Assignment 9- Arc Collector Part One: Microclimates

Introduction

This assignment focuses around using Arc Collector.  Arc Collector is a program that can be used on smart phones and tablets.  It is used to collect and update data in the field and log location.  It is a progressive way to use everyday technology in the field to collect data.  The class got familiar with the app whether it was on a phone or tablet.  After this, Dr. Hupy explained the attributes each group needed to collect.  These were temperature, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, and group number.  Each group collected around 10 or more points and then returned to class.  From there, each student created maps depicting the data the class collected as a whole.  The purpose of using Arc Collector this week was to prepare the class for the next assignment.  The next assignment will also be using Arc Collector, however, each student will develop a research question and collect their own data.  

Study Area

Campus was divided into five sections for this assignment.  Figure 1 below shows the five different zones.  Two or three groups were put into each zone to collect data.  The data was taken between 3-5 p.m. on November 9, 2016 which was sunny and mid 50's for the temperature.  Our group (Sarah and I) was located in zone 2.  Figure 2 also display the study area and also shows the different data points collected within the zones by each group.  As it can be seen in Figure 2, there were no data points taken in zone 4.  There is also no group 5, which were most likely the ones assigned to zone 4.   These were simple mistakes, which did not alter the data very much.

Figure 1: Study area with the five separate zones.

Figure 2: Data points that were collected and sorted out by group number.

Methods

The group set off to zone 2 to collect data points just after Dr. Hupy explained how to use Arc Collector.  He helped us all to set up our own maps and then explained how to collect a point.  In order to collect a point, you had to click the plus button lower down on the screen of the phone or tablet you're collecting data on.  From there, the attributes will come up and the data can be entered.  Once this is finished, all that had to be done was to click the check button to add the point to the map. The group collected points in many different areas to get varying results.  These points were taken in the sun, shade, between buildings, under vents, and by water.  Arc Collector was relatively easy to use and updated in real time.  This allowed each group to see where others were collecting points.  The wind data was collected using a compass and a simple air data meter.  These two tools helped to find the wind data that was then entered into Arc Collector.

Each group collected their points and then headed back to the lab.  From there, Dr. Hupy instructed the class on how to download the data from ArcGIS online.  It was all quite simple and easy to understand.  Figure 2 below shows that different attributes that groups gathered.  The attributes highlighted in blue were from our group.

Figure 3: Attributes collected from the different groups.

Results

The data for this assignment was interesting to work with.  Below, two maps are depicting temperature and wind direction within the study area.  Figure 4 displays temperature on campus.  The temperature was created using the IDW interpolation tool in ArcMap.  Other interpolation methods were tried out, however IDW looked the most accurate.  The cooler areas on campus mostly lie within heavily wooded areas or by water of some sort.  The hotter areas are located around large buildings on campus which pump out hot air.  If more points were taken, this map could show even more accurate temperature patterns within the UWEC campus.  There were no points for zone 4, so even though it is a small area, the temperatures here are only estimations.

Figure 4: Temperature patterns on the UWEC campus.

Figure 5 displays the wind direction on campus.  This was done through measuring wind direction in the field using degrees.  The arrows are pointed in the direction that the wind was coming from.  Zone 4, once again, did not have any data collected for it so there is no information in the area.  In the other zones, the arrows create small patterns that can be seen.  It looks like in zone 3 the wind was blowing mostly East.  Above in zone 2 it looks to be blowing more Northeast.  It then shifts North in zone 1 after coming over the Chippewa river.  It's easier to find patterns in the study area as a whole rather than just focusing on one zone.

Conclusion

This lab demonstrated the basics of how to use Arc Collector.  This was then used in the field to collect data on the wind and temperature.  Collector produced satisfying results and achieved the main purpose of the lab, which was to collect data using the technology available to most people today; our cell phones and tablets.  This was good practice for the next assignment which is very similar to this one.