…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

MapCalc Learner for students now available (US$21.95 plus S/H)

MapCalc Academic for instructors now available (US$495.00 plus S/H)

Example Course Materials intermediate course in GIS Modeling

Short Video Demos viewable online or download

Applying MapCalc Map Analysis Software

General description of the MapCalc Software System for grid-based map analysis

Student/Instructor versions of MapCalc Educational software and Descriptive Paper

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: all of the processing and display examples use MapCalc Island dbase

The following links show how MapCalc analysis capabilities can be used in various applications…

Note: All of the applications can be executed in MapCalc Learner for hands-on experience in developing and executing map analysis models. The MapCalc Learner databases are identified with each application and the text describes the processing.

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 MapCalc Learner Island dbase)

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 Kent’s Emporium to all other locations within a defined service area. This information will be invaluable in visualizing relative access of potential customers throughout the city. (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 county-wide 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 county-wide 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 MapCalc Learner Island dbase)

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 102