19 March 2013

What has been done:

• All maps needed to assemble the overall map have been collected.

• Went to Ingalls Preserve and recorded the GPS coordinates of certain features of the preserve with Nick Conrad.

What is to be done by next week:

• All layers will be put into one to make the overall map.

• If possible, integrate the GPS coordinates into the map to show the locations of the special features in the preserve. 

• To do all of this, I will have to meet with professor Meierdiercks, concerning with the maintenance of the ArcGIS software on my personal computer.

• Have professor Meierdiercks help to get the tax parcel for the Ingalls Preserve.

12 March 2013

What has been done:

I have assembled most of the maps of features needed for the project.

I have also contacted the client for a meeting to go to the preserve to get the coordinates for special features.

What is going to be done in the next week:

Hopefully, the coordinates to the special features in the preserve will be recorded, if I am able to meet with the client.

Either way, the map layers that are needed for the project will be put into one for future plotting of the coordinates of the preserve.

Project Proposal Draft

Madeline Santulli

Siena College

Loudonville, NY 12211

February 26, 2013

Introduction

The Rensselaer Land Trust is a non-profit organization that protects the Robert Ingalls Preserve, which does not have a developed map of the area for the public eye or for use by the staff.  However, the boundary lines of the preserve have been established.  Therefore, it would be helpful to make a map that is eligible to the public eye to show the general boundaries, trails, infrastructure and natural features that the preserve has.

The Robert Ingalls Preserve is a 30-acre property in Stephentown open to the public.   Rensselaer Land Trust plans to improve a parking area, lay out formal trails, and install kiosk and interpretive trail signs. The Preserve is located on the Rensselaer Plateau, where Black Brook, a native stream, flows through the forested preserve.

 Objectives

·         Produce an appealing, organized, informative, and easy-to-read map of the preserve, showing trails, bridges, infrastructure, boundaries, and stone walls.

·         Show natural resources such as wetlands, vernal pools, forests, streams and rivers, and open areas.

·         Show the location of the preserve in Rensselaer County through use of boundaries.

·         Include the Rensselear Land Trust organization name and logo.

Methods

The process starts with the layout of several layers into one, making a proper view of the preferred region.  The next step is to go out into the field and record the latitude and longitude coordinates, through the use of a GPS, of features in the preserve needed to be marked in the map.  This will consist of trails, natural resources, stone walls, and infrastructure.  After mapping these features, the proper layout of the map can be determined in order to make it presentable to the public eye as well as being useful to the Rensselaer Land Trust organization.

Data Sources

2011 DeLorme Publishing Company: World Elevation Contours Map (basemap layer)

2010 Esri: World Imagery Map (basemap layer)

2010 EPA Office: EPA Watershed Map (dataset layer)

2012 U.S. Forest Service Enterprise: U.S. Forest Watershed Boundaries Map (dataset layer)

2011 U.S. Geological Survey: Water_Bodies_Stream_Features Map (dataset layer)

Work Plan

March 15, 2013                Compile data for the geography of the Robert Ingalls Preserve

March 22, 2013                Merge Layers into a single layer, showing the boundaries of the preserve.

March 29, 2013                Record, and map GPS readings.

March 12, 2013                Create metadata for final layers.

April 17, 2013                   Complete rough draft.

April 24, 2013                   Analyze results and complete final draft.

Deliverables

The final draft for the client will be a pdf file, consisting of fine pixel imaging for a large scale map, colored.  The format will be designed for the public eye that is easy to follow and presentable. The map will be organized and designed to look appealing to the targeted audience.  Shapefiles will be created and provided for future reference for the Rensselaer Land Trust organization, when needed to map the area in the Robert Ingalls Preserve.