This assignment is a visual representation of an Environmental Impact Assessment I conducted on a hypothetical ski lodge in the Squamish area. The assignment was completed for a GIS course, and I was asked to evaluate the area as a resource planner in order to form an opinion on whether or not the hypothetical ski lodge should be built. To create this map, geospatial and environmental data was compiled, analyzed, and then displayed using ArcMap software. Looking at the map reveals areas of old growth forest, fish habitat areas, areas which may not receive enough snowfall, and red-listed species that fell within the proposed project boundaries.
This map was challenging to make because there was a lot of information that needed to be processed, but the data also needed to be displayed in a clear manner. Furthermore, it was challenging to form a well-informed and rational opinion on the project, due to the large variety of factors that had to be considered. In the end, I suggested that the project should not proceed because I believed the environmental consequences outweighed any benefits the ski lodge would provide. This project not only helped improve my technical GIS and data analysis skills, but it also helped me develop my critical thinking skills, and showed me through example how my studies directly related to a real-world scenario.