GIS I Lab 2: Downloading GIS Data

Introduction: The purpose of Lab 2 is learn how to access and use data from online sources, particularly U.S. Census Data. Data is then used to create two aesthetically pleasing maps displaying various demographic data for Wisconsin, and create a web map accessible to members of the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Geography and Anthropology Department.

Methods:

• Obtain Census Data - http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t
• I narrowed the search query to the topic People>Basic Count/Estimate>Population total, and the geography of Counties>Wisconsin.
• Two data sets were downloaded: P1 Total Population 2010 SF1 100% Data and P13 Median Age By Sex 2010 SF1 100% Data.
• Also downloaded, was a shapefile of the state of Wisconsin with the county boarders drawn in. This was found by selecting geographies, specifying County - 050>Wisconsin>All counties in Wisconsin, and clicking on the Map tab.
• To access the files, I unzipped them to the proper file location. 
• Format Data - Once the data was accessible, I formatted it so that it was compatible with ArcMap.
• The data sets came with excel files with the meta data and the tabular data. All the tables were fairly simple and compatible with ArcMap so I did not alter them at all. However, if I did this lab again, I would change some of the column names in the tabular sets so that the information it held was more obvious by the title. 
• The data sets were stored as comma separated files, so I saved them as Excel Workbooks.
• The reformatted data sets and the Wisconsin Counties shapefile were added to a blank ArcMap.
• Join Tables - The two data sets lack actual geography and spatial representation of Wisconsin Counties, and should be joined with the Wisconsin counties shapefile.
• Each data set was joined in separate data frames using the GEO#id.
• The tables have been joined, but the information from the data sets had been imported as string field types. I added a new field, type Double, and used the field calculator to move the data over.
• Map the Data
• Two data frames were used to generate two maps on one layout, each displaying one of the data sets.
• The first map displays the population of each county (quantities, graduated colors, Jenks Natural Breaks).
• The second map shows the median age of each county (quantities, graduated colors, Jenks Natural Breaks).
• To view the maps created, check out Figure 1!
• Creating a Web Map
• I copied the maps I had just made into a new file and deleted the Total Population Data Frame so that I could create a web map with just the Median Age information.
• After logging onto ArcGIS Online inside of Arc Map, I published my map as a feature service to the UWEC Geography and Anthropology page on Esri Enterprise.
• The service is titled Wisconsin_Demographic_Information_Kubishak
• To enable popups on my map, I set the capabilities to Feature Access instead of Tiled Mapping.
• Then I published the service.
• Once the feature service was in the cloud, I could create a web map.
• The popup windows were configured to only display the county name and median age.
• This was then saved as a web map and shared with the UWEC Geography and Anthropology Department.
• If you are part of the UWEC Geography and Anthropology Department, click here to view my web map!

Results: Personally, I found the results of the maps generated in Lab 1 quite interesting.

• Total Population Map - As expected, Milwaukee County has the highest population in the state, as it is also the largest metropolitan area. Close behind are Waukesha and Dane counties, an extension of the Milwaukee metropolitan area, and the state's capitol, respectively. Overall, counties with larger populations tend to be in the the south-east corner of the state. Counties highlighted in other parts of the state correspond with larger cities; Brown county and Green Bay, Marathon county and Wausau, Portage county and Stevens Point, Wood county and Wisconsin Rapids, La Crosse county and La Crosse, St. Croix county and Hudson, Eau Claire County and Eau Claire, and finally Chippewa County and Chippewa Falls. Based on this trend I was surprised however, that Douglas county did not light up because of Superior.

• Median Age Map - I found the results of this map very interesting. Overall the range of median age is 31-51 years old, with the majority of counties in the oldest median age bracket (48-51) located more north. Many of the counties highlighted in the first map with greater total populations had the youngest median ages (31-35), notably Milwaukee, Dane, La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Saint Croix counties. Dunn county and Menominee county also fall in the lowest median age bracket. UW Stout is located in Dunn county and may play a role in bringing the median age down. Menominee county has a rather large Native American reservation and could be populated by more families, lowering the median age. However, more research should be done investigating the role colleges and reservations play on median age. All of the counties in the oldest median age bracket are in the the lowest population total bracket. As a native Wisconsinite who has traveled Wisconsin extensively, my experiences have stereotyped many of these counties as "up north" vacation destinations and retirement communities, notably Buffalo, Pepin, Bayfield, and Door Counties, so their bracketing made sense to me. I do not have hold that stereotype for Juneau and Adams counties in the central sands area however, so they surprised me by being in the oldest age bracket. 

Figure 1

Sources: U.S. Census 2010