GIS Projects

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

This project entailed making a simple Field Maps application come to life for grant fulfillment and project planning purposes. The purpose of Field Maps collection was to amass areas of deficiency and suggested improvements across the New England section of the Appalachian Trail. Hundreds of points were coming in daily from this application! It is important to handle large datasets efficiently. First, I created a QA/QC Python script to ensure data comprehensiveness and consistency as deficiencies were collected. Second, I created a Dashboard so staff and federal grant administrators could see the collection in action. Weekly meetings helped refine quality assessments and plan how to analyze data into meaningful projects that would be funded under this grant. 

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

I created this map to depict visitor use characteristics and Trail characteristics useful to visitors across the entire Appalachian Trail. How many visitors frequent an area, and how they use that area, is important to understand so the Trail may be maintained and managed appropriately through time. Additionally, ATC has a scale of 1-5 to depict the "feel" that a hiker should expect in a particular subsection of trail (primitive-urban). This scale emulates the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum, for those who are familiar.

After months of cleaning excel spreadsheets maintained and updated by 32 volunteer clubs and several ATC staff across nearly 2200 miles of trail, I was able to devise a geodatabase structure and overall schema for this project. This entailed a relational table system. Each club region has various subsections (anywhere from a handful to over fifty), and each subsection had an ATX rating (rural to urban), as well as subratings. Each subsection also had details about overnight sites and other visitor-centric characteristics. This system was complicated and had to be designed with the future in mind - how would we be updating this data, which data would we want to keep upon update, and what would land management entities want to see visually?

• Schematics (used as reference doc for scripts)

• Example of Relational Database Setup

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

I helped modernize an existing map that federal and state land managers and public lands staff use on a daily basis to plan for trail maintenance projects and general visitor use planning. Prior to digital asset updates, a PDF system of update was in place. 

Appalachian Trail Conservancy 

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy needed a quick solution to deploy once emergency funds came through for professional assessment and repair of the Appalachian Trail post-Helene. I was tasked with developing an application that crosswalked NPS terminology with USFS terminology so both agencies could derive ultimate meaning from the data collected. The application I created emulated a popular Forest Service platform for trail maintenance that was internal to the organization, while using outward-facing terminology that NPS would understand. The application provided point collection with dependent dropdowns that targeted category-specific trail damages and remediation strategies.

• User Guide coming soon ...

• Meeting Packets coming soon ...

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

In order to determine the best placement of trail counters along the Appalachian Trail, I conducted research and read work already done on this topic. I then ran a spatial analysis to determine which candidate locations would be closest to highly traveled roads, which could introduce noise into the counting process. I then looked at distance to secondary roads, which would allow for necessary maintenance without too much introduced noise.

• Map to come soon ...

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

To fulfill a grant focused on pit privy design and update, I created a map of existing privvies in the southern region that reflected status of update and proposed relocations.

• Map to come soon ...

US Forest Service

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, US Forest Service Incident Management Teams, staff, and volunteers trekked into dangerous terrain, documenting forests of downed trees, tread cavities, washouts, and structure damage as a result of historic winds and torrential downpour. It was my job to standardize this data and create series of maps that visualized data by damage category, severity and location. These maps were critical in receiving disaster funding. 

US Forest Service 

On behalf of the USDA Forest Service, I was hired to spatially analyze damages on recreational trails and related infrastructure as a result of Tropical Storm Fred. I used Survey123 points to analyze damages, strategize field visits, and draft repair contracts.

In addition to analyzing survey points, I conducted field visits and subsequently created maps to illustrate needed repairs. This could be as simple as showing where check steps should be erected; it could also entail calculating slope on small portions of trail to illustrate where discrepancies lie between standards for the trail versus the reality post-storm. Providing staff and construction contractors elevation profiles for trails was another common task.

• LASER Document (Trails Chapter)

• PDF Map (interactive map is for internal purposes)

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Created a geodatabase to store ash tree treatments along the Appalachian Trail across different states, Forests and Ranger Districts. Such information will be updated annually and tree growth characteristics will be monitored.​

Interagency

Government GIS systems are intended to be for internal use only. Under extreme situations, data and information can be shared in specific ways. The Appalachian Trail, nearly 100 years old, is sustained by a Cooperative Management System including national and state agencies, conservation agencies, trail clubs, and volunteers. This project entailed updating a map of A.T. damage points and segments of opened or closed trail to reflect varying safety levels of the trail across different areas. It also showed closures. This map was accessible by select partners and updated collaboratively each week.

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

The Corridor K reroute at Stecoah Gap will reroute a portion of the Appalachian Trail as a result of a wildlife crossing/land bridge installment. To facilitate this project, I helped compile colleagues' point and line features from Avenza to ArcGIS Pro, and created a web map and series of georeferenced PDFs. I created both 2D and 3D renderings of these designs with mileage information.

Appalachian Trail Conservancy 

Maintaining a reliable centerline for a 2,190 mile footpath (that endures constant tread changes) is no easy feat. I created an up-to-date centerline that utilized elevation data and both m and z enabled polylines to create N-S and S-N mileage at 0.5 and 0.1 mile intervals. This information was time-sensitive for an external-facing project.

After publishing this version, I worked at obtaining even higher resolution DEMs and calculating mileage for sections of the trail based on specific State Plane coordinate systems for each state the trail traverses. This version takes considerable more time and energy; the trade-off is increased accuracy in mileage.

• Process Document

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Each year, a thorough inventory of assets along the Appalachian Trail needs to take place to document any work done and its corresponding cost. This work has traditionally been completed through paper PDF forms. I was able to create custom URLs for hundreds of thousands of assets that linked to digital forms that are pre-populated with essential information for each asset, to be added to our geodatabase.

