ASSIGNMENTS: in class practice and homework
DRAFT-subject to modifications!Introduction Slides
Topic: Data acquisition and integration
Task: Get familiar with tools and data
- List data in the provided database, find their projection, coordinate system, spatial extent, resolution, accuracy and source/mapping technique if available.
- Display and query raster and vector data in 2D, list data attributes.
- Display elevation data and selected vector data in 3D
- Convert raster to vector and vector (point, line, area) to raster
- Post selected data to Google Maps and Google Earth.
Approach: GRASS solution ArcGIS solution
Homework: Prepare 3 page report describing the properties of data in this data set - 1 page text, 2 page screenshots
Topic: Data display and visualization
Task: Create 2D images, animations, 3D views and flythroughs
- Display raster and vector maps with adjusted color tables and symbols, select suitable color tables for continuous and discrete data, histogram equalized colors, custom colors for highlighting features
- Display labels, grids, scales, output hardcopy map
- Display time series of data using 2D animation
- Interactively view raster and vector data in 3D space, adjust point symbols using attribute values, adjust lighting to highlight features
- Visualize multiple surfaces with cutting planes
Approach: GRASS solution ArcGIS solution
Homework: Prepare series of 2D and 3D images representing landscape in SW_Wake, its natural and man-made features and properties. Submit as a report.
Topic: Geospatial Analysis I: map algebra, neighborhood operations, buffers
Task: Use map algebra to analyze, modify and derive new maps, use raster based analysis to find locations with given properties
- analyze differences between NED and SRTM data, compute filters and repair SRTM data
- derive and apply masks
- create new landuse scenarios
- compute vegetation index
- use buffers along the major roads to find neighborhoods that may be affected by noise pollution.
- use buffers around lakes to find neighborhoods within walking distance to a lake or pond
- use neighborhood operations to remove small patches of forest from the landcover map
Approach GRASS solution ArcGIS solution
Homework: Find the number of children attending public schools that may be affected by noise pollution from major highways.
Topic: Geospatial Analysis II: cost surfaces, least cost path, landscape structure
Tasks: apply cost surface analysis to assist in accident management, analyze structure of landscape patterns
- assume there was an accident at N,E on Hwy 1. Compute cost surface for getting to the site from any point in the study region using the street map converted to raster. Find which firestation has the lowest cost to get there and find the shortest path. Find the 2nd and 3rd closest station and path. Discuss the issue of interchanges.
- a child got lost around lake wheeler - compute the accessibility map to aid the search
- compute landscape ecology measures for forests
Approach GRASS solution ArcGIS solution
Homework: Extend the analysis done at the lab, prepare report
Topic: Geospatial Analysis III: Spatial interpolation and approximation
Tasks: Demonstrate impact of data distribution and interpolation methods on resulting surface using 3D visualization or hillshade
- compare resampling and reinterpolation of raster data (land use and elevation) : nearest neighbor, bilinear and bicubic interpolation
- evaluate different methods for filling "holes" in SRTM data (lakes)
- interpolate DEM to 2m resolution using a subsample of lidar data: compare methods (voronoi diagrams, linear on TIN, IDW, spline, natural neighbor)
- demonstrate impact of spline interpolation parameters on the resulting surface: control level of detail, remove noise, apply spatially variable smoothing, estimate deviations
- interpolate NC precipitation map without and with influence of topography
Approach GRASS solution ArcGIS solution
Homework: Extend the analysis done at the lab, prepare report
Topic: Geomorphometry I: Terrain modeling
Tasks: Compare properties of elevation data acquired by different technologies
- analyze multiple return lidar data and create DEM and DSM
- compare lidar-based NED and SRTM data: deviations, bias, noise
- compute TIN using the standard and constrained Delaunay triangulation
- compute appropriate contour interval and derive contours from NED, SRTM, and TIN
Approach GRASS solution ArcGIS solution
Homework: Extend the analysis done at the lab, prepare report
Topic: Geomorphometry II: Spatial and Temporal Terrain analysis
Tasks: Derive topographic parameters and landforms, analyze time series of DEMs
- cut and fill volume and change in elevation surface area due to construction
- roughness index and fractal dimension from NED and SRTM
- compare slope, aspect and curvatures derived from NED, SRTM, TIN and DEM computed from contours, use histograms, polar diagrams and visualization for comparison
- compute slope, aspect and curvatures from lidar point data using splines with different tension parameters
- derive lanforms and extract terrain features by combining basic topographic parameters, discuss impact of resolution
- derive maps characterizing coastal terrain evolution using raster time series analysis
Approach GRASS solution ArcGIS solution
Homework: Extend the analysis done at the lab, prepare report
Topic: Geomorphometry III: Viewshed, solar potential analysis
- compute viewshed area from a building on CC and from RBC tower, compare areas, find visible points of interesti, compare the results from SRTM and NED
- find optimal location for a webcam for watershed monitoring, analyze impact of resolution and uncertainty on the location
- find cumulative viewshed along the given road and compute the patchiness and total size of the area that is hidden from the road view
- compute cast shadows for a given set of building throughout the day on December 22 and animate the result
- compute (hourly and summary) radiation for summer and winter solstice days in a given area
Homework: Extend the analysis done at the lab, prepare report
Oct 7 or 16: Midterm
Week Oct 21 Topic: Flow routing, watershed analysis
Tasks: Compare flowaccumulation, stream networks and watersheds derived by different algorithms from different DEMs
- compute and compare streams and watersheds from NED and SRTM using
- D8, SFD with sink filling and least cost path
- D8, MFD with sink filling
- Dinf, SFD with sink carving
- derive valley lines and ridgelines using downslope and upslope flowtracing, compare with landforms derived by topo analysis
- extract watershed boundaries for given outlet, compute watershed hierachy
- compute flooded area from given seed point at given flood level
Homework: Extend the analysis done at the lab, prepare report
Topic: Modeling Geospatial Processes - Introduction
Tasks: For the given models of geospatial processes identify their type and GIS support requirements
- Compare handling of spatial variability in SWAT, WEPP, GeoWEPP, RUSLE2, RUSLE3d, USPED, SIMWE
- Compare temporal variability - steady state, full dynamics, continuous time
- Prepare data to run selected models
Homework: Extend the analysis done at the lab, prepare report
Topic: Modeling Geospatial Processes: Hydrology
Tasks: Compute surface runoff and infiltration maps using existing models
- compute wetness index using Topmodel
- compute peak runoff using data derived in GIS and models available in GIS (rational method using map algebra, available modules)
- compute runoff using on-line tools and data derived from GIS
- calibrate and validate the model
- compare accuracy and reliability of different simple models and tools
- compute runoff for different land use alternatives (create alternatives using Tangible GIS)
Homework: Extend the analysis done at the lab, prepare report
Topic: Modeling of Geospatial Processes: Erosion and landscape evolution
Tasks: Compute soil detachment and net erosion/deposition for diferent land use alternatives
- Compute and compare erosion topographic factor based on hillslope length and on contributing area
- Compute topographic potential for net erosion and deposition, using GIS tools, explore the impact of exponent value on the resulting spatial pattern
- Derive soil erodibility and land cover maps for different land use alternatives
- Compute erosion, sediment transport and deposition for different land use alternatives
- propose, design sediment control measures using SedSpec
- compute sediment transport from disturbed land with and without control measures using WEPP, GeoWEPP, SWAT
Homework: Extend the analysis done at the lab, prepare report