Draft Project Proposal

Michele Golden

Siena College

October 9, 2012

 

Introduction

            The Friends of Clifton Park Open Space would like to update the maps they have to better represent the natural resource values of each parcel of land. These maps and spreadsheets of data will help the Town of Clifton Park, along with FCPOS, decide which land parcels would be best to acquire based on natural recourses.

            The current rating system for the land parcels numbers is inadequate, as there are too many brackets that parcels can fall into. This leaves some parcels that have good resources left with low scores and therefore the map portrays them as not favorable. An improvement in the rating system needs to be looked at. The data spread sheets also need to be updated so that FCPOS can modify and produce new digital maps when needed.

            The focus of this project is to continue with the “Natural Resource Value of Land in Western Clifton Park: a Student Internship Project for the FCPOS,” a final report by a former student. The goal is to update, modify, and improve upon the report to make the final representation in the map more realistic to what is present in the Town of Clifton Park.

Objectives

·         Create an “unlocked” version of data spreadsheets so FCPOS can produce their own maps

·         Analyze current scoring system and color code and consider other options that would present the data best

·         In cooperation with FCPOS, select the best rating system and update the data spreadsheets and final map

·         Create two maps

o   One for the Town of Clifton Park (no boundary lines)

o   One for FCOPS (parcel boundaries and labels)

Methodology

            I will use GIS to analyze the rating system and see what would work best to represent the space best.

Data Sources

·         “Natural Resource Value of Land in Western Clifton Park: a Student Internship for the FCPOS”

Work Plan

October           Make initial meeting with FCPOS to confer with representative

                        Look over previous report

                        Analyze current rating system

November       Second meeting with FCPOS to confirm rating system

                        Update data spreadsheet to display new rating system

                        Allow FCPOS to have access to data spreadsheets to modify

                        Create final versions of maps; one fore Town of CP and one for FCPOS

December        Present results of final project to FCPOS

Deliverables

1.      Map for Town of Clifton Park

2.      Map for FCPOS

3.      New spreadsheet and mapping software