Exercise 7 - ArcPad Data Collection II

Introduction

The exercise this week was the third and final part of the microclimate exercise. This consisted of the entire class collecting ground points across the UWEC campus. The whole class was to use the same geodatabase that was provided by one of the students. After all the groups had collected the points in each of their areas we were then going to put them all together into one feature class so that we would have all of the points collected on the same map. We could then create maps of the data collected.

Study Area

The area that we were to map out included the UWEC campus (see figure 1) with the class being split into seven group and each group taking a section shown in the yellow polygons. My group had the western portion of the lower campus.

The study area including each group's section shown in yellow. (fig. 1)

Methods

We started out with the same geodatabase as a class and split into groups of two. One of us had the Trimble GPS device and the other had the Kestral. We went to our section to collect the data and started in the western portion and worked out way in a circle until we had the entire section covered with points. One of us would be measuring the different climate fields from the geodatabase which was described in exercise 5 and the other would input the information into the Trimble. We took turns collecting the data and inputting the data. We weren't able to collect wind direction however because we didn't have a compass to collect it.

The data we collected included wind speed, surface temperature, temperature at two meters high, dew point, humidity and ground cover.

One we had collected as many points as we had time for we came back to the classroom and combined everyone's feature class into a single geodatabase. One we got it into one feature clad with everyone's points included we were then able to map the data in coherent ways.

Discussion

The data provided us with many different possibilities for map making. Below are some of the different maps I was able to create with the data we collected. I was able to create just straight data plots of the different fields as well as interpolation of the data across the study area.

Some problems I ran into while collecting points, besides not being able to collect wind speed, included sometimes not being able to collect points due to buildings being in the way or otherwise inaccessible locations.

Map of the dew point across campus (fig. 2)

Map of prevent humidity across campus (fig. 3)

Map of the surface temperature across campus (fig. 4)

Map of the wind speed across campus (fig. 5)

Conclusion

The exercise was a great way learn how to collect field data and how to use Kestral devices. We also were able to create some informational maps that showed interesting trends in the microclimate of UWEC. Collecting data in the field is a long and detailed process and practicing this skill can help get more efficient in using GPS devices and data collection devices such as the Kestral.