Case Studies

Data Compilation and Management

ArcView provides capabilities to incorporate a variety of different data types, both vector and raster. In this example several different image types including a USGS Digital Raster Graph (DRG), Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle (DOQ), and Orthophotograph, are overlaid with vector hydrography and transportation layers converted from Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) Digital Line Graph (DLG) files. Cave survey data was registered using GPS locations at entrance survey stations. ArcView's Hotlink tool can be used to link to entrance photos.

Hand or computer drawn cave maps may be incorporated into the GIS database by georeferencing the maps, or can be displayed by geolinking to other layers using ArcView's Hotlink tool. In this example the hand drawn cave map is overlayed by cave survey data in shapefile format. The locations of photographs taken for inventory purposes are stored using a point shapefile and included in the View as a Photo Theme. Scanned photos referenced in the Photo Theme Table can be viewed using the Hotlink tool.

Using ArcView's 3D Analyst, an elevation model has been created from contour lines converted from USGS DLG files and shaded for elevation. The georeferenced cave survey data of Hidden River Cave, Horse Cave, KY, has been drawn on top of the surface to show its relationship to surface features. Note the numerous sinkholes in the lower left area of the map, and the Mammoth Cave escarpment to the upper left. Cave survey data courtesy: Cave Research Foundation (CRF) and American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA).

A karst feature database of Southeastern Minnesota has been developed that allows sinkhole and other karst feature distributions to be displayed and analyzed across county boundaries. The system is ArcView-based, and incorporates statistical and hydrogeologic modules. Data is made available to researchers and planners, allowing regional trends to be visualized and county-scale trends to be extended to state-wide scales. Courtesy: University of Minnesota, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Minnesota Geological Survey, and Minnesota Department of Health.

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