GIS 1 Lab 2:  Downloading GIS Data

  

Goal: The lab had three primary goals. The first goal of this lab was to download two datasets from the U.S. Census Bureau which were then used to create two maps in ArcMap. The second goal was to create a web map feature service with ArcGIS online and then produce an interactive online map. The third goal was to complete a blog post with the information produced.

Methods: Detailed methods are provided under each heading.

Objective One: Download 2010 Census Data.

The US Census Bureau Fact Finder website was used to find population totals in Wisconsin counties. In Advanced Search, under the Topics option, People, Basic Count/Estimate, and then population totals were chosen in that order. Under the Geographies option, County 050, Wisconsin, and then All Counties within Wisconsin were chosen in that order. This data was then downloaded to the lab2 folder as a zip file then modified after being opened. The second row in the data was deleted as it would count as a record and periods were replaced as they violated the naming rules in ArcMap.

Objective Two: Download the Shapefile for the WI census data.

The map tab was selected under the Geographies option and shapefile was then downloaded as a zip file which was also placed in the lab2 folder.

Objective Three: Join the data together.

The shapefile was added to a new map in ArcMap and the Layers data frame was then renamed Population. The 050_00 shapefile was then joined with the Excel table using the common field GEO_ID.

Objective Four: Map the data.   

The 05_00 shapefile symbology was changed by selecting the shapefile’s properties, symbology, quantities, then graduated colors with D001_new as the value. The D001_new field had to be created as it did not initially show up as an option due its data being imported as a string field type. The number of classes was reduced to four for simplicity and ease of use and the classification method was change to quantile.  

Objective Five: Map a variable of your choice.

The US Census Bureau Fact Finder website was again accessed for information on the number of housing units in Wisconsin by counties. In Advance Search, under the Topics option, Housing, Basic Count/Estimate, and then Housing Units were chosen in that order. This search resulted in the 2010 SF1 100% Data information which was downloaded as a zip file and added to lab2. The same steps were used as outlined in objectives one, three, and four substituting Population with Housing Units; the same shapefile could be used that previously downloaded in objective two.

Objective Six: Build a Layout

 The projection of the data frames was changed to NAD_1983_Wisconsin_TM, which is more accurate for this lab’s display purposes. A north arrow was added to both maps, along with legend, scale, author’s name, date, titles, source of map data, and basemaps.

Objective Seven: Produce a WebMap

A new map file was saved named WebMap_Lab2 after the Housing Units data frame was deleted, along with the basemap and standalone table from the remaining Population layer. ArcGIS Online was accessed using the UWEC account and a feature serve was created after updating the summary, description, and tags fields. The service was then published and a web map was created  after configuring the pop-up to only show population and county name. The title, summary, and tags for the map were then updated.

Results

The maps of population and total number of housing units by county shows a general spatial patter with higher population counties having a larger number of available housing units. South-Eastern Wisconsin is more heavily populated and has more available housing than most of the northern half of Wisconsin, excepting urban centers such as Eau Claire in Eau Claire County and Wausau in Marathon County. There are a few exceptions, however. Ashland, Vilas, and Oneida counties all have more housing units than would be expected given the populations of these counties. A possible explanation is that this represents homes for rent as northern Wisconsin is a popular tourist destination. The same explanation may hold for Door County, which is another popular tourist location.  

Sources

United States Census Bureau American Fact Finder. (2015). [online] Retrieved from  https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t [Accessed: April 7, 2017].

ESRI, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community.