GIS Applications Lab 3 Blog Post 3

 In this lab we completed 3D analyst training on Esri's website. I found all four training modules to be challenging, informing and fun. I found them challenging because it was completely new territory and I was doing stuff that I had never done before. I found them informing because, again, it was all new information to me and I know for a fact that this will be useful to me in the future once I get started in my career path. Lastly, I found them fun because it was 3D mapping and even though it was only the tip of the iceberg in terms of 3D mapping I know that I will continue to enjoy doing it because it is the future when it comes to map making!

GIS Applications Lab 1 Blog Post 1

 In this lab we utilized GIS to create heat maps to showcase crime rates and data in the Washington DC and Chicago areas. My maps for the Washington DC area went over fairly smoothly. For the Chicago analysis I did run into some more problems, however.  In order to successfully complete the hot spot analysis for each type, I made sure to have the correct layers on my map and then used the correct geoprocessing tools for each one. Often times that included manipulating the intervals for the hotspot, like for the grid and kernel hotspots. As well as utilizing the dissolve tool for the kernel and Moran’s hotspots. The key to making sure I got the analysis correct was making sure to input the correct layer at the correct spot. For the grid hotspot, it took me a while to figure it out because I kept switching the layers and putting them in the incorrect spots for the spatial join.

Grid-Based Thematic Mapping

Kernel Density

Local Moran’s I