Participation 2

Locating Opportunities for Outdoor Action and Adventure Recreation and Tourism in the Western Cape: A GIS Application

In his journal article, Johannes H. Van Der Merwe demonstrates how GIS is used to create a model for entrepreneurial and regulatory planning. The subject area for the article is the Western Cape Province of South Africa, “a premier tourism destination”. Recreation, marketing and tourist preference data was collected and given spatial attributes. The data was then analyzed by creating a weighted overlay map of the area. Planners and entrepreneurs are now able to use the results of the analysis to help them make better decisions for developing future recreation and ecotourisim attractions.

Reference:

VAN DER MERWE, J. H. (2012). LOCATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR ACTION AND ADVENTURE RECREATION AND TOURISM IN THE WESTERN CAPE: A GIS APPLICATION. South African Journal For Research in Sport, Physical Education & Recreation (SAJR SPER). 34(2). 197-214. doi: 20121127. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.uwf.edu/ehost/detail?sid=3ca29466-6ea6-452e-a3c7-b07ec8567cfa%40sessionmgr4&vid=8&hid=6&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=s3h&AN=83582233

Module 9: Debugging and Errors

Part 1 Result

This is a screenshot of the PythonWin Interactive Window after running the first script I successfully debugged using the methods we learned in this weeks lab. The script displays the names of the airports in the airport shapefile for the State of Alaska. 

 Part 2 Result

This is a screenshot of the PythonWin Interactive Window after running the second script I successfully debugged using the methods we learned in this weeks lab. The script displays the name of each data frame along with the name of each layer in an ArcMap document.

Module 7: Geometry and Rasters

Text File Result

This is a screenshot of a text file created by a Python script. The script writes the Object ID of the feature, the vertex number, the XY coordinates of the vertex, and the feature name for each vertex in a shapefile using the Search Cursor function in Python.

Final Raster Result

 

This is a screenshot of the ArcMap desktop window showing the result of a Python script. The script creates a temporary land cover raster where the forest land cover was reclassified, and four temporary elevation rasters for minimum and maximum slopes and aspects. The five temporary rasters are then combined into the Final Raster seen here.

Urban Planning: Location Decisions

Alachua County, Florida

This map was compiled in ArcMap then all of the layers were placed into a Basemap layer. Once placed into a Basemap layer, ArcMap will draw the layer using optimized map display logic. This map shows publicly owned lands in Alachua County, Florida while the legend at the bottom identifies the owner. 

Searching for a Home in Alachua County, FL

This map is a compilation of four data frames: 2 showing U.S. Census Bureau Census Tracts by the percentage of people aged 40 - 49 and percentage of homeowners, and 2 data frames created using the Euclidean Distance Tool centered on the University of Florida(UF) and the North Florida Regional Medical Center(NFRMC). This criteria is important to a couple who are looking to buy a house in the county where one will be employed at NFRMC and the other at UF.

Recommendation of Home Location

Using the data from the previous map I was able to create two Weighted Overlays to help the couple determine where they should start looking to buy their new home. Upon visiting the county, it became more important for them to be closer to NFRMC and UF. So I increased the % influence on the distance criteria for each to produce the second overlay. Then I indicated on the map my recommendation of  where they should begin their search.

Urban Planning: GIS for Local Government Participation Assignment

Part 1:

1. Conduct a web search to locate a property appraiser’s office in your area.

Q1: Does your property appraiser offer a web mapping site? If so, what is the webaddress? If not, what is the method in which you may obtain the data?

I conducted a web search for the Liberty County, GA Assessors Office. I located their web mapping site called PRISYM at gis.libertycountyga.com/flex2/index.html 

2. Most property appraiser’s websites offer a list of recent property sales by month. Search for the month of June for the current year and locate the highest property sold.

Q2: What was the selling price of this property? What was the previous selling price of this property (if applicable)? Take a screen shot of the description provided to include with this answer.

A search of sales for the month of June in the current year returned no sales. After contacting this property appraiser I found out that they have not yet posted the current year sales for the month of June. So I searched for sales in the month of June for the prior year. The selling price for the highest property sold was $728,000. The previous selling price for this property according to the property record card was $700,000;

3. The selling price and assessed price will differ in most cases (higher or lower). 

Q3: What is the assessed land value? Based on land record data, is the assessed land value higher or lower than the last sale price? Include a screen shot.

According to the property record card the land value of this property is $466,650 which is lower than the last sale price.

Q4: Share additional information about this piece of land that you find interesting. Many times, a link to the deed will be available providing more insight to the sale.

A link to the deed for this land is not provided on the site but reviewing the sale info on property record card above indicates that this property is a Shoney's Restaurant that was foreclosed on by the bank.

Part 2:

Land Assessment Values

Q5: Which accounts do you think need review based on land value and what you've learned about assessment?

Based simply on land value, I believe that accounts 090310105, 090310165, 090310175, 090310245, 090310260, 090310320 & 090310325 need to be reviewed. Typically, all lots within a planned subdivision have uniform land values. Granted each lot may not sell for exactly the same price because one buyer may choose to pay a little extra for a corner lot or a lot on a cul-de-sac, or a lot may sell for less if it has heavy traffic. But the purpose of the property appraiser is to conduct mass appraisals in a uniform and equitable manner. Local governments then base their budget on the these values and in turn property taxes. So when outliers appear within a subdivision like this, they must be re-evaluated for fairness. 

Urban Planning: GIS for Local Government

Zuco's Place

This is a screen shot of a parcel from the Marion County, FL Property Appraiser's website. The parcel outlined in red is the subject of this week's lab. We were asked by the property owner, Mr. Zuko, to provide information for an environmental impact analysis. What better way than to use GIS!

Enviornmental Imapct Analysis Basemap

This basemap identifies all parcels adjacent to Mr. Zuco. The table is a key that provides owner contact information, parcel size and zoning. This information can be used to notify property owners of a change in land use. We then used ArcMap's Data Driven Pages to create a Map Book that shows adjacent zoning for the study area.

County Extension Office Site

This map was created to show potential locations for a new County Extension Office in Gulf County, FL. The inset map shows the Commissioner's pick for the new location; a portion of a recent property acquisition. I used ArcMap to split out the northeast corner of the property which the Commissioner's decided to use for a future project.

Module 6: Working with Spatial Data

Script Result

This is the result of a script that creates a new file geodatabase and populates it with feature classes. A friendly message keeps you apprised of the script's status as it runs. Then it determines which cities in New Mexico are designated as a county seat and populates a dictionary with the city's name and population. And finally, the dictionary is printed for your viewing pleasure.

MEDS Protect

Boston Marathon Finish Line Critical Infrastructure 

This map shows the location of the ten closest hospitals within a 3 mile radius of the finish line of the Boston Marathon. It includes a 500 ft security buffer zone for the finish line and each hospital. Officials can use this information to preposition personnel in the event of a threat.

Boston Marathon Finish Line Security Checkpoints 

This map shows the 500 ft security buffer zone around the Boston Marathon finish line. The intersect tool was used to create security checkpoints where the 500 ft buffer intersects a local road.

Line of Sight Analysis

This map shows how useful LiDAR can be when planning for surveillance points.The map consists of three data frames; a hillshade image, an overview map and  a viewshed image. A viewshed image is useful in identifying blind spots while the line of sight tool can determine the best location for an observation point in relation to a target.