GIS Programming - Module 12 - Final Project

For my final project, I wrote a Python script that crops point shapefiles (quadrangles) of stream sediment geochemistry data to a study area, and isolates those points with a gold concentration of more than 0.02 ppm.

Result of Python Script, displayed in ArcMap

Partial results message from Python script run, showing data points with
high gold concentration (more than 0.02 ppm)

GIS Programming - Module 11 - Sharing Tools

 

The final module of GIS Programming involves making custom tools that we've created from scripts, ideally that are easy to use by other ArcGIS users.

The figure below is a view from the ArcMap display.  (Click on the figure to make it larger.)

Tool Dialog and ArcMap Results for the Random Buffer Tool

When the small scroll-shaped icon, in ArcCatalog, for Random Buffer Tool is double-clicked, it brings up the dialog box for the tool and parameters can be filled in.

As shown on the left of the figure, the result of running this tool is that the specified number of points are generated within the confines of the clip feature (in the case, the lavender polygon for the state of Nuevo Leon), and then buffer zones of the specified size are created around the points.

It is not too difficult to create a tool like this from a script and share it with other users.
A few lines with such code as GetParameter or sys.argv[] have been inserted into the script, which bring the specified parameters from the tool dialog in ArcMap into the script.  A toolbox is created and the script is converted to a script tool.

The parameters can be described and other information can be added to the tool, such as Help and sample scripts, by  right-clicking the  item in ArcCatalog then going to Description.

This is the last module in GIS Programming.  What did I like most about this class?

I thought the final project was a great idea.  I really learned a lot from having to be able to put things together on my own.  The weekly exercises were good for showing us how different processes work and giving us examples.  It was the project, though, where I really learned to put it all together, to create something completely new.  I feel like this will enable me to move forward and write more scripts for future work projects of my own. 

Besides the project, my favorite module was probably Exploring and Manipulating Spatial Data.  It was pretty challenging to understand some of the concepts, but it was very useful.  I was happy to have more time to work on it, and take my time absorbing the material.  

I also liked the two modules on Geoprocessing in ArcGIS and with Python.  They were very useful.

This is also the last module of my last GIS course at UWF!  It has been a ton of work, but I've really learned a lot and enjoyed it.  Hooray!  Thanks a million to all the teachers, TA's and my fellow students!