This is the final poster of my project. It illustrates the two maps that I created over the course of this semester, and other information regarding my project. I had a great time working with Jill Knapp at the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, and being able to explore and map the Schiffendecker Preserve.
After weeks of hard work and dedication I have been able to produce two maps for the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I had making them.
Here is a updated version of the map I have been working on.
I was able to get elevation data from the USGS seamless website and create some contour lines of the property. I have all the GPS data I took on this map and areas of interest are also done. All that I have left is to clean up the appearance of the map and make it more presentable.
I have returned from my first day of data collection at the location. It was a beautiful day to take a leisurely hike through the woods. I was able to collect several data points of specific points of interest along the main trail. This included basic land marks that would help hikers identify where they are on the trail. I was also able to collect data points for areas of interest like the hemlock groves that follow the stream running through the preserve as well as the signs of beaver activity along the stream.
So far I have two drafts of my map which include a Bing aerial view map of the area and a topographical map of the area. Both Maps have the stream running through the location marked. In the next couple of days I plan on entering the GPS data points that I was able to collect. I am also still searching for GPS data on the boundaries for the site location.
My plans for next week include hiking out into the areas of the preserve that do not have any trails and identifying the areas that might be of interest for youth groups or areas for potential trails.
The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy has recently opened land up the the public, the Schiffendecker Preserve in Glenmont. The goal of the Conservancy is to make this preserve attractive to the public and become useful to groups looking to promote outdoor activities, while still preserving natural ecosystems.
Project Objectives: In order to accomplish this a detailed map of the land and all the features within it needs to be created to help with the planning of the development of this land. It is my intention for the upcoming weeks to create a map that will accomplish this. Methods: I will utilize different components to help produce a final product. Data collected at the site location will be gathered using a GPS device and then transferred to a computer. ArcGIS will be the computer software I will use to manipulate the data and produce a final map. The ArcGIS software has a wide range of tools that will allow for the completion of professional grade map. Work Plan: This project will be spread out over the next few weeks of the semester.
Week of October 24th: This week will encompass communicating with the client (The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy) and finalizing a project plan.
Week of October 31st: The gathering GPS data will be accomplished by surveying the Schiffendecker Preserve and marking trails and locating special areas with a GPS unit.
Week of November 7th: The continuation of data collection and gathering any final points of interest.
Week of November 14th: The processing of all the data that was collected will take place. This will include the transferring of GPS data to the appropriate file types used in ArcGIS. A draft of the final map will be produced and be given to the client for review and any other notes.
Week of November 21st: A more final draft of the map will be submitted to the client for approval or any notes on any other information that needs to be present. Discussion will be held over the final presentation of the map and what media the map will be distributed.
By the end ofNovember the Final map will complete and presented to the client. Data Sources: Information will be gathered from a combination of Bing.maps (for an aerial photo) and individual data points gathered by GPS unit. Siena college Environmental Studies Department may also have information relevant for the location from previous year’s projects. Final Product: At the conclusion of this project I will be able to present my client with a map that highlights the different features of the land, which includes: streams, trails, wetlands, flood plains, beaver ponds, steep sections of land as well as large open areas. From this map the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy can better understand the layout of the Schiffendecker Preserve and be able to plan out a way to sub-divide the land for future use.
