Final Maps

Final Poster

Project Update (blog post 7)

Last week I worked on the restoration strategies map which now gives me draft versions for all three maps. What I plan to do this week is finalize the maps and create the final power point slide.  (The maps posted down below are up to date)

Project Update (blog post 6)

So far this week, I continued to work on the overview map to make it more appealing to the viewer.  I also began to work on the restoration strategy map.  In the next few days I plan to have a majority of the restoration map done.  Once this map is near complete, I intend on sending the maps to my client and giving him a progress report.  Above is what I have so far.

Project Update (blog post 5)

Over the past few days I have decided on one particular base map for all three overviews.  I have also worked on and almost completed a draft for the overview and watershed map.  As of right now, my current focus is getting a draft started for the restoration strategy map.
            Yesterday I began the restoration strategy map by going through Sarah Schaefer’s report and highlighting all her suggestions for each section.  From here I decided that I was going to make two point files, one for pervious surface and one for wetlands.  These points will mark the suggested areas mentioned in Sarah’s pollution and restoration assessment.

Project Update (blog post 4)

During lab today, I continued to work on the overview map.  Today I tried to make the map look professional as possible.  I added a legend with some facts pertaining to the pond’s size, depth, etc.  Within the next few days, I should receive the working pond shape file.  Once this is added to the map, some final touches will be made.  Once the first map is done, I will then move on to map two, the watershed map.  Before next class, I plan to have one final draft and two drafts to present during class.

Project Update (blog post 3)

Today I began going through the data that Sarah sent me.  Some of the files gave me problems when I tried opening them in both ArcMap and ArcCatalog.  Tomorrow I will meet with Sarah to fix these problems. I will also get any remaining files that she has. Today, I also started on the first draft of the pond overview map.  I found and chose a base map which I believe will work well for this particular map (see below).

Project Update (blog post 2)

     Yesterday I went to the Buckingham Pond Conservancy’s first annual meeting to better familiarize myself with the project.  At the meeting many important topics pertaining to my role were addressed.  One of the main topics was the water quality of the pond.  The group discussed many ways to improve the water quality of the pond such as the planting of cattails around the pond.  The planting of cattails around the pond could be a possible area of focus for my restoration map.  Also, Mr. Ermides expressed concern over erosion.  This may be another area addressed in the restoration map.
     Another topic which was emphasized throughout the meeting was community involvement.  My role in the project, the creation of educational maps, will further community understanding, which will ultimately lead to an increase in community involvement.  The educational maps will take the form of three maps mentioned in the proposal.  The first map will provide an overview of the pond, the second map will provide an overview of the pond and watershed and the third map will provide information on specific restoration strategies.

Project Proposal (Revised)

Cory GillespieSiena College School of Environmental Studies
Loudonville, New York 12211
March 6, 2011

GIS Project Proposal:

Introduction
            Buckingham Pond located in the heart of uptown Albany is currently facing a major problem.  The water in the pond is becoming severely polluted due to what is thought to be from local neighborhood runoff.  This problem must be addressed in order to make the space fully useable for the surrounding neighborhoods.  The health of the pond reflects the health of the area.  In order to clean up and restore the pond and the space around it, the community must get involved. 
            An approach to getting the community involved will be through the use of GIS mapping.  GIS mapping will help break down the issue in a comprehensible way for those living in the surrounding areas.  The maps will show the problem and give guidance as to how to negate the issue.  The maps will also be helpful tools for any possible physical restoration.  This step is very important in the process of cleaning up and restoring the pond.
            The pond itself and the space around it are vital to the community.  The pond area offers many things unique to the urban area.  The area offers walking trails, benches, a playground, wildlife and winter activities such as ice skating.  This area is important for those with kids and animals, such as dogs.  The area is also a nice place to picnic.  If the health of this area remains the way it is, then Buckingham Pond will begin to look lifeless in terms of human and wildlife visitors.

