Natural Hazards: Lahars

Back in the swing of GIS all day, every day.  This weeks topic started our coverage of natural hazards, specifically lahars.  Of course, the first thing I had to do was Google lahars to find out they are a type of mud flow of rocks, debris and water that are the result of an erupting volcano that typically flow in river valleys and can be very catastrophic.   Now that we know what a lahar is, lets move onto this weeks maps.  My first map (Map 1) depicts the digital elevation of Mt Hood in Oregon along with the streams that surround it and form as the basis of potential lahar paths.

Map 1

Map 2 shows the population and schools that would be directly affected by the potential lahars.

Map 2

FuturaGIS -- GIS Application in the Utility Industry

                FuturaGIS is an ESRI ArcMap based application that was developed by FuturaSystems, Inc.  for use in the electric utility industry.  FuturaGIS allows the end user (the electric company) to not only see where their electric distribution lines run, but also show point locations of additional facilities such as transformers, switches, poles and meters. 

                GIS in the utility industry accomplishes many tasks.  First and foremost, it serves as a map of the system.  Unlike a paper map, electronic maps can be updated daily giving line crews a complete and accurate view of the system.  Through the use of attribute data, engineers can determine where specific customers or facilities lie.  They can plan for right of way clearances by measuring the length of primary conductor line or by importing vegetation layers.  Engineers can balance the electric load by using calculations to determine the number customers using a power source and locating the proper places to install protective devices.

                As a GIS administrator of an electric cooperative, an application such as FutursGIS is of interest to me because it allows me, as administrator to assist my company in making informed, analytical decisions that create a more stable electric network for our members.  By advancing my knowledge of both ArcGIS and an application such as FuturaGIS, I would like to further my understanding of electric distribution and network analysis as it pertains to the electric utility industry.

Final Project - Bob White Transmission Line Impact Analysis

For our final project we were to imagine that we were a consulting firm chosen by Florida Power and Light (FPL) to study the impact that a proposed 230-kilovolt transmission line would have on the local environmental and community.  The link below is my final PowerPoint presentation and slide by slide commentary I have created for my final presentation.

Bob White Manatee Transmission Project

Click to access PowerPoint presentation

Bob White-Manatee Transmission Line Project Analysis Slide by Slide Presentation

Final Project

  Our final project was to show off what we have learned over the course of the last semester in GIS3015 - Cartographic Skills.  Using a combination of ArcGIS Desktop for analysis and Adobe Illustrator for design, I have created a map that depicts the national average ACT composite scores and the percentage of high school graduates that tested.