NR 218 Project 2: Vector Data Analysis

Learning Goals

  • Become familiar with vector processing operations in QGIS, import and create GIS data
  • Perform basic joins and spatial operations such as buffer, dissolve, intersect, union
  • Style maps in a custom fashion based on columnar values
  • Understand different data types and corresponding data representations
  • Query and filter spatial datasets

Written Responses

Provide written responses to the following Questions:

  1. Measurement Scales: The following data are using which type of measurement scale?

    • My happiness score on a scale of 1 to 10 = 7
    • My weight = 192 lbs.
    • The city I live in = Helsinki Finland
    • My current body temperature = 99.8 \(\circ\) F
    • My current body temperature = 37.7 ºF
    • My current body temperature = 310.8 K
    • The number of impossible burgers I can eat before passing out = 12

  2. Digitizing Methods: Describe at least two different methods for adding the information from a USGS topographic map to a digital GIS.

  3. Accuracy and Precision Errors: What are the five types of accuracy/precision errors associated with geographic information? Provide an example of each type of error.

  4. Boundary Mapping Challenges: Per the description of the positional accuracy of wetland boundaries in the textbook, discuss a different map feature whose boundaries are inherently vague and difficult to map.

Project Work

Tutorial Assignments

Complete the following tutorials and submit screenshots/maps of the final products:

  1. Convert excel file of latitudes/longitudes to a point shapefile:
    • Carefully follow the instructions and complete the Tutorial - Importing Spreadsheets or CSV Files: https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/3/importing_spreadsheets_csv.html
  2. Digitize map data:
    • Carefully follow the instructions and complete the Tutorial - Digitizing Basics: https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/3/digitizing_basics.html
  3. Perform a tabular join:
    • Carefully follow the instructions and complete the Tutorial - Performing Table Joins: https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/3/performing_table_joins.html
  4. Perform a Spatial Join:
    • Carefully follow the instructions and complete the Tutorial - Performing Spatial Joins: https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/3/performing_spatial_joins.html
  5. Perform a Spatial Query:
    • Carefully follow the instructions and complete the Tutorial - Performing Spatial Queries: https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/3/performing_spatial_queries.html

Submission Requirements

Submit on Canvas:

  1. Written Responses: Answers to written questions 1-4 above

  2. Tutorial Documentation: Maps (png, jpeg, tiff, pdf format) and/or screenshots showing the outputs and final products of tutorials 1-5 in project work. Be sure to include dates/times in screenshots.