Introductory study on the Geographic Information Science (GIS) from GEOB 270 has benefited to my future career as in planning. The course is theory-based combined with computer laboratory which allows students to understand the concepts behind the computing processes while gained practical skills from applying the ArcGIS. Through lab assignment, I learned to identify accurate data files/sources from reliable sites; reselect and filter the useful information for analysis; use toolsets to integrate various data layer and produce map as the outcome of data visualization. The experiences with ArcGIS is crucial for decision-making in sustainable planning processes and an essential tool for performing spatial analysis.
Author: Jackson chen
Final Project Reflection
For our report, we analyzed the historical and the current distribution of rivers within the City of Vancouver. We applied the ArcGIS as our main methodology to conduct the study on the local basin. The functions we used for the map-making is included but not limit to intersect, query(reclassify), project, clip, buffer etc. In order to addressed the issues of “disappear” streams in Vancouver, we compare the distribution of previous streams from 1880 to 1920 with the existing (daylighting) streams today. The report is emphasized on zoning practice and road network and their impact on the urban basin. We found that large portion of the original landmass has zoned into residential usage, especially the prevailing single housing development in the last century. River and streams thus receded from the ground, the surviving streams are mostly running through underground culverts, the few streams are remaining in the daylight also receiving significant pressure due to the complicated land uses of their surroundings. Later, the case study focus at Salish Creek demonstrate the above findings comprehensively. Further research is required to examine the feasibility of rehabilitation on the old streams.
During the map-making, each of the team members all attend to computer labs regularly and we spent extra time after class to make sure we finished the maps in advance in order to have more time to composite the report analysis. Instead of making the task separately, we had done in collaboration which is actual more efficient way because it avoids inconsistence in the map design and misunderstood from each other’s. For the written report, we divided the task for each individual group members. One of the teammate (Qingyang) has studies the Salish Stream in the Pacific Spirit Park and we were all agreed that is a good idea to including a specific case study which help readers to forge a better understand by get into specific example.
We also encounter some difficulties and uncertainties during the research stage. It is quite hard to find digitalized data for the old streams in Vancouver since we were looking at the historical data from late 19th century to early 20th century before the population booming in the city. On another hand, there aren’t much running streams in Vancouver today, so information on the current streams distributions is very scarce either. In addition, the old stream layer does not provide the current conditions of the previous streams. We only not they are buried underground but some might transformed into sewage conduits others might completed filled up. These information are important for examine the feasibility of the restoration on the old streams as I noted in the further study section.
Overall, the course final project is a great opportunity to apply various skillsets that we had learned from class. Throughout the class I became familiar with the handling ArcGIS which is an essential tool for spatial analysis in different careers. The competence of using and understood the software functioning will serve as an important building block to my academic experiences in pursuing of geography and planning realm.
Appendix:
Project Copy:
Environmental Impact Assessment: Garibaldi at Squamish
For our last lab, we were conducting the environmental assessment on the project, Garibaldi at Squamish (GAS), a purposed year-round mountain resort located on Sea- to Sky Highway and it is 13 kilometers north of the district municipality, Squamish.
Memo – Garibaldi at Squamish Environmental Impact Assessment.
The site is 45 kilometers apart from the 2010 Winter Olympic site, the Whistler-Blackcomb resort and 80 kilometers to the region largest city, Vancouver. The resort will be including multiple ski lifts, ski pistes, resort accommodation, ground water supply system, infrastructure and other recreation facilities in the total project area of 2,759 hectares (GAS project Assessment Report, 2016).
