GOAL
AND BACKGROUND
The
goal for this lab was to create several base maps for the Eau Claire Confluence
Project by applying knowledge learned from spatial datasets used in the civil
sector. The objectives for this lab included: digitizing the Confluence
Project, learning about the PLSS, answering questions pertaining to the base
data, exploring the City and County of Eau Claire data sets, becoming familiar
with WebGIS and legal parcel descriptions, building layouts with major thematic
feature classes, and writing a technical report about the project on my blog.
This
lab’s background hypothetically placed me working as an intern in the Clear
Vision Eau Claire. During my duration as an intern, Clear Visions Eau Claire
partnered with Haymarket LLC in creating a community arts center/commercial
retail complex, and university housing in downtown Eau Claire. The designated
site was the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers. The projects
proposed name was the Confluence Project. In this position I had to create several
basemaps with information pertaining to the site for the Confluence Project.
METHODS
The
first step I achieved was familiarizing myself with the datasets and feature
classes by using ArcCatalog. Once that was completed I created a blank
geodatabase and polygon feature class. I imported the Eau Claire Block Groups
dataset as my default coordinate system.
For
the second step I opened ArcMap and imported the Confluence Project and added
the World Imagery from the basemaps into the data frame. Next, I added the
parcel area feature class and used the legaloutline.jpg document to view the
parcels of the Confluence Project. Once I knew the location of the two parcels I
used the editing tool to select the Confluence Project feature class. Then, I
selected on the snapping toolbar ‘end snapping’ and ‘vertex snapping’. After
this I digitized the Confluence Project by choosing the polygon tool and saved
my edits.
For
the third step, I created another data frame within the same ArcMap document. In
this data frame I imported the World Imagery from the basemaps and the ‘PLSS
Townships’ from the 2009-17-13 Eau Claire and City of Eau Claire geodatabase.
After turning on the Section Number in the label properties I studied the
pattern of PLSS in the county and city of Eau Claire. I then proceeded to add
the ‘PLSS Quarter Quarter sections’ and ‘PLSS qq’ from both data sets. I used
the swipe tool to peel back the layer beneath and view the data. Using the
identify button I brought up the attributes for the area that held the
Confluence Site and examined it.
For
the fourth step, I proceeded to the City of Eau Claire WebGIS looked up the
Confluence Project Site and read the report in the city parcels feature
information window. I then created this PLSS legal description report of the
Confluence Site from the Eau Claire City Public Land Survey System geodatabase
and http://eauclairecitywi.wgxtreme.com/website.
Figure
1: Legal Description of the Proposed Confluence Project Site
For
the Fifth step, I created six data frames within an ArcMap document. Within all
six data frames I included the Confluence Project site, the World Imagery
basemap, a map legend, and bar. Individually, the first data frame consisted of
Civil Divisions; the second - census boundaries; the third - PLSS sections; the
fourth - Eau Claire’s Parcel data; the fifth data -zoning classes; and the
sixth - voting districts.
RESULTS
Going
from right to left, the Civil Divisions map shows the area of the Proposed Site
residing in the city. The Census Boundaries map illustrates the location of the
Proposed Site being in a densely populated area. The PLSS Features map shows
the parcel area of where the proposed site would be located. The Voting District
map illustrates the ward that the proposed site would be in. The Zoning Map
shows what classes are surrounding the site and that the site lies within the
CBD. The Eau Claire Parcel Data shows the parcels and centerlines of the area
within Eau Claire.
Figure
2: Proposed Site
of Confluence Project and Eau Claire boundaries and counties
SOURCES
You
have a role to play in building Eau Claire's future. (n.d.). Retrieved March
10, 2017, from http://www.eauclairearts.com/confluence/
Frequently
asked questions: The Confluence Project. (n.d.). Blugold news. Retrieved March 9, 2017, from
https://www2.uwec.edu/News/more/confluenceprojectFAQs.htm
Hemstead,
B. (n.d.). PLSS - Legal Descriptions | PLSS. Retrieved March 10, 2017, from
http://www.sco.wisc.edu/plss/legal-descriptions.html
Mapping
Services. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2017, from
http://www.eauclairewi.gov/departments/public-works/engineering/mapping-services
(2013, June 17). Retrieved March 10,
2017, from http://youtu.be/p5UZYebNqJU
City of Eau Claire and Eau Claire County used for maps
City of Eau Claire and Eau Claire County used for maps
