GIS Final Project and Map Series
Final Presentation: 50 points
Final Map Series: 50 points
The final class project is intended to be an application of a GIS analysis that relates to a specific question or problem that compliments the student’s area of particular interest. The final project is not intended to be overwhelmingly labor-intensive so if the project requires extensive data development, then you may need to refocus your project (i.e. - Keep it Simple – But Not Too Simple). Your final maps and class presentation are due at the beginning of class on May 22nd and May 24th, 2017 – late or emailed assignments will not be accepted.
* The following sub-headings should be used for your final PowerPoint presentation and each sub-heading should include at least 4-5 bullet points. Points will be deducted for presentations that do not follow these specific guidelines.
1. Research Question / Objective (5 Points) – Clearly define the goals of the analysis and the question or problem that requires a resolution. Specifically, what is your research topic? What is your research question? What is the purpose of your study?
2. Background (5 Points) – Include a description that discusses the brief history and/or overview of the current situation and why the question/problem/topic was selected for your study.
3. Intended Outcomes (5 Points) – Include a brief description of what you hope to achieve in the final analysis of the project. What are your ultimate plans and goals? What do you hope to accomplish with this project?
4. Methods Used (5 Points) – Include a description of how the analysis was performed. What exactly did you do for your project to get from point A to point Z? What GIS tools and/or processes did you utilize in order to complete your project?
5. Conclusions (5 Points) – Summarize the results, including any problems that you encountered, what you learned by working on the project, and your recommendations for additional analysis and study.
6. Spatial Model / Flow Chart (5 Points) – Include a flow chart diagram that shows the steps that you completed for the final project.
7. Time Line / Time Log (5 Points) – A detailed, weekly time line narrative (e.g. – Week #1, Week #2, Week #3, Week, #4, etc.) should also be included as a part of your final project.
8. Data Sources (5 Points) – The data should be a representation of all of the data that was used in the initial analysis and also any secondary data that was developed in the course of the final analysis. What data was needed for your final project? Specifically, where did you get the data (i.e. – websites, phone calls, in person, etc.)?
* Include an Excel table or a list: (a) Web Sites
(b) All Other Sources (See the following example on page 2)
(a) Web Sites:
Data Description Source Data Type Additional Notes and Comments
Street Centerlines www.esri.com Line Shapefile Possibly outdated data from a few years ago
County Boundaries www.usgs.gov Polygon Shapefile Useful data, but the boundaries are a bit off
U.S. Census Data www.census.gov Excel Table Useful and updated data source
(b) All Other Sources:
Data Description Source Data Type Additional Notes and Comments
City Boundaries OCTA Polygon Shapefile Useful data from the County
Water Wells DWP GPS Data Incomplete information – needs to be updated
Aerial Photo of City Caltrans Raster Image Nice aerial photo, might be a bit outdated
9. Class Presentation (10 Points) – This includes your final PowerPoint presentation in class, including a brief summary of all of the above sub-headings (1-8) and .jpg images of all of your maps.
10. Map Series (50 Points) – The map series should contain at least 3-5 maps, however, some projects
may require more than that number of maps. Maps should not have typographical errors, excessive white space, or contain distracting design elements such as excessively large scale bars or north arrows. In addition, final maps should have a logical flow and contain an author, appropriate symbology, north arrow, an accurate scale bar, legend, title, inset maps, and an appropriate number of decimals in numbers in the scale bar (if necessary).
Examples of Past GIS Projects and Presentations (2004-Present):
· Locations of Mixed Martial Arts Schools in Orange County, California
· Passes of the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains along the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails
· An Assessment of Presidential Election Outcomes for 2008
· Growth of Nazi Germany and the Diffusion of Death Camps from 1933-1941
· Location of Fast Food Restaurants in Orange County
· SWAT Callout Activity for the City of Long Beach, California from 2004-2005
· Success in the New World: A Comparison of Three Factors in the American and Caribbean Nations
· Soil Types and Winery Locations in San Luis Obispo County, California
· Imperial Beach, California Naval Facility Reuse Study
· Gang-Related Weapons Activity in Orange County Schools
· Trauma Facility Location Analysis for Orange County
· Burrowing Owl Locations on Southeast Farallon Island, California
· Santa Ana River Bikeway Use Study
· Study of Bolsa Chica Wetlands Ecological Reserve
· Open Space and Parks in Orange County
· Groundwater Contamination Sites at El Toro, California
· Locations for New Landfill Facilities in Orange County
· Demographic Analysis for Coffee Store Locations in San Diego County
· Compressed Natural Gas Stations in Orange County
· Location of Swing Dance Venues in Orange and San Diego Counties
· Analysis of Shopping Mall Locations in Los Angeles, California
· Park and Community Land Use in the City of Los Alamitos, California
· Oil Well Contamination Sites in the Port of Long Beach and the Los Angeles Basin
· Immigration Issues in the State of Arizona
· Crime Statistics and Analysis in the City of Orange, California
· Using GIS to Evaluate Potential Earthquake Risks in the City of Cerritos, California
