Summary

The purpose of this lab is to review the differences between coordinate systems, map projections, and transformations of data. In the process of reviewing the aforementioned topics, this lab allowed for a review of specific geoprocessing tasks and tools. The data collected for this lab was collected for the purpose of CHaMP (Columbia Habitat Monitoring Program) and ISEMP (Integrated Status & Effectiveness Monitoring Program) on the Bear Creek River in Lemhi County, Idaho. The data provided contained an assumed coordinate system which is a Cartesian grid that uses a single point system to situate the data in a particular cardinal direction, in this case North. Once a central point is specified, other points are added to add additional accuracy relative to the central point. The unprojected coordinate system map is simply to inform and is of an arbitrary nature, it is merely to demonstrate the data exists and can be manipulated. The projected coordinate system, on the other hand, demonstrates exact locations based on x and y values assigned to every point in the NAD 1983 UTM Zone 12 coordinate system.

Credits:

https://www.champmonitoring.org/

https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/cbd/mathbio/isemp/index.cfm