Embedded Files
Problem
Biologists at Great Smoky Mountains National Park request suitability analysis for the black bear given specified criteria. Park visitors and certain black bears are interacting near roads and trails. The park biologists request a suitability analysis that meets the bears' basic needs to ensure that they will not return to problematic areas. This project determines suitability based on the following criteria: more than one mile away from roads, within a half mile of streams, more than one mile away from trails, at 0-30 degrees of slope with grape thicket (most preferred).
Analysis Procedures
Great Smoky Mountains National Park provided shapefiles including trails, roads, streams, vegetation, as well as an elevation raster file. All shapefiles and raster files were added to ArcMap. The remainder of analysis was performed using Model Builder. The shapefiles were transformed into appropriate raster files and the slope was identified from the elevation raster file. All files were reclassified for suitability and a weighted overlay was performed. The map was symbolized for visual display.
I added the shapefiles and raster dataset to ArcMap and set the geoprocessing extent. I then used model builder to perform the analysis. The first step was to prepare the shapefiles and raster data for reclassification. I created a slope raster file from the elevation raster file using the Slope tool. Using the Feature to Raster tool, I transformed the vegetation shapefile into a raster file. For each of the shapefiles (roads, trees, streams), I used the Euclidean Distance tool to produce raster files with appropriate cell values. Each of the files were reclassified using the provided favorability criteria. Finally, all layers were added to the weighted overlay tool to produce the final suitability output.
Workflow diagram (Click to enlarge)
Results
Map highlighting the most favorable sites for relocating black bears at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Click to enlarge)
Application & Reflection
Weighted overlay is a useful tool for determining suitability of siting in cases when what is being sited is mobile rather than stationary. In particular, weighted overlay analysis is an essential skill for analyzing animal habitats, water analysis, and in other cases where the values of attributes or continuous data may change over the geographic extent. Weighted overlay analysis also allows you to control how much influence any particular factor has on the suitability analysis. Weighted overlay analysis can be useful in the agricultural industry. In particular, weighted overlay analysis would be useful in determining the most suitable locations for planting. This could be based off of longitudinal crop yields per acre as well as distance to water/irrigation sources, and soil health. To determine the most suitable locations for planting for a given geographic area in North Carolina, I could obtain raster files from North Carolina State University library as well as North Carolina streams data from NC One Map. The remaining data would need to be self-constructed.
Page updated
Report abuse