Hwasong-12 Missile Range Analysis

Task of Lab:

The objective was to analyze the threat that North Korea's Hwasong-12 ballistic missile tested on May 14, 2017 may pose to major regional cities in East Asia.  I was tasked with sharing the results of the analysis using three separate methods: a complete hard copy map (prepared as a PNG file), a presentation for briefing decision-makers, and a simple interactive web map. The finished products for all three formats are below.

Methodology:

1. Added provided cities and world shapefile to the QGIS display.

2. Created a new point feature layer for Pyongyang and saved it as a new shapefile.

3. With provided MGRS coordinates (for the scenario, was received through HUMINT report), located and marked the spot as the Missile Launch Site from where the Hwasong-12 missile was tested, and saved it as a new shapefile.

4. Used the Fixed Distance Buffer tool to create two buffers around the Missile Launch Site: one for 700km, which was the tested range; and one for 3700km, the estimated maximum range of the Hwasong-12 missile.

5. Used the Intersection tool twice to find the cities that were located within the Tested and Maximum Ranges. The cities within the Tested Range are marked with Red dots and the cities within the Maximum Range are marked with Yellow dots. Pyongyang was marked with a Cyan dot for reference.

6. In a New Print Layout, added the labels, title, legend, north arrow, and scale.

7. Exported the layout as a PNG file fit for 8.5"x11" printing.

8. Using the exported PNG file, created briefing slides for decision-makers. The briefing includes the map, a list of cities within the Tested Range, a Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) slide, a slide detailing my analysis process, and a slide for potential Courses of Action (COAs) that the decision-maker can take. 

9. After downloading and importing the QGIS2web Plugin, created a web map using the "OpenLayers" setting.

9a. Chose a folder to save the exported web map.

9b. Opened the "index.html" file within the folder to test and view the web map.

QGIS Tools Used in Analysis:

• Fixed Distance Buffer

• Intersection

• QGIS2web Plugin 

Interactable Web Map Format:

Completed via the QGIS2web Plugin created by Tom Chadwin