Geographical Information System - Research Paper Example

Geographical information system, Grid-cell GIS project Arcview. of Browns Pond This paper encompasses a discussion based on analyzing grid-celldata with the ArcView GIS. During the course of the discussion the best location for an outdoor business will be identified. The paper will define and solve the problems that would arise when finding a beginners ski school using this technique. Geographical Information System (GIS) is an information system that is designed particularly for the purpose of management of spatial (or geographical) data. GIS ct merges a set of interconnected variables, implements software and other mechanisms. Together create, edit, manipulate, analyze and display data both in text and graphic forms. GIS supports spatial analysis and modeling within the discipline of geography (e.g. location, proximity and spatial distribution), so that it becomes a vital tool for modern geography. (Molenaar, 1992) The data that will be used for this project for the project is available for an upland area of North-eastern United States. This area chosen for analysis and the beginner ski school is known as Browns Pond in the United States. Upon completion of the analysis the ed to use appropriate GIS will be used for such an analysis. The first problem that had to be analyzed was locating a Beginners' Ski School and finding the best location for a ski school catering for young children. The beginners ski mountain will have a consistent grade within a given ability level to provide an interesting ski experience for beginners. Comfortable Carrying Capacity (CCC) is defined as an optimal level of utilization for the ski area (the number of visitors that can be accommodated at any given time) which guarantees a pleasant recreational experience, while at the same time preserving the quality of the environment. The accurate estimation of the CCC of a mountain is a complex issue and is the single most important planning criterion for the beginners ski maintain. Given proper identification of the mountain's true capacity, all other related skier service facilities can be planned, such as base lodge seating, mountain restaurant requirements, sanitary facilities, parking, and other skier services. The CCC figure is based on a comparison of the uphill hourly capacity of the lift system to the downhill capacity of the trail (beginners) system, taking into account the typical amount of vertical terrain desired by skiers of beginner ability. Particular consideration should be given to the relationship of the base area to the beginner mountain facilities. Upon arrival at the ski area, skiers should be able to move directly from parking or other arrival points, through ticketing or rental locations, to the base of the lifts. Walking distance and vertical differential between the base area facilities and lifts should be minimized in an effort to move skiers directly onto the mountain. Vehicle, pedestrian, and skier circulation should be coordinated to create a safe and pleasant base area environment. The beginner skiers will not drive themselves to the mountain so this premise applies to their parents or whoever is supplying transportation to the beginning skier. The mountain master planning process emphasizes the importance of balancing recreational facility development. The size of the skier service functions must be adequate for the CCC of the mountain. The true capacity of the overall ski area is determined by the lowest of the limiting factors. The limiting factor of the ski area can either be trail capacity, lift capacity, support facility capacity, or parking capacity. The future development of a ski area should be designed and coordinated to maintain a balance between skier demand, ski area capacity (lifts and trails), and the supporting equipment and facilities (e.g., grooming machines, day lodge services and facilities, utility infrastructure, access, and parking). GIS calculations using an ArcView should be used to assess the following: Top Elevation - This is the elevation at the beginning (top) of the trail. Bottom Elevation - This is the elevation at the end (bottom) of the trail. Vertical Drop - This is the difference in elevation between the beginning and end of the trail. Horizontal Length - This is the length of the trail centerline, from beginning of the trail to the end, as measured on the mapping (i.e., a two-dimensional measurement). A trail centerline is an imaginary line drawn down the middle of a trail. Slope Length - This is the three-dimensional length of the trail centerline, from beginning of the trail to the end, as measured on the ground or by use of