As the natural resource planner for the proponent, Garibaldi at Squamish Inc., my duty is critical evaluate the concerns raised from our competitor, Squash Nation, and local residents. In this environmental assessment, the project area is primarily evaluated by the spatial analysis software, ESRI ArcGIS, and we have identified the potential environment aspects that may affect by the GAS in the project boundary:
- Rivers and fish habitats
- Old-grown forest area
- Red-listed plant species
- Ungulate habitats
At the same time, the analysis map indicates the area below elevation of 555-meter level which may consider as the bottom line for building ski resort in British Columbia according to a 1974 report. The area size for each aspect of environmental impacts also calculated as following statistics:
- Project area below 555m vertical: 1,637.74ha/ 29.94%
- Project area with river and fish habitats: 1,423.29ha/ 26.02%
- Project area with old grown forest existing: 371.03ha/ 6.78%
- Project area with red-listed species: 1,358.46ha/ 24.84%
- Project area with Ungulate winter habitats: 431.52ha/7.89%
Figure 2: Map of Red-listed plant species distribute within the project boundary.
The spatial distributions of each category have shown in above diagram. We can recognize that most of the red-listed species are grow adjacent to the main branch of the river that is located below the 555-meter line. The ungulate habitats are either close to the 555m contour line or on the project boundary. Although many small streams, headwater are scattered across the higher elevation, but there are less concerns for the fish species due to steep falls of streams which make it difficult for fish to swim back. However, the old grown forest sites are widely spread, their presences are more common toward the northern part of the project area. Base on evidences above, we have come up with few recommendations to guide the project planning in order to mitigate and minimized the impact on the local ecosystem. First, although the protected areas seem as big as the project area if we add up the percentage, in fact, there are about 52.65% is actually considering as the protected area because of the overlap. Secondly, the GAR should avoid constructing ski facilities and housing unit in the low elevation area (<555m). It will be more sustainable for the ski resort to build at higher elevation with colder environment, also place around the river basin is concentrated with vulnerable but significant ecological region and the developer must not disturb. When planning the ski runs, the proponent must agree not to develop the existing ungulate habitats and old-grown forest. Despite the head streams are usually small in scale, yet the proponent facility should avoid interruptions on the flows of water which is important for the main river’s influx.
In conclusion, the proposal project, Garibaldi at Squamish, should be approve by the government authorities. As the natural resource planner of the project, we had carefully assess the proposed land by conducting environmental impact assessment in the project area. Our construction will be refrain from ecological sensitive ground, for example, the existing protected areas and place below 555m according the E.A. result diagram.
As a GIS specialist, we may often receive some projects that we don’t ethically believe in but our clients require us to do our best for their benefits. These circumstances may be quite frustrated for some people, for example, when you working for controversial project proponents such as Woodfibre LNG project in Squamish and Kinder Morgan pipeline etc. In the workplace, when I involved in these proposals that I don’t match my personal believe or opinions, it is hard to tackle because we always constrained by the interests of the client. So in these cases, I may try to contact and pose some critical questions on the project while having the conversation with people from proponent side. If they demonstrated convincing evidence or solutions for the environmental concerns I raised, I will still stand on their side as long as the project does not show significant threats to the local community and involving illegal acts.
Reference:
Environment Assessment Office. ” Garibaldi at Squamish, Assessment Report” EAO Project Information and Collaboration (EPIC). Government of British Columbia, 21 Mar. 2016. PDF file
Housing Affordability: Vancouver vs. London, Ontario
The affordability measuring refers to the amount of goods and service that an individual can be afford to buy. According to the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey (2017), the housing affordability measures the annual household income ratio to the housing prices at a certain place. When compare the housing market in two or multiple areas, is better to look at the housing affordability multipliers than merely the housing prices. Reason for that is the latter only indicate the properties’ worth regardless the role of income which determine the feasibility of people to purchase the house. Including the household income normalize the statistics and they become more meaningful when compare the housing affordability in places. The survey has rated the affordability in four categories through the method “Median Multiples” which is based on the ratio of median household income and median house price.
