Final Post

Over the past few weeks, I have finalized my map and created my final poster. Though they will need some adjustments once more sustainability projects take place on campus, I am happy with the results and think they are at least a big step towards a Sustainability Map for Siena!

Blog Post 6

This week, I received information regarding recycling on campus, so I was able to add buildings that collect single stream recycling to my map. I think it came together pretty nicely, and am quite happy with the result even though it is not what I had originally pictured. I still have some minor edits, and hope to add labels to specify different buildings and maybe change the colors. I am also unsure if I will be able to produce both a hard copy and online version of the map over the next couple of weeks. Even if I cannot, I am sure there will need to be edits and new additions in the near future to incorporate more sustainability projects and adjust to changes made by facilities. I hope that someone continues the map after I leave so there can be recent copies as new sustainability projects happen on campus.

Some struggles I have realized over the past couple of weeks include the large amount of time and attention to detail that is required to make a map, especially when digitizing a bunch of buildings. I definitely have a new respect for people who do this on a regular basis. I have also had trouble deciding on the aesthetic features for this project because I am a very indecisive person and cannot tell what looks best.

As I finish up over the next week, I am still gladly taking suggestions for any improvements my fellow classmates may have! I am looking forward to having a final product and working on the poster.

Blog Post 5

After completing the chapter 7 tutorial, talking with Dr. M, and completing the "Works in Progress" presentations, I was finally able to start mapping! It still needs some work, but I can really start to see it coming together nicely.

I have digitized the gardens (rain and organic) and all buildings on campus, and made separate layers for the buildings that contain fill stations or compost. I was also able to find all fill stations on campus thanks to the facilities department, who gave me a list of all buildings that had them. I think the next biggest step is deciding on a basemap for the project, and then adding labels and explanations and perhaps a legend (depending on the version of map-interactive could use labels but a PDF will need a legend). 

I would greatly appreciate any feedback on my map so far, especially regarding the basemaps and what you think looks the most organized/appealing. Thanks in advance for your help (:

A)  

B) 

C)

Blog Post 4

In all honestly, I have been struggling with getting this map put together. I have many elaborate ideas that I can picture in my head, but cannot seem to get them in motion when I spend time working on the computer trying to put everything together. I am picturing a map similar to the current campus map (posted on blog 3),  But cannot find one that has enough detail so it could be used by not only current students, but also prospective students and visitors. I also do not want the map too cluttered so I am hesitant to simply use the World Imagery Basemap. I am planning on going to Dr. Meierdierck's office hours on Thursday to see if she can suggest a method that will allow me to use a 'simple' map of campus, then add points and polygons to show the sustainable features of campus.

I have collected more precise information about where some of the notable features of campus are as well. I found that there is at least one water bottle fill station in each dorm building, with multiple in the newer residence halls such as Snyder. I am thinking of plotting only the most central fill stations (and those that are also accessible to visitors to campus) in each building rather than every single fill station, as the data could get a bit crowded if I included them all. Additionally, I think it would be better to mark buildings with easily accessible fill stations rather than all fill stations so the map document does not need to be updated every time a new one is added.

Once I meet with Dr. M and am able to get through the chapter 7 tutorial, I should finally be able to create a draft map with points and polygons to show sustainability features.

Post 3

Unfortunately, I did not make much progress with my project over the past week. I was unable to find time to visit campus during spring break to locate the notable features I would like to include on my map, so I intend to gather these data points over the upcoming weeks.

However, I have been thinking quite a bit about what I would like my final map to look like, and am considering using simpler base map to add the sustainability points to. I think this would be a good improvement to the project as much of the landscape on the previous base map adds distractions and may become too congested when features, such as water bottle fill stations, are added. I found a PDF of Siena's Campus to use as a reference for this post, but am intending to adapt/find/create a similar base map for my project. I believe this will be an improvement, especially for the interactive online map, as it will be more modern and accessible to a wider audience.

Potential difficulties for this week include (once again) finding a way to make sure specific data points are accurate enough to be useful on the map as well as finalizing a new base map for the project.

Post 2

This week, I have been finalizing my proposal as well as working through some of the logistics of creating this sustainability map for campus. I decided I will utilize ArcGIS Online so the final product may include an interactive online version as well as a PDF. Additionally, I have identified the notable sites on campus including buildings such as Rosetti Hall and the Trustco Bank Center (both LEED-Certified buildings on campus), the two campus Rain Gardens, water bottle fill stations, areas that collect recycling, areas that utilize food waste, and the vegetable/herb garden. Some concerns I have include making sure specific features, such as the water bottle fill stations, are placed with very little error on the map.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be using GPS to collect the coordinates for these various places and resources on campus. I will then be adding these locations to the 'imagery' basemap from ArcGIS Online.

Project Proposal

Project Proposal
Ashley Aupperle
February 6, 2019

Introduction:
Though the Siena College Sustainability Steering Committee continues to make great progress in bringing new sustainability initiatives to campus, it is becoming evident that many individuals have little to no knowledge about the committee or their goals. To better publicize these exciting aspects of campus, a map outlining the different sustainable aspects of Siena College would provide prospective students, current students, faculty, staff, and community members of the greater Loudonville/Albany area of what our campus does in terms of sustainability. This map could be utilized not only as an informative tool to outline sustainability on campus, but could be potentially used by the Siena College Office of Admissions to increase potential student interest. Additionally, this map will be a great tool for the Sustainability Steering Committee and their associates to not only share their progress, but also utilize it as a tool to look for additional campus improvement opportunities.

Objectives: This project will act as a useful tool not only for the Siena College Sustainability Steering Committee, but also for the greater Siena Community.

In particular, this map is intended to:

• Outline the sustainable aspects of the Siena College campus, including LEED-Certified Buildings, Rain Gardens, Water Bottle Fill Stations, Recycling Areas, Compost Collection Areas, Vegetable/Herb Garden, ect. 
• Publicize sustainability on campus for current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and other community members
• Guide the Siena College Sustainability Steering Committee in future sustainability projects

Methodology: In order to make a map outlining the sustainable aspects of the Siena College campus, a detailed list of the notable features and their location will need to be obtained. Then, these features must be added to a base map of the Siena College campus using GPS as well as GIS Software on ArcGIS Online. Finally, the map must be approved by the Sustainability Steering Committee for distribution on campus.

Data Sources:

NYS County Maps - 1:250,000 [downloaded file]. GIS.NY.GOV. URL:http://gis.ny.gov/gisdata/inventories/details.cfm?DSID=919 [February, 2019]


Work Plan:
2/13-Finalize Proposal. Obtain base map of Siena College and list all aspects that should be included.
2/20-Find coordinates of all features to be noted
3/6-Begin mapping features
3/13-Review blog comments, continue adding features
3/20-Look into map layers to for future sustainability projects (tree coverage/feasibility of solar panels, ect).
3/27-Review blog comments, add map layers
4/3-Work on final poster
4/10-Work on final poster
4/17-Review and finalize project, submit map to Sustainability Steering Committee for approval
4/24-Submit final project poster

Deliverables:
At the end of the project, an easy to use map will be available for use by the Sustainability Steering Committee, Siena College Office of Admissions, and other Siena community members. This map will be made available as a project poster and an online PDF to be posted to the Sustainability Steering Committee Website and/or printed for further distribution.