Final Maps and Poster

 

    Final Maps:

    These are the final maps that I ended up with by the end of the project. I had to change direction slightly due to not enough data for what I was initially looking for. 

Final Poster:

• How do you feel about your final maps and poster? What parts of your project do you particularly like? Dislike? Why? 

I generally feel pretty good about my final project and poster. I feel that my maps convey my research really well. I really like the maps that I made, I think they are very clean in showing their data points and they show just enough information so that it is not cluttered. I dislike my format because I feel that it is too boring and generic and not very appealing to the viewer. 

• What would you differently if you were to do re-start the semester and do this project again? Why?

If I could start over, I think that I would put a lot more research into a topic that could have a lot more data supporting it as it was very difficult for me to find all the correct data for my project. 

• What is something that you learned while doing this project that you think will be helpful if or when you do another GIS project? 

Something that I learned is that not all data can be exported and used in ArcMap software. I found a few data files in which that couldn't be used in ArcMap which was very disappointing.

Draft Map 1

 Caleb Lines - Draft Map 1

    This draft map shows the distribution probability of the Diamondback Terrapin along the New England Coast. Red is showing a high chance of occurrence. The overlay is not quite exact as it does not line up accurately. I plan to work on aligning this more. 

I used the States data set from the mgisdata folder

Maps of Project Data

      For my fist draft of my course project map, I have compiled all of the data that I have found and put into separate layer maps to show off each data set. All of the data is collected from the North Eastern U.S coast. I plan on merging all of the data with the correct coordinate systems so that each data set aligns on the same map. I will also work to change the display and symbol ology of the data points to make it more realistic and map-like. I found most of my data on the Northeastern Conservation Planning Atlas website which provides a lot of data regarding the conservation of many Northeastern US species such as the Diamondback Terrapin. I am still trying to locate more data on coastline development to show how coastal development affects the nesting and occurrence of these turtles. I also want to show the suitable habitat and how that might overlap with existing development and how we can preserve these areas from future development. 

Data Set 1: Showing Diamondback Terrapin Suitable Habitat in NY, NJ, RI, MA, CT, DE, MD, VA

Data Set 2: Landscape Capability for Diamondback Terrapin

Data Set 3: Diamondback Terrapin Probability of Occurrences

Course Project Proposal Final

  Introduction

    For my course project this semester, I will be looking into suitable habitat for the turtle genus Malaclemys along the New England coast, but specifically M. t. terrapin . I will also be overlaying this data with shoreline development and other prohibitions that may cause other disturbances on the coast that will dismay the terrapins. Diamondback Terrapins are a very unique turtle species because they are the only brackish, a mix of salt and fresh water, living turtle. Their skin, unlike other turtles, has the ability to live in higher than normal salinity levels without any harm don't to the turtle due to its ability to be highly impermeable to salt. These turtles offer an important role in their brackish water environments by controlling different snail and crustation populations as well as cleaning up carrion that may wash up. There are also a total of seven subspecies that range from northeastern Atlantic coast all the way down top the gulf of Mexico. Due to increase human activity and development along our Atlantic coats shorelines, it has actually dramatically decreased the populations and habitat of these species.  "In many states throughout the Atlantic and Gulf coasts they are listed as a species of special concern" (Kristen Hart USGS.GOV). In my project, I wanted to see the areas that are still suitable for terrapins that haven't been touched by human development yet. This is important because we need to identify these areas and hold a top priority in conserving and protecting these areas. 

Objectives

    Generally, my objectives for this project is to complete each given task week by week in order to get my course project compplete and finalized come the given due date. For this project, I hope to accomplish a few things. The first objective would be to successfully extract and import all of my found data correctly into my ArcMap file. I was struggling with this so I hope to get better and do it correctly for my project. Another objective is the seeing the final result. I am curious in seeing what my final map will tell about the future of these turtle species. One last objective that I have for this project is that I can make my map for easy to understand and interpret. It is very easy to make a mixed and jumbled map so I hope to make my project, by using GIS techniques, will be easy to read. 

Methods

    The methods that I'll be using to complete my project are as follows: First I will be extracting and importing all of my data into Arc Catalog. This will be the first week of doing my project. Then, I will create a blank map and add the New England Coast base map as my first layer. Once my map is in then I can start adding my other data that I have found and begin layering them. This will be done over the next 2 weeks of my project. Once added, I will then start to edit the layers to smooth out any rough spots that may be causing an issue on the map. I will then customize the layers and different symbols I use like color, sizes, symbol icons etc. This will take up then the next two weeks. Lastly I will then error proof my map and add in any infographics that may be required for the project. This will be done on the very last week of the project to error prrof the project and get rid of any fun ky parts that may have developed within my map.

