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GIS and Creative Technologies
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Prime Location for a Recreational Park - Stafford County, Virginia

We were tasked with determining the prime location for a new recreational facility within a county. In order to choose our county we researched several websites and downloaded various data sets to determine what would be the optimal choice.

We chose to focus on land cover (NLCD), proximity to streams, elevation (NED), roadways, population density, and soil. Land cover was chosen as the most important factor for determining an optimal site. Followed by streams and elevation ranked second, and then roads and population density, then prime farmland and bodies of water.

Group Members: Christian Schroeder, Eric Rosenthal, and Jordan Weitzel
Class: Modeling with GIS (GEOG 4084)
Professor: Santosh Rijal

References:
DADS American Factfinder. https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml
Stafford County GIS Office. http://data-staffordva-gis.opendata.arcgis.com/
Web Soil Survey. https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm

With a weighted score of 48.146, block group 511790102011 was our best location. Likely attributed to the diverse land cover, with over 30% forest. A downside to this is the low road density, which will cause issues with accessibility.

With a weighted score of 48.146, block group 511790102011 was our best location. Likely attributed to the diverse land cover, with over 30% forest. A downside to this is the low road density, which will cause issues with accessibility.

For a park with hiking trails we wanted to focus on areas that had a good amount of tree growth. NLCD data was used to determine which block groups had more land cover from forests.

For a park with hiking trails we wanted to focus on areas that had a good amount of tree growth. NLCD data was used to determine which block groups had more land cover from forests.

We looked for areas with access to water for recreational use and for the scenic value. Our area did not have many lakes within it, so for this park we focused on the streams in our area and weighed them more heavily in our final table.

We looked for areas with access to water for recreational use and for the scenic value. Our area did not have many lakes within it, so for this park we focused on the streams in our area and weighed them more heavily in our final table.

To determine which block groups had the best terrain for hiking, we calculated the average slope per area. Using a DEM of the area, we ran Zonal Statistics to calculate the average slope in each block group.

To determine which block groups had the best terrain for hiking, we calculated the average slope per area. Using a DEM of the area, we ran Zonal Statistics to calculate the average slope in each block group.

We needed to make sure we chose an area with little roads in the way. But, it was also important that there was decent accessibility for visitors. We later had to sacrifice accessibility when picking our top locations.

We needed to make sure we chose an area with little roads in the way. But, it was also important that there was decent accessibility for visitors. We later had to sacrifice accessibility when picking our top locations.

For population density we wanted to choose an area with the lowest density so the least amount of people would be displaced. However, we did consider the distance from highly populated areas for easy access from neighborhoods.

For population density we wanted to choose an area with the lowest density so the least amount of people would be displaced. However, we did consider the distance from highly populated areas for easy access from neighborhoods.

We looked at soil data to see which areas could have hiking trails. We did not want an area with over 80% prime farmland, instead focusing on areas with soil suited for tree growth and recreation.

We looked at soil data to see which areas could have hiking trails. We did not want an area with over 80% prime farmland, instead focusing on areas with soil suited for tree growth and recreation.

We wanted to choose a block group that contained a stream or pond within it because it adds scenic value to the area. This is important because the water creates a tranquil environment that makes visitors want to return to the park.

We wanted to choose a block group that contained a stream or pond within it because it adds scenic value to the area. This is important because the water creates a tranquil environment that makes visitors want to return to the park.

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