Fall 2022 Projects
Suitability Analysis
This project was to find suitable areas for asset purchases within Larimer County based on wildfire and flood risk as well as distance from roads. The analysis was done with the ARCGIS suitability modeler.
Examining Terrain by Height vs Elevation
An ArcGIS Pro Visualization Experiment
“How big is that mountain?” Although it may be a loaded question, most likely being asked by a child under the age of 7, is it a question that GIS could help answer, or at least display? How do we define “How Big?” How big compared to what? In terms of scale? mass? elevation? For this project, I’ve decided to focus on the height (as opposed to elevation) of the terrain, and intend to display 10 different geographic features in relation to each other, at a standardized scale.
Author
My name is GIS Student, and cartography is my primary passion. I previously worked for Jefferson County Open Space for four years, specializing in the maintenance, design, and construction of mountain park trails, as well as erosion and flood control. I have also been doing recreational cartography for the past 9 years, creating fantasy maps for writers and DND, and also just for fun. I'm currently enrolled in FRCC’s GIS Program, of which I am in my second semester. I’m pretty new to the GIS world overall, and still (excitedly) learning about what type of career opportunities are out there.
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Louisiana Coastal Island Restoration
Barrier Islands are the first line of defense against storms for the mainland, and the resilience of these islands is essential for protection of the ecosystems and communities along the coast. These islands also provide feeding and breeding habitats for shorebirds, seabirds, and other sea animals and vegetation. Barrier islands are dynamic by nature, changing, sometimes disappearing, but returning with the course of nature. However, they have been rapidly disappearing and not recovering due to a combination of storms, erosion, sea level rise, construction, and oil spills. ...
Author
I am currently in my second year in the GIS certificate program at FRCC. I have a master’s degree in an unrelated field, but I have been a full-time mother for the last 5 years. As my kids are getting older, I am excited about getting back into work and wanted to explore a new field. I am looking forward to learning more about GIS and all the opportunities it offers.
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Finding a new ballot box for the 2024 election
The project is an attempt at mapping out the election ballot boxes in Larimer County for the 2000 and 2022 elections. There are a lot of talks nowadays about the quality of elections and how accessible it is for people to go out and vote. The problem to solve involved deciding where a new ballot box should be located in Larimer County. To determine this, census data was gathered to compare growth over a set period. This data included the total population as well as racial data. Research of past ballot box placement in other states was also done to determine the best new ballot box placement...
Author
I am a sophomore in the Geospatial Information Sciences program at Front Range Community College. I am working on my Bachelor of Sciences in GIS. This is my second semester in the program.
I enjoy working with computers, data, and maps. I would like to work in the GIS field on projects which will let me work outdoors, possibly with a government employer. This could be working for a city, county, or state. Ideally, any outdoor locations in the world interest me as I like to travel. I chose his project because elections interest me.
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Groundwater Vulnerability in an Emerging Neighborhood
This project predicts the safety and quality of groundwater in selected neighborhoods around Lowry Landfill in Aurora, Colorado, a Superfund site since 1984. A plume of liquid waste has, in recent years, been slowly spreading underground northwest from the landfill, posing a risk to both waterways and groundwater. The latter is of particular concern since Lowry Landfill sits atop the Denver Aquifer, which provides the metro area with the bulk of its fresh water. ...
Author
I have lived in Aurora since childhood, and over the years I have watched it grow explosively. It will be a challenge to find sufficient drinkable water and pleasant living experiences for thousands of new residents.
Lowry Landfill happens to be about two miles away from my house. Its pollution continues to threaten our water despite the positive steps the city of Aurora, Arapahoe County, and various companies have taken over decades. Their efforts threaten to be undone if upcoming construction proceeds too carelessly. I hope my GIS studies can provide a pathway for careful, environmentally informed construction.
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Mapping Wild Oysters in Fort Pulaski National Monument, GA
Living Shorelines Provide a Nature-Based Approach to Coastal Protection. Unsustainable harvesting habits and a steady decline in water quality have led to population decline locally and globally. NOAA has identified oyster reef restoration as a conservation.
Mapping wild oyster reefs presents formidable challenges. Using traditional on-site techniques are laborious due to the rugged terrain of oyster habitat. The following research outlines remote sensing techniques used to monitor oyster populations. ...
Author
Graduating CSU with a BS in Geology helped pave my career in the U.S.F.S and Colorado Parks and Wildlife as a GIS Analyst. I currently work at FRCC's Geospatial Experience (GeoEx) Center.
I’m enrolled in the GIS certificate program and have taken additional complimentary GIS classes. I have one class left to graduate and recently completed an internship as a research assistant for the National Park Service.
In the future I hope to track my career towards examining how GIS can meet the growing demands of the Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Governance (ESG) field.
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How long would it take for the ashfall from a Yellowstone eruption to reach a capital city near you?
Yellowstone volcano has had three major caldera forming eruption in the last 2.1 million years. Based on ashfall and isotopic dating methods, scientists were able to date the last caldera forming eruption at Yellowstone to about 631,000 years ago. Other isotopic analysis on different layers of ash found across the continental United States show that caldera forming eruptions occur at Yellowstone volcano every 600,000 to 800,000 years. ...
Author
I am a GIS student at Front Range Community College on the Certificate track. I have seven more credits before I receive the Certificate in GIS, however I have completed the necessary credits for the Foundations Certificate. I received my Bachelor of Science in Geology and have used GIS in basic mapping projects during my undergrad. Currently, I work for a company as a geospatial analyst digitizing satellite images. After completing my certificate program, I hope to work with NASA scientists to map other planetary bodies using the GIS skills I acquired while in this program.
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Proposal for FEMA Post Locations
Working for FEMA, we would like to find the neighborhoods that are at high risk for flooding throughout Melbourne, Florida, and neighboring areas to create permanent post stations for crew to be readily available during hurricane season.
Hurricane season poses a threat to most Floridians. As an Emergency Response company, we want to know what areas are at risk for floods to ensure teams will be available in case of an emergency. The FEMA Posts must fall within 5 km of a neighborhood, and close to a flood zone, to qualify for a new post creation. Once the post is created, their will be 50 employees permanently stationed at the location. ...
Author
I am a GIS student at Front Range Community College. I am currently pursuing my BAS in GIS and am almost done with the GIS certification. I was fortunate enough to land a career in the geospatial industry, so I have about 8 years of ‘in the field’ GIS experience, mostly with satellite imagery. My goals for when I complete the GIS program is to be better informed when it comes to technical decisions while selling and promoting satellite imagery.
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