Data Sources

     1. Northern Diamondback Terrapin Probability of Occurrences, Northeastern U.S. (2016) GIS Metadata file. Northeast, https://nalcc.databasin.org/datasets/49fdf62f7a5d4c6097f8d6417c54db1c/.

    2. Landscape Capability for Diamondback Terrapin, Version 3.1, Northeast U.S. (2016) GIS Metadata file. Mortheast, https://nalcc.databasin.org/datasets/fcfd5e4c96314849b3fe445bdf97ac80/

    3. Northeast Ocean Data. (2018) GIS Metadata File,  https://www.northeastoceandata.org/data-download/ 

Work Plan

    The major activities I would need to complete involve heavily on using the GIS software. The first part of my project was finding an interesting topic and then following it up with various GIS data. After that, my plan week to week would be to slowly but thoroughly chip away at it. I plan on focusing on a task or two, depending on how fast I complete said task, to allow myself to go through any questions or troubleshooting I may have. These activities may include importing data, creating and organizing layers, customizing layers and symbols, setting data frames, adding infographics, etc. I plan to tackle each objective using my methods to ensure that I complete my ptoject with as less errors as I can. 

Deliverables

    The other maps and other projects that come out of this can be maps of shoreline development and how that affects other wildlife populations. You can apply this to various species that may be affected by this both aquatic and terrestrial species such as Horshoe Crabs, Sea turtles, or Shore birds. Although not a Environmental application, you can also just look at the human development side of this and equate it to economics and real estate evolution and trends that happen along the coast line as development continues.

Course Project Proposal DRAFT

 Introduction

    For my course project this semester, I will be looking into suitable habitat for the turtle genus Malaclemys along the New England coast, but specifically M. t. terrapin . I will also be overlaying this data with shoreline development and other prohibitions that may cause other disturbances on the coast that will dismay the terrapins. Diamondback Terrapins are a very unique turtle species because they are the only brackish, a mix of salt and fresh water, living turtle. Their skin, unlike other turtles, has the ability to live in higher than normal salinity levels without any harm don't to the turtle due to its ability to be highly impermeable to salt. These turtles offer an important role in their brackish water environments by controlling different snail and crustation populations as well as cleaning up carrion that may wash up. There are also a total of seven subspecies that range from northeastern Atlantic coast all the way down top the gulf of Mexico. Due to increase human activity and development along our Atlantic coats shorelines, it has actually dramatically decreased the populations and habitat of these species.  "In many states throughout the Atlantic and Gulf coasts they are listed as a species of special concern" (Kristen Hart USGS.GOV). In my project, I wanted to see the areas that are still suitable for terrapins that haven't been touched by human development yet. This is important because we need to identify these areas and hold a top priority in conserving and protecting these areas. 

Objectives

    For this project, I hope to accomplish a few things. The first objective would be to successfully extract and import all of my found data correctly into my ArcMap file. I was struggling with this so I hope to get better and do it correctly for my project. Another objective is the seeing the final result. I am curious in seeing what my final map will tell about the future of these turtle species. One last objective that I have for this project is that I can make my map for easy to understand and interpret. It is very easy to make a mixed and jumbled map so I hope to make my project, by using GIS techniques, will be easy to read.

Methods

    The methods that I'll be using to complete my project are as follows: First I will be extracting and importing all of my data into Arc Catalog. Then, I will create a blank map and add the New England Coast base map as my first layer. Once my map is in then I can start adding my other data that I have found and begin layering them. Once added, I will then start to edit the layers to smooth out any rough spots that may be causing an issue on the map. I will then customize the layers and different symbols I use like color, sizes, symbol icons etc. Lastly I will then error proof my map and add in any infographics that may be required for the project. 

Data Sources

     1. https://nalcc.databasin.org/datasets/49fdf62f7a5d4c6097f8d6417c54db1c/

    2. https://nalcc.databasin.org/datasets/fcfd5e4c96314849b3fe445bdf97ac80/

    3. https://www.northeastoceandata.org/data-download/ 

Work Plan

    The major activities I would need to complete involve heavily on using the GIS software. The first part of my project was finding an interesting topic and then following it up with various GIS data. After that, my plan week to week would be to slowly but thoroughly chip away at it. I plan on focusing on a task or two, depending on how fast I complete said task, to allow myself to go through any questions or troubleshooting I may have. These activities may include importing data, creating and organizing layers, customizing layers and symbols, setting data frames, adding infographics, etc. 

Deliverables

    The other maps and other projects that come out of this can be maps of shoreline development and how that affects other wildlife populations. You can apply this to various species that may be affected by this both aquatic and terrestrial species such as Horshoe Crabs, Sea turtles, or Shore birds. Although not a Environmental application, you can also just look at the human development side of this and equate it to economics and real estate evolution and trends that happen along the coast line as development continues.