three-dimensional mapping technology (i.e., AutoCADD, Arcview). Average Width - This is the average width of the entire trail, from top to bottom. This may be deter ed by field measurements, or by calculation utilizing the given trail acreage and slope length (i.e., acreage x 43,560ft/slope length). Area - This is the total number of acres of terrain occurring within a trail boundary. This may be determined utilizing GIS, or by calculation utilizing slope length and average width. Average Grade - This is the average slope gradient (in percent) of the trail's centerline, from the beginning of the trail to the end. Maximum Grade - This is the maximum gradient (in percent) occurring anywhere on the trail. Skier Rider Ability Level - Ion this inastancem beginning level is what the proposal will be concerned with. : Skier Ability Beginner Slope Gradient r 8 to 12% Specifications for the existing skier distribution are set forth in Table TABLE 3 SKIER DISTRIBUTION BY ABILITY LEVELS - EXISTING CONDITIONS Skier/Rider Trail Skier/Rider Ability Level Area Capacity Distribution Market (acres) (guests) (%) (%) Beginner 1.4 42.6 1% 5% It was also determined that Skier Ability Trail Density Beginner 25-35 skiers/acre CCC is derived from the resort's supply of vertical transport (i.e., the combined uphill hourly apacities of the lifts) and demand for vertical transport (i.e., the aggregate number of runs demanded multiplied by the vertical rise associated with those runs). CCC is calculated by dividing vertical supply (VTF/Day) by Vertical Demand. The calculation of Brown's Pond's CCC is described in the Table 5. The CCC of the lift and trail network at Brown's Pond is calculated at 3,090 guests per day. It is not uncommon for ski areas to experience peak days during which skier visitation exceeds the CCC by as much as 25 percent. However, it is not recommended to consistently exceed the CCC due to the resulting decrease in the quality of the recreational experience, and thus the beginner ski resort's repeat business. The calculation of capacity for a ski area is based in part on the acceptable number of skiers that can be accommodated on each acre of ski terrain at any one given time. The widely accepted density criteria for ski areas in North America assume that on an average day, approximately 33 percent of the total number of skiers in the area will be on the trails at any one time. The remainder of the skiers are either in lift lines, analysis of Brown's Pond trail densities. The density index is a percentage comparison of the actual trail density with the acceptable trail density. A 100% index represents a balance between the actual and acceptable trail density. An index under 100% indicates that the actual trail density is lower than the acceptable trail density. An index above 100% indicates that the actual trail density is higher than the acceptable trail density. To select a location for the main lodge we required areas with: slopes less than 15 degrees to minimize construction costs and the effects of soil erosion elevations greater than 860 meters to ensure adequate snow coverage throughout the season 1 southwest aspect (145 degrees < aspect < 315 degrees) to maximize sun exposure areas within 2 kilometers of an existing road to ease winter access sites that fall within the GVRD's open-space and undeveloped land use zoning regulation To design a network of beginner ski trails and warm-up huts: Select a defined area to build trails and huts land use suitable for recreational use and limited development within close proximity to the main lodge to define a limit for the cost path operation Select a location for a gateway to the defined area: within closest proximity northward of the main lodge to maximize time spent skiing in the park located on the edge of and within the defined area (necessary to run cost path efficiently) on a slope no more than 12 degrees to allow equal access Select locations for the three warm-up huts within the defined area: at least 2.5km apart to create a circuit (see trail network criteria below) within the park boundary at elevations above 1000 meters to maximize view potential within reasonable slope range Design a trail network at elevations greater than 600 meters 2 on slopes which are in accordance with the three-tier skier classification system (see below) of interconnected pathways circuit totaling no more than 25 km in order to limit usage to day-only, and for safety patrolling purposes. Trail Classification System As an eco-resort, BROWN'S POND will attract local, regional, and provincial visitors. Therefore, in order to design a beginner trail network that serves this diverse clientele, we believe