Pennsylvania State University

This project strategically leveraged raster and vector data to identify prime areas for biological preservation within a Pennsylvania county. By synthesizing spatial insights with ecological considerations, this endeavor underscores the critical role of GIS in preserving and protecting biodiversity hotspots for future generations.

Pennsylvania State University

This project required analysis of raster and vector data to identify optimal locations for a new vineyard in Sonoma, California. Through a series of analyses and conversions, this project unveils the art and science behind viticulture site selection, paving the way for exquisite wine production in one of California's renowned wine regions.

• Narrative

Pennsylvania State University

This city planning project involved using GIS to identify potential future business locations within the vibrant city of Kalispell, Montana. By identifying areas best suited to ecotourism and regional development, this project lays the foundation for sustainable urban growth.

• Narrative

Pennsylvania State University

This project leveraged GIS to identify optimal emergency relief sites following the 2011 tornado outbreak across Alabama. Through meticulous table manipulations and spatial analyses, this project informs the strategic allocation of resources to areas most impacted by natural disasters, ensuring swift and effective response efforts.

• Narrative

Pennsylvania State University

Depicting the homeless population of Santa Cruz transcended mere data visualization—it was a testament to the intersection of compassion and strategic planning. Drawing upon national statistics and annual homeless population counts, I crafted an AGOL web map that served as a catalyst for securing funding and resources to aid homeless veterans and vulnerable populations.

Pennsylvania State University

I showcased my prowess in address geocoding and rematching, facilitating seamless operations for local water utility companies. Through the creation of an AGOL web map, I empowered stakeholders with spatial intelligence to optimize resource allocation and enhance operational efficiency. 

• AGOL Web Map

Pennsylvania State University

A multifaceted exploration of vegetation changes within the Ottawa Wildlife Refuge over five decades. Leveraging a plethora of spatial resources - orthorectified aerial photographs and National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) data - I meticulously charted the evolution of wetland ecosystems over time. Through joins, unions, and dissolves, I crafted a series of ten maps that unraveled the presence of invasive species and vegetation groups across distinct epochs. From visual analyses to statistical insights, each map served as a testament to the dynamic interplay between human intervention and ecological resilience.

• AGOL Web Map (ten final layers alongside reference images)

• Final Layout​

• Project File (.aprx)

Pennsylvania State University

I created an Web Map featuring land cover and forest types for a study area on the Wyoming-Montana border, northeast of Yellowstone National Park. Its purpose was to illustrate features of an area that is difficult to travel to physically due to steep, mountainous terrain. A strong feature of this project is its metadata - I focused on showcasing my descriptive and documentation skills here, and created simple instructions to bridge the digital divide for users not familiar with navigating web-based maps. I also customized the Time Slider tool to see changes in land cover over time (2001-2021).

Before creating this Web Map, I created a Web App using the swipe widget.  I was able to customize the Time Slider tool to be intuitive, and again focused on thorough metadata. You can see the nuances between the two sets of metadata relative to the products at hand.

• Imagery, Land Cover, and Forest Type Map

• Imagery and Land Cover Web App

Pennsylvania State University

This project entailed georeferencing a variety of images. Utilizing explicit XY coordinates of control points and incorporating target layers, I navigated the complexities of spatial alignment. Through the application of Affine (1st order polynomial) and second-order polynomial transformations, I honed my skills in spatial rectification, ensuring seamless integration of raster images into geospatial frameworks. From resurrecting USGS Digital Raster Graphics (DRG) that had "lost" spatial information to rectifying unorthorectified photographs, each georeferencing activity required flexibility and problem solving.

• Narrative

• USGS DRG that "lost" its information

• USGS Paper Topographic Quadrangle

• Original Photograph (not orthorectified)

Pennsylvania State University

In the Geodatabase Design Project, I traversed the terrain where tradition meets innovation, crafting geospatial frameworks that seamlessly melded classic cartographic principles with contemporary GIS methodologies. From georeferencing Sanborn map images to sculpting intricate geodatabase structures, each phase of the project was characterized by meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to data integrity.

Pennsylvania State University

Implementing topological rules serves as a linchpin in detecting and rectifying errors within spatial datasets. From identifying undershoots and overshoots to untangling looped polygons and rectifying attribute entry errors, this project underscores the critical role of meticulous data validation in maintaining spatial integrity.

• Narrative

• AGOL Web Map

• Project File (.aprx)

Pennsylvania State University

In this project, I estimated the carbon sequestration potential of a forest in southeastern Michigan. Hypothetical time and cost constraints resulted in a representative sampling approach, collecting tree data from 18 sample plots across the forest. I  entered this data into two CSV files—one with tree measurements and another with plot GPS coordinates. Using ArcGIS and the Spatial Analyst extension, I created shapefiles from tabular data and interpolated the sample data into raster grids to estimate carbon storage across the entire forest. The project successfully provided an efficient and accurate estimate of the forest's carbon sequestration potential.

• Project File (.aprx)

Pennsylvania State University

In the pursuit of understanding and delineating political voting districts, I merged historical census records with advanced geodatabase design principles. Carefully curated to optimize space and usability, the resulting geodatabase served as a robust repository for census data, empowering end-users to investigate voter patterns and demographics. In my own analyses, I discerned voting percentages within neighborhoods and formed nuanced insights regarding ethnicity and political affiliations. This endeavor culminated in actionable intelligence, guiding strategic decisions such as targeted poster campaigns in specific languages and locations.

• Rationale for Build

• Analysis of Voter Patterns