| Housing Affordability Rate | Median Multiple |
| Affordable | 3.0 & under |
| Moderately Unaffordable | 3.1 ~ 4.0 |
| Seriously Unaffordable | 4.1 ~ 5.0 |
| Severely Unaffordable | 5.1 & over |
Affordability is considering one of the most important indicator of a city livability. The above graph about the housing affordability between London and Vancouver, it clearly reveals the Vancouver housing market is in a very critical situation that most resident can’t afford to buy a property in contrast to a mid-size city such as London, Ontario. In terms of weather or climate, Vancouver have very comfortable living environment due to its mild winters and cool summer when you compare with the harsh winter and heavy snowfall in Southern Ontario. However, London has relative higher income and much cheaper housing than Vancouver. Despite the weather, people maybe more willing to move or staying in London; meanwhile, Vancouver unaffordable housing hold back the new residents and more people planning or already moved out from the city. The government authorities should carefully manage the urban housing market under control in order to make the city thrive in the long-term development.
References:
- Canada, Government of Canada Statistics. “Median total income, by family type, by census metropolitan area (All census families).” Statistics Canada, 14 July 2016. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.
- Hartwich, Oliver. 13th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey: 2017. N.p.: Demographia , 2017. PDF.
Quantitative Data Classification
The journalist and a real estate agent may choice two different classification methods to display because the former wants to objectively present the truth in a news yet the latter is thinking that how to increase their sales as much as possible. Since the roles have different approaches, if I’m a journalist, I will use Manual Breaks classification to present. First, the interval values are easy to understand, people generally have better understanding on housing prices that are in integers (e.g. $500,000, $1,000,000) rather than random numbers (e.g. $1,201,347). Secondly, the price ranges (intervals) are more appropriate to present the distribution of housing cost compare as to the Equal Interval classification because it shows what close to the reality of the Vancouver housing market. However, the real estate agent may choose the Equal Interval map to put on his/her flyers or website. The graph actual makes the properties in Vancouver seem more affordable than it should and we all know that’s not the truth. This is due to the intervals are much larger in this classification ($600,673 in each price ranges) and also result the average properties prices in UBC fall into the second-cheapest categories in the scope of the entire Vancouver market. Also, the data I using to present is from 2011, so it’s pretty much dated. Since then, housing affordability in Vancouver has sharply decrease because of the inflating properties price within the city. Therefore, the 2011 data cannot properly present the nowadays housing market in metro Vancouver.
City of Vancouver Areas Under Tsunami Threat
List of the Education facilities within the Vancouver danger zone:
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Ecole Rose Des Vents
- False Creek Elementary
- Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design
- Henry Hudson Elementary
List of the Healthcare facilities within the Vancouver danger zone:
- Falso Creek Residence
- Broadway Pentecostal Lodge
- Yaletown House Society
- Villa Cathay Care Home
How to find the upon information?
Starts with the ArcToolbox, under the Analysis Tools, expand the Overlay button then select Intersect. Then choose the existed Vancouver Education/ Healthcare layer to intersect with Vancouvermask_Danger and new layer(s) will create. Right click the layer(s) and then open the Attribute Table, you will now find the list of facilities that fall in the danger zone.
The new location for the St.Paul’s Hospital will be place on the false creek flat, which was a tidal area that has been reclaimed from sea in 1910’s. Due to its low elevation and proximity to the water body, the area is expose to protential risk of flooding by tsunami or land liquefaction in major earthquake events.
How to fix misaligned and improperly referenced spatial data
It is important to find an appropriate spatial reference data for a specific coordinate system to get the correct display result. Improperly reference spatial data in some files will result misalignments of geographical locations which cause differences in distance between two coordinates. In order to fixed this issue, we need to pick the correct datum and geographical/projected coordinate systems.
- Check all the layers’ Properties on the Table of Content
- Scroll down to the Source and look at the Spatial References
- Record the Coordinates System and Datum info see if they all match.
If the coordinate system is missing, you will need to…
- Remove the original files from the Table of Content
- Launch the properties tab of the file on ArcCatalog
- Find the XY Coordinate System and click on the Geographic Coordinate Systems.
- Then under North America folder change it to NAD 1983 and press OK
- Finally, add back the file