that it is necessary to build a circuit consisting of a variety of trails, that is, trails which are both user-friendly and challenging. As such, three trail types were designedbased on the standard three-tier skier classification system. This system divides skiers into three basic categories: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced, using a gradient that combines physical endurance and skills required for safe, enjoyable ascent and descent of terrain (CSIA 1995). Basically, it uses the logical assumption that, difficulty increases as slope rises, and decreases as it flattens. Therefore, in designing a three-tier trail network, according to ability, the primary mode of spatial classification and criteria for design was slope. To operationalize the three-tier classification system, slope threshold values were determined for each ability level, which we judged to be the highest slopes desired by each respective skier type. These threshold limits are: Beginner 10 degree slopes Intermediate 20 degree slopes Advanced 30 degree slopes The slope surface was reclassified three times according to friction values corresponding to ability levels. Cells with slopes below the threshold level were assigned minimum friction values. Those above the threshold levels were assigned friction values increasing five-fold for every slope class. The following table shows the assigned friction values for each ability level: Slope (degrees) Beginner Intermediate Advanced 0-5 1 2 2 5-10 2 1 2 10-15 10 1 1 15-20 50 2 1 20-25 250 10 2 25-30 1250 50 2 30-35 6250 250 10 35-40 31250 1250 50 40-45 156250 6250 250 45-50 781250 31250 1250 50-55 999999 156250 6250 55-60 999999 781250 31250 60-65 999999 999999 156250 65-70 999999 999999 781250 70-75 999999 999999 999999 75-80 999999 999999 999999 *ArcView does not handle values over 999999, therefore, all values above, exceeding this figure hadto be changed to 999999. ArcView Procedures and Results ArcView Procedures & Results Part 1: Identifying 'optimum' snow zones: Researched information was combined with physical data to develop an 'Optimum Snow Zone' map for Mount Buller. The details of this have been covered in the Methodology section of this report. The research done into ski area planning and design, along with snow properties resulted in the following data being used and developed in ArcView. Attribute data Grid files average prevailing wind direction data 20m DEM of Mount Buller sun direction and angle data slope elevation suitability aspect slope categories for skiers Elevation Suitability Sun Exposure Refer to Metadata p. 30 Wind Exposure Optimum Snow Zones The following Flowchart summarises the Ordinal Overlay procedure undertaken in ArcView: Elevations above 1400m were categorised in order of suitability. The classes can be seen below: Elevation (m) Class 1000-1400 0 1400-1480 111 1480-1560 113 1560-1640 115 1640-1720 117 1720-1800 119 The following categories were derived for sun and wind exposure, from the aspect grids. These classes developed using average prevailing wind direction- WEST, and sun position, NORTH, zenith angle, Sun Exposure Class Wind Exposure Class NW 11 W 1 W, N, Flat 13 Flat 2 SW, NE 15 SW, NW 3 S, E 17 S, N 4 SE 19 SE, NE 5 E 6 Please note: reclassification of data results in relative ordering not absolute values. Snow Suitability Class Very Poor 1 Poor 2 Acceptable 3 Medium 4 Good 5 Very Good 6 Refer to appendix (Map Overlay Spreadsheet p. 32) for detailed derivation of Snow Suitability categories. See maps (Procedure Map 1.1 p.20), (Procedure Map 1.2 p.21) and (Solution Map 1 p.22) for results Study Area The study area is locatedin Browns Pond. . This is a 3-D projection of a 2-D Digital Elevation Model made in ArcView The road network from "Browns Pond Study Area" for eginner Ski School, References Aydelott, D.G., H.C. Bullock, A.L. Furman, H.O. White, and J.W. Spieth. 1975. Soil survey of National Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., ArcView 2.1, 1995. Forest area,. U.S. Dept. Agric., Soil Cons. Serv. and Forest Serv. 64pp. Bang-Bum, Choi, 2004. Methods for GIS Data Manipulation, Analysis, and Evaluation As viewed on the world wide web at URL http://www.snre.umich.edu/ecomgt/pubs/manistee/chapter7.pdf Dobkin and Laszlo, 1991. the addition of the third dimension to GIS, data processing and management. Molenaar, 1990 vertices for representation of 3D objects. Molenaar, 1992. x, y, and z coordinates of buildings. Hoop and Rikkers. 1994. Ad vantages of Three-Dimensional GIS. Roof, J.C. and J.B. Wooding. 1996. Evaluation of S.R. 46 wildlife crossing. Cooperative Fish and Wildl. Res. Unit., U.S. Biol. Ser., Tech. Rep. No. 54. 36pp. Read More