Class projects are required for many of Mesa's GIS courses. These projects give students hands-on experience using ArcGIS software and tools as well as providing an opportunity for students to explore their creative side.
Neighborhood History Cast in Concrete - Beth McCrindle, 2008
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Look out urban hikers - this original project combines a little piece of North Park history with GIS technology - to create a map of significant sidewalks for your viewing pleasure. Contractor names and dates stamped into sidewalk corners were collected using a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit, along with other attributes and photos. Project research showed the earliest contractor date in 1915 and the latest date in 1972 (possibly when the City of San Diego took over responsibility for sidewalk maintenance).
An Assessment of Wildfire Risk in San Diego County - Karen Santo-Pietro, 2008
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The objective of this study was to show areas of San Diego County with the greatest risk for wildfire to better assist local governments in their fire prevention efforts, as well as to potentially minimize the impacts of future wildfires. A fire hazard severity zone layer was obtained from the Department of Forestry and Fire Projection website, which provided moderate, high and very high fire hazard zones. Low risk areas were calculated and a map showing low to very high wildfire risk was created, along with a graph showing area broken out by risk designations in square miles.
Seattle to San Diego in a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle - Andrea Duvall, 2008
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In fall 2003, a student drove her 1969 Chevy Chevelle along the I-5 from Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California, only stopping for gasoline and the occasional cat nap in a truck stop. Amazingly, five years later, she still had her gas receipts, as if somehow she knew she would be mapping this journey using GIS. To start the project, an Excel table was created consisting of city (or stop location), time and reason for stopping. The stops were then geocoded and mapped. Anaysis showed the total length of the trip to be 1,275.8 miles. A total of 85 gallons of unleaded gasoline were burned and at 12 miles per gallon and $1.50 a gallon (2003), $170.10 was spent on the trip. All things being the same, an identical trip taken today would cost $425.26.
California Shipwrecks - Misty Bravence, 2007
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The objective of this study was to create a visual database of California shipwrecks for explorers interested in shipwreck salvaging and underwater archeology. Shipwreck data was compiled from numerous Internet sites and combined with coordinates from the California.gov shipwreck database. Extensive research was conducted to determine the correct projection for all of the shipwreck locations. Symbology was created based on the type of shipwreck - a schooner or tanker. This project is unique in that no similar study has been found on the Internet that maps the location of California shipwrecks (2007).
Minnesota Wolf Packs and Human Interaction - Ellery Armstrong, 2007
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This project addressed how human activity has affected the territory and travel patterns of a wolf pack in Minnesota's Superior National Forest. The wolf tracking layer was obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey and International Wolf Center and created using radio telemetry methods to provide locations of one or several wolves over time. The analysis determined that human intrusion into the mapped area has not caused the wolf pack to leave their natural habitat or adjust travel patterns.
Production/Potential for U.S. Wind Energy - Rebecca Kress, 2007
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These maps show the production of and potential to generate wind energy in the United States by state. The objective of the study was to give industries insight as to where wind energy has the potential to be produced and also places where new markets can be created. The data was created in 2005 from several sources including Energy Information Administration, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The analysis found that Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Utah have great potential for using wind energy but have not yet harnessed it (2005). Texas and California lead the way for wind production. Wind energy appears to be widely available to most of the continental U.S. as an untapped green energy. This project also included the following maps: Production of and Potential for Solar Energy, and Top Government Agencies using Green Power.
10 Most Destructive Hurricanes affecting the U.S. - Robert Hansen, 2007
PDF of Project
The objective of this study was to identify the ten most destructive storm events based on information in the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Hurricane Center archives. It was intended to support the need for continued diligence in all phases of disaster preparedness. Results showed that 40% of all U.S. hurricanes hit Florida and 85% of category 4 or higher U.S. hurricanes have either hit Florida or Texas. Other conclusions showed that from 1851-2006 the average number of major hurricanes was 1.8 per year. By comparison, over the last 10 years, the average number of major hurricanes is 3.6 per year.
