discussion (2-4) error analysis, applications of maps, recommendations for future work. Your Discussion should reflect a serious effort to develop a hazard mitigation plan for the region of your choice, including hazards maps. You will not of course have every bit of data necessary; this map is just an initial effort.

References: cite any information sources you used, such as the GIS book, class lab handouts, web sites.

Overall, what makes a good project?

Maps: visual presentation, clarity, details, appropriateness to project

Format (complete sections) and Style (spelling, grammar, clarity)

Content: be specific and quantitative. Give values, percentages, distances, number of cases as much as possible. Back up your arguments with examples and data, and map interpretations/references rather than open speculation.