This course taught me the skills I needed to manage, convert, share, and organize data. I’ve learned to apply tabular data to spatial data, make it possible to map street addresses and zip codes as well as work with computer-aided drafts and edit them to databases that can be useful in planning and altering master plans.
I’ve also learned how to find and apply census data as well as perform cluster analyses and other spatial pattern assessments. In the linear referencing module I learned how to make attribute representation tractable for linear features. The first two sections of the course gave me the toolset needed to analyze and interpret vector data in the context of tabular data to produce high quality maps or answer geospatial questions.
The third portion of the course was structure more around working with raster data. In this portion I learned how to use information from already created raster maps to preform operations such as weighted or fuzzy overlay to determine optimal or sub-optimal sites a predetermined objectives. I am also now capable of creating fine resolution raster images from available orthophotos through image classification which is particularly useful when raster analysis is required for areas that are smaller than can be accurately described by sources such as NLCD which is depicted by 30x30m cells.
Finally, this course taught me to create a workspace that streamlines my ability to perform these functions by customizing my ArcMap interface to only show tools I need and filters through the hundreds of tools that are available through ArcGIS. These toolsets may also be expanded through tools that be found online resources.
Although not every geospatial problem was covered through the course the most important skill I learned was to utilize the resources available through ESRI to better understand the tools that were available to me to solve complex problems and select the appropriate analyses.