Procedure log for NR531 Midterm part B, Zachary Arcaro, Fall 2006

 

Finding an appropriate site for a civil war museum and an archeological dig in the area where the Gettysburg battle was fought.

 

Data:  

The following ArcView shapefiles for this project were obtained from the National Park Service and the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Society.  The data are all in NAD 1983 StatePlane Pennsylvania South FIPS 3702 meters.

 

Soils in and around Gettysburg National Military Park

(Soilspol.shp, Soilspol.shx, Soilspol.dbf)  (polygons)

Streams in and around Gettysburg National Military Park

(Streams.shp, Streams.shx, Streams.dbf) (lines)

Roads in and around Gettysburg National Military Park

(Roadsarc.shp, Roadsarc.shx, Roadsarc.dbf) (lines)

Historic land use in and around Gettysburg National Military Park

(Histland.shp, Histland.shx, Histland.dbf) (polygons)

Battle zones in and around Gettysburg National Military Park

(battles1.shp, battles1.shx, battles1.dbf) (polygons)

Battle zones in and around Gettysburg National Military Park

(battles2.shp, battles2.shx, battles2.dbf) (polygons)

Points representing locations where Civil War artifacts have been found.

(artifacts.shp, artifacts.shx, artifacts.dbf) (points)

 

 

 

Procedure Log:

 

Using ArcCatalog define the spatial reference for each shapefile

Target layers: artifacts.shp, battles1.shp, battles2.shp, histland.shp, roadsarc.shp, soilspol.shp, streams.shp.

For each layer double click to open shapefile properties.

Click the Shape row

In Field Properties select correct coordinate system:

NAD 1983 StatePlane Pennsylvania South FIPS 3702 meters

 

Open files to an ArcMap diplay, save as mxd file

 

Create a layer that shows the area within 2000 ft but not inside an historic residential area.

 

Select historic residential areas

Target Layer: histland.shp

Selection > Select by Attributes

Selection Statement: "LAND_USE" = 'residnt'

Result: Historic residential areas selected

 

Create new layer consisting only of historic residential areas

Target Layer: histland.shp

Right click histland > Export Data (accept defaults)

Result: new layer created: Export_Output_1

 

Buffer historic residential areas, 2000 ft

Target Layer: Export_Output_1

Analysis tools > Buffer >

Input = Export_Output_1

Linear Unit = 2000 feet

Dissolve Type = All

Result: new layer created: Export_Output_1_Buffer1

 

Erase area within historic residential areas

Target Layer: Export_Output_1_Buffer1

Analysis Tools > Overlay > Erase

            Input Features = Export_Output_1_Buffer1

            Erase Features = Export_Output_1

Result: new layer created: Export_Output_1_Buffer1_Eras

 

Rename layer to improve understanding

Target Layer: Export_Output_1_Buffer1_Eras

Double click > change layer name

Result: layer renamed Hist_Res_Final

 

 

Create a layer that shows the area within 2000 ft or inside a battle zone.

 

Join the two battle shapefiles into one shapefile

Target Layers: battles1.shp, battles2.shp

Analysis Tools > Overlay > Union

Result: new layer created: battles1_Union

 

Buffer battle zones, 2000 ft

Target Layer: battles1_Union

Analysis tools > Buffer >

Input = battles1_Union

Linear Unit = 2000 feet

Dissolve Type = All

Result: new layer created: Battles_Final

 

 

Create a layer that shows the area within 200 ft of a stream.

 

Target Layer: streams.shp

Analysis tools > Buffer

Input = streams.shp

Linear Unit = 200 feet

Dissolve Type = All

Result: new layer created: Streams_Final

 

 

Create a layer that shows the area within 300 ft of a road.

 

Target Layer: roadsarc.shp

Analysis tools > Buffer

Input = roadsarc.shp

Linear Unit = 300 feet

Dissolve Type = All

Result: new layer created: Roads_Final

 

 

Create a layer that shows the area within 200 ft of where artifacts have already been discovered.

 

Target Layer: artifacts.shp

Analysis tools > Buffer

Input = artifacts.shp

Linear Unit = 200 feet

Dissolve Type = All

Result: new layer created: Artifacts_Final

 

 

Create a layer that shows the areas that have a gentle or no slope

 

Dissolve Slope layer to create contiguous soil polygons

Target Layer: soilspol.shp

Search for Dissolve > Dissolve > Dissolve by slope

Result: Slope layer now has single polygons to far areas with the same slope

 

Select soils with slope type “A”

Target Layer: soilspol.shp

Selection > Select by Attributes

Selection Statement: "SLOPE" = 'A'

Result: areas with slope type “A” selected

 

Create new layer consisting only of areas with slope type “A”

Target Layer: soilspol.shp

Right click soilspol > Export Data (accept defaults)

Result: new layer created: Slope_export

 

 

Take all the individual input layers and produce a layer covering only the area that intersects all the input layers. 

Target Layers: Slope_Final, Artifacts_Final, Roads_Final, Streams_Final, Battles_Final, Hist_Res_Final

Analysis Tools > Overlay > Intersect

Result: new layer created: All_Criteria_Final

 

Open Attribute Table for All_Criteria_Final layer to find largest area

Target Layer: All_Criteria_Final

Open Attribute Table: sort size column by descending order, find largest polygon

Result: 3005 square meters

 

Create Layout to display map

 

Layout view editing

            Include the following layers: War Era Homesteads, Battle Zones, streams, roads, and potential dig sites

 

Add colored circles for the primary and secondary dig sites

            Add Circles, adjust color and size

            Add text to explain them

 

Add scale bar

            Activate map

            Click Insert > Scale Bar

            Ensure units are in feet

            Choose appropriate bar

            Make sure bar display has nice numbers (ie 2000, not 1950)

            Result: scale bar now present

 

Add North Arrow

            Activate map

            Insert > North Arrow

            Choose appropriate arrow

            Result: North arrow now present

 

Add Title

            Click new text button

            Enter appropriate information

            Format to large size by changing symbol to font size 22

            Result: Title now present

 

Add name and date

            Click new text button

            Enter appropriate information

            Result: name and date now present

 

Add Neatline

            Click Insert > Neatline

            Select Place inside margins

            Result: neatline now present

 

Add legend

            Click Insert > Legend

            Set border line at 1.0 point

            Set background color to white

            Result: legend now present

 

Format legend

            Double click legend to get legend properties dialog open

            Click Frame tab

            Set both X and Y gap for both border and background to 5 points

            Click Legend tab

            Result: legend now more visually appealing

 

Resize all items to reduce clutter and improve readability

            Select items individually, place and resize appropriately

            Result: layout now more visually appealing