· Water Quality vs. Human Population Trends in Alamitos Bay
· Density and Income Comparisons between Los Angeles and New York City
· Bacterial Contamination of Storm Drains in Laguna Beach, California
· Human Migration Patterns into North America
· Determination of HIV Sentinel Sites Utilizing Population and Health Indicators
· Locations of Historic Buildings in the Downtown Theater District of Los Angeles
· Effects of Jessica’s Law’s Residency Requirement in Fullerton, California
· Traffic Signal Locations in the City of Cypress
· Robbery Incidents in the City of Garden Grove
· Effects of Fast Food Restaurants in Los Angeles
· Historic Farmland Mapping in Orange County from 1984-2004
· Earthquake Locations in the City of La Palma, California
· Anaheim Resort Area Emergency Evacuation Plans
· Watershed Sanitary Survey for Cucamonga Valley Water District
· Analysis of Seismic Hazards in the Western United States
· Federal Aviation Administration Los Angeles Airports District Office Maps
· Cultural Resource Locations in Orange County
· Raven Species Counts in the Mojave Desert
· I-405/US 101 Interchange Improvement Project
· Mapping Rainwater Collection Surfaces in Arusha, Tanzania
· City of Newport Beach, California Crime Statistics
· Location of the Best Surfing Spots in Southern Orange County
· An Analysis of the Effects of a Proposed Freeway Alignment in the City of Portland, Oregon
· Distribution of “OC Custom Wine Club” Members in Relation to Competitors in Orange County
· Proposal of a New Metro Rail Line Along the 405 Freeway
· An Assessment of Campgrounds in Los Padres National Forest
· Land Use Planning and Urban Development in East Orange
· Census Population Counts for the City of Santa Ana, California
· Location of Accredited Ultrasound School Locations in California
· Study of the Santa Ana River Watershed
· Bank Foreclosures in the City of Huntington Beach, California
· Distribution of Charter High Schools in the City of Los Angeles, California
· Mapping Soccer Field Locations in Orange County
· Orange County Museum Analysis
· Most Polluted Beaches in Los Angeles County, California
· European Excursion GIS Mapping Project
· Accessibility of Recreational Parks and Open Spaces to Apartment Residents in the City of Orange
· An Analysis of Skate Parks in the State of Oregon
· Study of Amusement Parks in the United States
· Spatial Analysis of West Nile Virus in San Bernardino County, California
· Earthquake Occurrences: Are They Increasing?
· Lyme Disease and its Geographic Distribution in the United States
· Land Use Analysis in Anaheim, California
· Traffic Collisions with Injuries in the City of Fountain Valley
· Owens River Mapping Project
· Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Project
· Changing Wildfire Patterns in the San Bernardino National Forest in Response to Climate Change
· Arizona Desert Trail Guide for Off-Road Vehicles
· Historic Places in the City of Orange, California
· Geographic Distribution of Coccidiodomycosis (Valley Fever) in California
· Location of Historical Landmarks in Berkeley, California
· Election Results Mapping and Analysis in the city of Long Beach, California
· Mapping Crime Locations in the city of Los Alamitos, California
· Santa Ana River Watershed Storm Drain Project
· Locations of Underground Storage Tanks and MTBE in the city of Huntington Beach, California
· Laguna Beach Fire Assessment
· Usage of the Vietnamese Language in Orange County: Is It Going Away?
· History of Wildfires in Yosemite National Park
· Recent Growth of Breweries in San Diego County
· Study of Migration and Assimilation Patterns of Asian-Americans in Los Angeles County
· U.S. Marine Operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan
· National Park Visitation in the United States
· Mapping of Pride Bakery Locations in Orange County
· Trail Mapping of Orange County Cities and Critically Endangered Habitat
· Active Rogue Wave Locations Around the World
· An Analysis of the Study Abroad Program in Costa Rica
· The Growth of CrossFit Locations in Riverside, California
· Beach Nourishment in Orange County, California
· Tree Locations on the Orange Coast College Campus
· Petroleum Placement and Extraction in Long Beach and Kern County, California
· Healthcare Associated Staph Infections of 2012 in California
· Endangered and Threatened Species of Orange County, California
· Analysis of Skate Parks in Orange County, California
· Orange County Metrolink Analysis 2010-2014
· Mapping Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants Within 10 Miles of Huntington Beach, California
· An Analysis of Golf Course Locations in Orange County, California
· Mortality Increases in Los Angeles County, California
· Carmel River Watershed and Steelhead Migration from 2000-2015
· Student Housing Impact Analysis at Chapman University in the City of Orange, California
· Mount Everest: A Study on Deaths from 1922-2015
· Study of Average Home Values in Wildomar, California
· Mapping Groundwater Level Changes in Orange County, California from 2011-2015
· Land Use Study for the City of Anaheim, California
· Orange County EarthCache Locations and Hazards Analysis Map Series
· An Analysis of the Syrian War Conflict
· A Study of Water Usage in California
· Study of the Cerro Trapiche Archeological Site in the Monquegua Valley, Peru
· Orange County Affordable Housing and Housing Availability
· UFO Sightings in Orange County and Along the 33° North Parallel from 2015-2016
· Growth of Poke Restaurants in Orange County from 2011-2016
· An Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the United States from 2000-2013
· San Diego County Wildfire Risks
· Territorial Expansion of Germany During World War II from 1938-1945
· Geographic Distribution of Zika Virus Around the World
· An Analysis of the Garden Grove Unified School District
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