Nicole's Geographic Journal

      For this week's lab, I compared TIN and DEM elevation models for elevation. I did this by creating and modifying TINs to examine their properties. The image above is from Part 1 of the lab, where I draped an image over a terrain surface. I did this by adding the TIN file to the elevation source so I could manipulate it better. From there, I exaggerated the terrain by increasing the vertical exaggeration. This was done to enhance the sense of depth, and allows the viewer to gain a better visual of what this  terrain looks like in real life. 

     For this week's internship assignment, I was tasked with finding a job posting I was interested in applying to, and determining whether or not I qu alified for said job.  The job I found was an Intermediate Environmental Scientist position with Soiltech Environment Group Inc. The successful candidate for this position would conduct site investigations and surveys, which includes collecting samples of soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water. While this position is for an environmental scientist, it does have a GIS component, which is the type of job I am looking for. I chose this job because it would have me working in the field and in the office. My 'dream job' would be working in marine/environmental sciences collecting data in the field, with a GIS component. Some of the requirements that I currently have include using FieldMaps, and creating visual aids. I would need to acquire more experience in preparing reports for clients if I were to apply to this...

      In this week's lab, I used centerline and TIGER data to determine the completeness of road networks. The goal of this accuracy assessment was to determine the quality of road networks according to ad hoc methodology. This methodology uses a flexible, custom approach to spatial analysis. Meaning, this methodology is not a formal, step-by-step procedure, but rather a way to perform rapid analysis on the fly. 

      In this week's lab, I determined the accuracy of road networks. I did this by selecting test points of intersections on the ABQ_Stre ets_Sample layer, and then zoomed into each test point to determine the 'true' location of the intersection. I added XY coordinates to both the test points layer, and the reference layer, and calculated the accuracy statistics. The t ested horizontal accuracy of this dataset is +/- 423 meters at 95% confidence level.

    This semester, I am finishing off my GIS certificate program with an internship course. The purpose of this course is to apply the knowledge I have gained through my courses and apply them in a real-world professional setting. To earn credit for this course, I will be working with one of my colleagues to study the impact overdevelopment has had on Florida's agriculture industry. I will be comparing census data from the past 15 years to identify where these new developments are being built, and what sectors of agriculture are being affected. I would also like to study the same effects on wildlife. I am still in the process of researching this topic, so I am hoping to add more and make this project more complex as I learn more.        This week in my internship course, I was tasked with finding a GIS user group that I am interested in joining. In my search, I was looking for a group preferably in the state of Florida, and that focused on using GIS in...

      In this week's lab, I used different methods to determine the accuracy of data. In part A, I compared precision data. My results are below: Horizontal accuracy: -82.319 Horizontal precision: 22.14 Vertical accuracy: 27.83 Vertical precision: 29.45 My vertical accuracy and precision values are very close to each other, but my horizontal accuracy and precision values are very different.  Horizontal accuracy is measured by comparing a measurement to its known true value, while horizontal precision is measured by measuring the proximity to other values.