Spatial Analysis Lab

Back in February 2007 I asked one of my student assistants to generate a new map for the mystery map series.  At that time I was very interested in visualizing administrative policies manifestation on the landscape.  All too often, policies are created and enacted without any insight as to how they will overlay on the physical landscape.  We decided to map Smith’s smoking policy knowing that the scent of springtime flowers would soon be mixing with swirls of second hand smoke..

Smith’s own smoking policy “recognizes that using tobacco products is harmful to the health of tobacco users and that exposure to secondhand smoke poses a health risk to non-smokers.”  Why then is smoking allowed on campus?  Looking back on the map and doing a quick calculation reveals that only 10% of the areal extent of Smith Campus is smoke free.  eek

The University of Michigan Health System lays out a strategy (not to mention, rationale) for setting up smoke free environments.  Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton runs a smoke free campus.  And, just recently, the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs is recommending a tobacco free military!

Okay, enough on the smokers.  It seems to be a tough habit/addiction to kick and I am certainly not without my own habits and addictions (caffeine).   But, it certainly is interesting to see what these policies look like in map space….

The Proposition 2 1/2 override was overwhelming supported by the citizens of Northampton. The Vote Yes Northampton site enthusiastically shares the results by voting ward in table format.  A similar table (may not show in link) was reported in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.  However, mapping the data tells a different story….

I’m not a resident of Northampton, so I cannot offer any insight into the voting pattern.  But, it is clear that the more suburban rural wards in the western part of town did not vote with the majority.  Just another missed mapping opportunity or maybe a more interesting story to tell.

View in Google Maps – very cool

• Yes/No

• Percentage Voting Yes

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photo taken June 09 2009

Seeing the sprinklers water the lawn after 0.3″ of rain the other day got me thinking there has to be a better way. I’ll admit that I don’t know how or when the sprinklers are set to water, but this is 2009 and we are Smith College!!

Why not have some smart students figure out how to tie in the Mill River stream guage (http://pond.smith.edu) to the sprinkler controls? hmmmm….

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What a great time of year. A time to relax, reflect, and smell the springtime flowers. Oh, and yes, there a plenty of opportunities to take in that pesticide residue smell…

Note: photos are geotagged. Download this Google Earth file (pesticides2009.kmz) so you can plan ahead, or around, if you like

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Which do you think is more effective? The “official” announcement shown below or a shiny new map? Maybe both?

Official Announcement -> Notice of construction activity from Facilities Management

Park House: On Tuesday, May 26, the contractor will be setting up construction fencing around Park House and the one-way drive behind Park House will be narrowed for pedestrian traffic only. Those using the Admissions parking lot will have to pull out back onto College Lane. Also, as of Tuesday, May 26, the parking spaces in front of 138 Elm Street will be closed for the summer. Washburn House: On Tuesday, May 26, staging and construction fencing will be erected around Washburn House for a roof replacement project. Further updates as to dates when cranes will be on site for hoisting materials to the roof will be announced as they become apparent. Seelye Hall: On Tuesday, May 26, staging and fencing will begin to be installed around portions of Seelye Hall for work on the roof. Protective coverings will be provided to maintain access to all entrances into Seelye Hall for the summer. Further updates as to dates when cranes will be on site for hoisting materials to the roof will be announced as they become apparent. Scott Gym upper entrance at MCPA Courtyard: The upper entrance to Scott Gym will be closed from Tuesday, May 26, until July 31 due to construction of a new accessible ramp at that entry location.

or

Click on map above to see the full details and extent

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A Smith College research team was recently honored for creating maps that were influential in the passage of legislation to change the state’s education aid funding formula.

Nathanael A. Fortune, associate professor of physics at Smith, was named to the “2006 All State School Committee” in recognition of maps that he, Amanda Nyren ‘06, and Jon Caris, Smith Spatial Anaylsis Lab coordinator, developed using the college’s Spatial Analysis Lab and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technology.

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Did you know that you can “drag and drop” images from Windows Explorer onto ArcMap? You can! No more waiting for ArcCatalog to load the images into the contents panel. Save time and browse with Windows Explorer to your image collections (e.g. 2005 Orthophotos).

ESRI is readying the release of ArcGIS 9.2 and there will undoubtedly be changes that affect how you work and / or how your GIS exercises hold up to the rigors of student use.

I’ll organize a 9.2 “debriefing” mid to late August when I return from the ESRI User Conference. In the meantime, take a look at a few of the forthcoming enhancements from ESRI.

We’ll likely role out 9.2 during the spring semester since our fall 2006 image is burned and ready to go.

he 2005 Massachusetts Orthophotos are now available for Western Massachusetts. Visit the MassGIS webstie for details. All orthophotos are available in the SAL on GEO. Just connect to:
\\Geo\datavol\gis\data\us_states\eastusa\ma\Images\Orthophotos\2005 and start viewing gorgeous imagery.

We now have historic 15 minute USGS maps for Massachusetts in our Special Collections data library. These maps were acquired from the Harvard GeoSpatial Library which is a great resource for mappers and historians alike. You can now access these maps “locally” from our server – \\geo\gis\data\special_collections\ma_15min_quads

Enjoy….