…for more information on MapCalc, see www.redhensystems.com/
…Map
Analysis applications are continually updated and available at www.innovativegis.com/basis
…the
MapCalc Legacy—a historical look at the
software system’s roots
<click
here> for a printer friendly
version (.pdf)
MapCalc online software review
Learner and
Academic versions for students (US$21.95) and instructors (US$495.00)
Example Instructor
Materials over 500MB of teaching
materials
Example
Course intermediate course in
Short Video Demos viewable online or download
MapCalc Tutorials seven tutorial exercise for MapCalc Users
MapCalc Map Analysis Software
General description of the MapCalc Software System
for
grid-based map analysis
Student/Instructor versions of MapCalc Educational software
Examples of MapCalc Interface and Display
Listing of MapCalc Analytical Operations
Cross-Reference
of analysis operations to other grid-based packages
The following links describe some basic considerations in grid-based map processing and display…
Display
Type (Lattice or Grid and 2D or 3D)
Data
Type (Discrete or Continuous)
Color
Interval/Pallet (Shading Manager)
3D Display
Options (Plot Cube)
Data
Inspection and Charting (Map Properties)
…Note: the above processing and
display examples use MapCalc Island.rgs database
Application
Examples— the following links show how grid-based map analysis can be
used in various applications…
Note: All of the following applications can be
executed in MapCalc Learner (see above) for hands-on
experience in developing and implementing map analysis models. The MapCalc Learner databases are identified
with each application and the text describes the processing. The model logic and processing flow, however,
are supported by most grid-based analysis software ...command names, options available
and syntax might vary.
Identifying Campground Suitability: A recreation
specialist needs to generate a map that identifies the relative suitability for
locating a campground. In
an initial planning session it was determined that the best locations for the
campground is on gently sloping terrain, near existing roads, near flowing
water, with good views of surface water and oriented toward the west. (Matches Tutorial Lesson 7; uses MapCalc Learner
Tutor25 dbase)
Determining
Proximity: A wildfire
response team needs to determine the relative proximity of all off-road areas
to existing roads for estimating response time should a fire occur. (uses MapCalc Learner Tutor25
dbase)
Creating an Uphill Road Buffer and Characterizing Slope Within It: A highway engineer needs
to create a map that shows the relative steepness (slope) of the uphill terrain
from a road network. This
information will be useful in identifying locations susceptible to earth
slides. (uses
Travel-Time
and Customer Access: A
market analyst needs to construct an “underlay” for a client’s MapInfo database
that shows the travel-time from
Store
Competition Analysis: A
local storeowner needs to identify the spatial impact of a new store that is
under construction on the other side of town. (uses MapCalc Learner Smallville
dbase)
Transferring Data to MapInfo Tables: A market analyst needs to transfer
information on travel-time from a client’s store that was derived in MapCalc to
a MapInfo table identifying the residences of customers. This information will be invaluable in
geo-query and statistical summary of customer characteristics within specified
zones of proximity. (uses MapCalc Learner Smallville dbase)
Determining
Visual Exposure: A land
planner needs to determine areas are that are highly visible from the road
network for consideration in a new development plan for the county. (uses MapCalc Learner Tutor25
dbase)
Modeling Visual Exposure from Roads and Houses: A natural resource
manager needs a map that identifies the relative visual exposure of forested
lands in the county. This
information is important in deciding where visually sensitive activities should
and shouldn’t be located. (uses MapCalc Learner Tutor25
dbase)
Mapping
Wildfire Response: The
on- and off-road response-time throughout a project area is need for countywide
emergency planning and fire risk modeling.
The initial response model considers on-road and off-road travel
depending on terrain and land cover conditions. (uses MapCalc Learner Tutor25 dbase)
Mapping Wildfire Risk: A fire risk map for the project area is
needed for countywide emergency planning. To meet this need an initial Wildfire Risk
Model was developed that considers 1) Fuel Loading based on terrain and cover
type conditions, 2) Fire Detection based on visibility to housing and roads and
3) Fire Response-time based on relative and absolute barriers to emergency
vehicle movement. (uses
MapCalc Learner Tutor25 dbase)
Mapping
Surface Flows and Pooling: A
farmer needs to identify areas in his field that are likely to accumulate
materials, such as fine soil particles, organic matter and applied chemicals
through surface water flows. The
movement of materials to areas of “pooling” can affect crop production. (uses MapCalc Learner AgData dbase)
Visualizing
Mapped Data: A crop
consultant needs to generate maps of crop yield that are more effective in
conveying yield patterns throughout a field.
Most mapping programs simply display 2-D contour maps that are
automatically themed into a few discrete color zones. The method used in contouring the continuous
yield data collected in the field greatly biases the perceived patterns. (uses MapCalc Learner AgData dbase)
Generating
Surface maps from Point Data:
A farmer wants to generate a set of maps from soil samples he has
been collecting for several years.
Previously, he would simply calculate the average of the sample values
for each soil variable, such as amount phosphorous, and develop a fertilization
plan assuming the average level was everywhere the same within a field. Creating surface maps of these data enables
him to visualize the spatial distribution of data as contour and 3D
displays. He also wants to analyze the
spatial patterns within the data (e.g., determine where in the field there are
unusually high or low amounts) and relationships among the maps (e.g.,
determine where the greatest increase or decrease in a soil nutrient has
occurred over the past several years). (uses MapCalc Learner AgData dbase)
Summarizing Map Regions: A watershed manager needs to identify the
average slope and other terrain statistics for a set of watersheds. This information will be used in concert with
other information to estimate surface runoff and erosion potential for the
watersheds. (uses
Comparing
Map Surfaces (Difference): A
farmer wants to compare this year’s corn yield with last year’s and identify areas
in the field with large differences. (uses MapCalc Learner AgData
dbase)
Comparing
Discrete Maps (Coincidence Summary): A geographer wants to compare two
interpreted maps of the same area and quantitatively report how similar they
are. (uses
MapCalc Learner Tutor25 dbase)
Assessing
Localized Variation: An
agricultural scientist wants to locate areas in a field that exhibit highly
variable yield patterns. In data analysis
and the development of yield models, these areas should be treated differently
from areas that have consistent yield levels. (uses MapCalc Learner AgData
dbase)
Identifying
Areas of Similar Data Patterns (Clustering): A farmer wants to identify areas in a
field that have similar soil nutrient patterns (management zones). Instead of managing the field as one complex
unit the intent is to tailor actions, such as fertilization prescriptions, to
the conditions in each data cluster. (uses MapCalc Learner AgData
dbase)
Assessing Cover Type Diversity: A riparian ecologist needs to identify the
cover type diversity around open water features to help identify critical wildlife
habitat. (uses MapCalc Learner Tutor25 dbase)
Characterizing Narrowness: A wildlife biologist needs a map that
identifies the relatively narrow portions of each vegetation parcel in a
project area. This information
will be analyzed with radio-collar data to determine patterns of animal
movement with respect to land cover narrowness. (uses MapCalc Learner Tutor25 dbase)
Delineating
and Summarizing Core Area: A
wildlife biologist needs a map that identifies core area for meadow parcels in
a research area and the distance to water for each location in the core
area. This information will be analyzed
with nesting information about various ground-nesting birds. (uses MapCalc Learner Tutor25
dbase)
…application set updated 8/04