Lab 3

Goal and Background: The goal of this lab was to learn how to create a map with shapefiles that we collected ourselves with GPS units. We chose to map the campus mall here at UWEC. The objectives of this lab included learn how to map point features, line features, and polygon features using a GPS unit.

Methods: First we mapped the polygon features by walking around the grass features of the campus mall with our GPS unit actively collecting data along the way. Next we mapped a line feature, the footbridge, much in the same way as the polygon. Finally the point features such as the light posts and trees we mapped by collecting points with the GPS while standing next to the objects. These skills I learned in this lab helped me reach the goal and become familiar with using the GPS unit. 

The next step was putting this data I collected into ArcGIS and mapping it on the computer. I plugged in the GPS unit and transferred the data from a file on the unit into a folder on the computer. Then I transported the data into ArcGIS and put it on top of a satellite photo of the area including campus buildings surrounding it.

Results: The map that I produced with this lab is shown to the left. The satellite image does not match with the GPS data because there has been construction in this area, making it much different today, and the satellite has not updated since then. The point and line features collected seem to be very accurate, however the polygon features have very noticeable glitches where there appear to be extra bits of grass where there shouldn't be and the biggest polygon does not match up from the beginning to the end. These skills I learned in the lab are valuable and useful but mapping polygons such as these would be better produced and more accurate using digitizing techniques.