Brooke's GIS Blog

  The objectives for this lab were to create and modify scripts, create a script tool using ModelBuilder, use Python 3 to perform multiple geoprocessing tasks and share toolboxes. I really enjoyed this lab, I felt like it really brought the work from the previous lab together. I'm excited to apply the skills I have learned using Python/Model Builder to my future lab assignments!

  The objectives for this week's lab were focused on debugging code. The primary outcomes were: Demonstrate the ability to fix syntax errors and exceptions, implement debugging procedures, modify scripts to run with exceptions, interpret script error messages, identify correct usage of try-except statements and design a logical model of a script using a flowchart. I struggled through this lab, but eventually all my scripts ran successfully. The first two scripts involved removing syntax errors and exceptions, while the third script required running the script with an error through the use of try-except statements. Overall, I am pleased with my performance in this lab and impressed with how much I have learned.

The objectives for this module's lab were to run a script using Spyder, work with string variables in Python, use and import modules, save Python code as a script, include comments in scripts, create loops and conditional statements and reiterate variables placed in the appropriate folder. I thought this lab was fun but very challenging because it is something totally novel to me. I had trouble creating while loops, and had to step away from the assignment for a couple days, but the satisfaction when I returned, made some tweaks and the script ran successfully was unmatched. I learned that I need to slow down, and pay particular attention to parenthesis and quotation marks. All in all, I'm very happy with how this lab turned out and thrilled to be learning something completely new!

The objective for this week's lab were to create a Google Earth tour of South Florida by converting ArcGIS layers into KML files and sharing the KMZ map and tour. After converting the shapefiles to KML, I created a legend by adding an image and created subsequent placemarkers of major south Florida Cities, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg and Tampa. I created a tour focused on the dot density overview and downtown 3D structures in the major cities. Overall, this was good practice for using ArcGIS in conjunction with Google Earth, because Google Earth is able to offer solid satellite imagery that can be a compliment to ArcGIS data.