Washington DC Crime Maps

Week 5 Impact Statement Maps

These maps were creates in Arcmap using the Impact statement tutorial. The upper map shows the divide based on a location quotient applied to the data for business activity.

The lower map identifies university student residency within a fictitious city.

Oil Spill Animation

This is a simple animation using 6 date/perimeter layers displaying the spread of oil from the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent spill in mid April 2010. The dates are from 4/29/2010 to 5/26/2010 and the video gives a rough estimation of how the Gulf of Mexico currents move the oil around. If video does not play go to link:

http://students.uwf.edu/jwm39/Week4_Animation_JerryMeyer1.avi

Participation Summary

GIS has many roles in a disaster and before a disaster event occurs. By having information on "at risk" populations and areas of potential danger from disaster a GIS can offer solutions such as cleanup and governmental aid areas after the disaster happens and possible steps to take to lessen the impact of a disaster before the event happens. Also, a GIS could as an example map out low lying areas in danger of flood and suggest areas that should not be built on because of the flood risk. Thus reducing the impact after the disaster.
In the current Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster GIS is used to map out trends in oil dispersion throughout the gulf from the blowout. Also, maps of birds and fish at risk are being created to predict wildlife kill areas and also areas that are off limits for fishing. GIS is also being used to map out "at risk" coasts so that equipment can be staged in areas that are both sensitive to oil and more at risk from oil contamination.
One interesting thing is that unlike a hurricane or earthquake this disaster impacts humans far less initially. It is happening in the ocean and since humans do not live there the impact will be felt secondary to the wildlife kills and oil price increases. Many parts of the country will feel no impact from this event. This could be one reason why BP is trying to minimize the impacts of the event other than the obvious financial culpability that they are incurring.

St. Joseph Point Quad ESI Map

This map designed in ESRI ArcMap shows the environmental sensitivity to an oil spill for creatures and beaches in St. Joseph Point Florida, Quad 4744. This long thin peninsula is primarily a park surrounded by St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve so the area is essentially protected land.....at least until the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.
The map is very busy with terrestrial mammals, reptiles and birds all at risk sharing a small piece of land. The surrounding waters are filled with crabs, shrimp and bivalves that are also at risk. Note: The overlays are difficult to pick out on a jpeg image of the map and the at risk shorelines show up better in ArcMap or a PDF file.
It appears that the booms installed on the north end of the island will protect the inland bay to the east but the western coast of the point is flush with the incoming oil slick.
I picked this Quad for the above reason and also the fact that I have visited the park.

This map graphically portrays the effects of a 15 foot storm surge on the low lying Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Estuaries and inlets amplify the surge as water tends to converge when entering a bay. The table shows that the majority of the land flooded was in wetland areas as these areas tend to be along the coast close to sea level. What is not portrayed on this map is Hurricane Katrina's exact path which could explain why Hancock county was flooded even in areas away from an inlet or bay. Katrina made landfall not far from the Louisiana - Mississippi border so this area bore the full force of the storm.

This map portrays the relief of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The low lying area has several bays, estuaries and wetland areas which were all susceptible to the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina. Also, most development is along the coast which amplifies the effects of an approaching hurricane.

Panchromatic - Multispectral Comparison

Question7
The SPOT multi-spectral false color image  at the top of the page shows vegetation in red. Vegetation jumps out on the image when compared to the panchromatic image below in gray scale.
   The SPOT panchromatic image appears clearer and more in focus and the white areas (sand, roads and buildings) really are contrasted compared with the darker vegetation and water areas. Also, the below ocean surfaces show greater detail.
   I think the panchromatic image may be more suitable when measuring beach erosion after a storm or longshore flow given the way the sand jumps out on the image. Aslo, man made structures such as roads appear clearer in the panchromatic image. The multi-spectral color image appears well suited for vegetation studies both on land and possibly at the ocean surface (algae blooms, plankton etc...).