Julieta's GIS Blog

Continuing Python fundamentals this week, we get our hands on with Functions! We learned how to assign string variables, had to use methods and functions to manipulate strings and lists, and finally perform a basic math function. It started by creating a string using my full name-- stringName = "Julieta Ramos" Then creating a list by using the split method-- listName = stringName.split(" ") After printing my last name, a new variable called lastNameLen was created to find the length of my last name. This was done by counting the letters in my last name using the function len. Below is the work involved to achieve this lab's objective. The examples and basic exercises in lecture really helped getting some of those simple functions into memory. While thinking of how to write these functions, I was also mindful of how to minimize the amount of entries to reach the desired result.

For our first Module of the semester, we get acquainted with Python by focusing on the following learning outcomes: Use the IDLE (Python GUI) interactive window  Use PythonWin interactive window  Save and run a script in PythonWin  Use the ArcGIS Interactive Python Window Run a script using PythonWin  The first exercise had us get some hands on practice by installing PythonWin and then creating a simple script, called hello.py, seen below. So how is this integrated in ArcMap? It happens that it's another tool within ArcMap starting in v. 10. The tool consists of an interpreter panel on the left hand side and a Help and syntax panel, which helps one understand what a command will do or how to utilize it. The assignment itself allowed us to see  one of the many uses of a script. We were given a completed script designed to create a specific number of folders for every module in this course and is required to run in a specific computer drive. While it sounds intim

For the final project we were given two different scenarios to chose from: Option 1- Display mean SAT scores and test participation rates for 2014 college bound seniors. Option 2- Create your own project scenario. I went with Option 2 to see how it would go. My scenario of choice focuses on observing the correlation between amount of crops harvested in the state of California for the year 2012 and the distribution of different Farmland types as defined by the Farmland Mapping & Monitoring Program (FMMP). Methods Used: First thing to do was search for the necessary data sets: information on crop yields and data on farmland for California. USDA site was extremely helpful as was the California Department of Conservation website. NOAA was very helpful in providing national weather reports, maps, and graphs to see firsthand record of gradual change in different regions. Next, was looking for a California counties shape file, which was found through ESRI and the U.S. Census