Objectives
▪  Create an overview map of the pond
▪  Create an overview map of the pond and watershed
      ▪ The maps will provide information to the local community on the current pollution problems in efforts to gain support
     ▪  Educational maps for visitors which will make the pond area more appealing to the public
▪  Create a map which shows specific areas where restoration efforts can be made
     ▪  Identify erosion areas around the pond
     ▪  Identify areas where changes in landscape may be made to help filter pollution
     
Methodology
This project will be done using ESRI ArcGIS mapping software .

Data Sources
▪  Sarah Schaefer for existing ArcMap layers and data
▪  Buckingham Pond Conservancy group for specific data

Work plan
2/22/11-  project proposal draft completed (blog posting 1)
3/6/11-  meeting with client (at Buckingham Pond Conservancy meeting) and revised project proposal completed
3/8/11-  blog post 2 completed -  information from meeting and client addressed
3/22/11-  blog post 3 completed -  information gathered from Sarah Schaefer addressed
3/29/11-  blog post 4 completed -  initial map phase completed
4/5/11-  blog post 5 completed -  map 1 completed
4/12/11-  blog post 6 completed -  map 2 completed
4/19/11-  blog post 7 completed -  map 3 completed
4/26/11-  first draft of poster completed
4/28/11 -  final version of project completed -  poster finalized

Project Proposal (version 1)

Cory GillespieSiena College School of Environmental Studies
Loudonville, New York 12211
February 22, 2011

GIS  Project Proposal:

Introduction
            Buckingham Pond located in the heart of uptown Albany is currently facing a major problem.  The water in the pond is becoming severely polluted due to local neighborhood runoff.  This problem must be addressed in order to make the space fully useable for the surrounding neighborhoods.  The health of the pond reflects the health of the area.  In order to clean up and restore the pond and the space around it, the community must get involved. 
            An approach to getting the community involved will be through the use of GIS mapping.  GIS mapping will help break down the issue in a comprehensible way for those living in the surrounding areas.  The maps will show the problem and give guidance as to how to negate the issue.  The maps will also be helpful tools for any possible physical restoration.  This step is very important in the process of cleaning up and restoring the pond.
            The pond itself and the space around it are vital to the community.  The pond area offers many things unique to the urban area.  The area offers walking trails, benches, a playground, wildlife and winter activities such as ice skating.  This area is important for those with kids and animals, such as dogs.  The area is also a nice place to picnic.  If the health of this area remains the way it is, then Buckingham Pond will begin to look lifeless in terms of human and wildlife visitors.

Objectives
▪  Create an overview map of the pond
▪  Create an overview map of the pond and watershed
      ▪ The maps will provide information to the local community on the current pollution problems in efforts to gain support
     ▪  Educational maps for visitors which will make the pond area more appealing to the public
▪  Create a map which shows specific areas where restoration efforts can be made
     ▪  Identify potential areas where filtration systems can be put in place
     ▪  Identify areas where changes in landscape may be made to help filter pollution
     ▪  Maps could potentially be used to set boundaries for fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicide use in the area

Methodology
This project will be done using ESRI ArcGIS mapping software .

Data Sources
▪  Sarah Schaefer for existing ArcMap layers and data
▪  Buckingham Pond Conservancy group for specific data

Work plan
2/22/11-  project proposal draft completed (blog posting 1)
2/22 - 3/1-  meeting with client
3/1/11-  revised project proposal completed
3/8/11-  blog post 2 completed -  information from client addressed
3/22/11-  blog post 3 completed -  information gathered from Sarah Schaefer addressed
3/29/11-  blog post 4 completed -  initial map phase completed
4/5/11-  blog post 5 completed -  map 1 completed
4/12/11-  blog post 6 completed -  map 2 completed
4/19/11-  blog post 7 completed -  map 3 completed
4/26/11-  first draft of poster completed
4/28/11 -  final version of project completed -  poster finalized