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Cougar Habitat Case Study - Analysis Workflow using ArcGIS Online

This story map walks you through the analysis workflow for finding potential cougar habitat, as presented in the case study "Which areas are good cougar habitat?"

 

Scroll down to view the analysis steps. Learn about accessing and using the ArcGIS Online analysis tools.

Identify the area within three miles around the state park.

1 To create the buffer layer use the Create Buffers tool (in the Use proximity category) and specify the distance as 3 miles. Use the default options.

 

View the result

 
 
 

2 Change the buffer style, specifying transparent fill and a thick green outline. Learn about changing styles.

 

View the result

 

 

 

 

Create the study area boundary.

1 First, view the pop-ups for the three sub-watersheds that comprise the study area to get their unique IDs. There are several fields with unique values, but the shortest one is the three-digit HUC5_ID field.

 

 

Go ahead--try it on the map to the right. Just click the sub-watersheds.

 

 

2 Now filter the sub-watershed layer, specifying that features match "Any" of the three HUC5_ID values. Learn about filtering a layer.

 

 

View the result

 

 

3 Then use the Dissolve Boundaries tool (in the Manage data category) to erase the boundaries between the filtered sub-watersheds, creating a new layer containing the study area boundary. Choose "Areas that overlap or are adjacent" as the dissolve method, and skip the "Add statistic" option. When the result layer is added to your map, change the style to a transparent fill and a thick, dark gray outline.

 

View the result

 

 

 

 

Create a layer of highway features within the study area.

To clip features using another layer in ArcGIS Online, you extract the features to a file, download the file to your local device, and then add the file containing the features back into your map.

 

1 First, use the Extract Data tool (in the Manage data category) to create the file containing the clipped features. Specify "State highway" as the layer to extract features from, specify the “Study area boundary” layer as the study area, and specify the option to Clip features. Since you’ll be adding the file into your map, specify the output data format as a CSV file or a shapefile.

 

 

 2 Once created, the file will appear in your My Content list. Use the dropdown to select the Download option and save the file on your device.

 

 

 

3 Now, back in your map, use the "Add layer from file" option to locate the file and import the layer into your map. Learn about adding layers. Rename the layer to "Highway" and change the style to a thick, red line.

 

View the result

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify the area that are suitable cougar habitat using the criteria defined by the experts from the State Park.

In ArcGIS Online, the Derive New Locations tool allows you to combine attribute and spatial criteria in a single statement by adding a set of expressions, one at a time. A new layer of areas that meet the specified criteria is created.

 

1 Before running Derive New Locations, filter the vegetation layer to select the three vegetation types to be included: codes 34, 49, and 67. (You can actually specify the vegetation criteria in the Derive New Locations tool, but using the filter first will create a simpler selection statement. It will also streamline the process when you run the analysis again using the criteria defined by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.)

 

View the result

 

 

2 Now perform the suitability analysis. The slope layer is continuous across the entire study area so can be used as the basis for the analysis--that is, the layer to which the other criteria layers are related (although you could also use the vegetation layer). Click the down arrow next to the Slope layer in the Contents, select Perform Analysis, and, under Find Locations, select the Derive New Locations Tool. 

 

3 Use the Add Expression button to add each of the following expressions in turn. Learn about building expressions in the Derive New Locations tool.

 

  • Slope where SLOPE_CODE is Steep
  • Slope intersects Vegetation
  • Slope within a distance of 500 feet from Stream
  • Slope not within a distance of 1500 feet from Highway

 

View the completed dialog for each expression.

 

4 Once the expressions are complete, run the analysis.

 

View the result

 

Identify areas that are suitable cougar habitat using the criteria defined by the experts from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

1 First, edit the Vegetation filter to add the timber harvest areas. Add a fourth expression and specify VEG_CODE is 121 (you’ll need to scroll down to see the newly added expression). Then apply the filter.

 

 

View the result

 

2 Now open the Derive New Locations tool again, and add the expressions, as shown in the previous analysis. This time, though, specify that the suitable areas are within 2500 feet of a stream and more than 500 feet from a highway. When the expressions are complete, run the analysis.

 

 

View the result

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cougar Habitat Case Study - Analysis Workflow using ArcGIS Online

This story map walks you through the analysis workflow for finding potential cougar habitat, as presented in the case study "Which areas are good cougar habitat?"

 

Scroll down to view the analysis steps. Learn about accessing and using the ArcGIS Online analysis tools.

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Identify the area within three miles around the state park.

1 To create the buffer layer use the Create Buffers tool (in the Use proximity category) and specify the distance as 3 miles. Use the default options.

 

View the result

 
 
 

2 Change the buffer style, specifying transparent fill and a thick green outline. Learn about changing styles.

 

View the result

 

 

 

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Create the study area boundary.

1 First, view the pop-ups for the three sub-watersheds that comprise the study area to get their unique IDs. There are several fields with unique values, but the shortest one is the three-digit HUC5_ID field.

 

 

Go ahead--try it on the map to the right. Just click the sub-watersheds.

 

 

2 Now filter the sub-watershed layer, specifying that features match "Any" of the three HUC5_ID values. Learn about filtering a layer.

 

 

View the result

 

 

3 Then use the Dissolve Boundaries tool (in the Manage data category) to erase the boundaries between the filtered sub-watersheds, creating a new layer containing the study area boundary. Choose "Areas that overlap or are adjacent" as the dissolve method, and skip the "Add statistic" option. When the result layer is added to your map, change the style to a transparent fill and a thick, dark gray outline.

 

View the result

 

 

 

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Create a layer of highway features within the study area.

To clip features using another layer in ArcGIS Online, you extract the features to a file, download the file to your local device, and then add the file containing the features back into your map.

 

1 First, use the Extract Data tool (in the Manage data category) to create the file containing the clipped features. Specify "State highway" as the layer to extract features from, specify the “Study area boundary” layer as the study area, and specify the option to Clip features. Since you’ll be adding the file into your map, specify the output data format as a CSV file or a shapefile.

 

 

 2 Once created, the file will appear in your My Content list. Use the dropdown to select the Download option and save the file on your device.

 

 

 

3 Now, back in your map, use the "Add layer from file" option to locate the file and import the layer into your map. Learn about adding layers. Rename the layer to "Highway" and change the style to a thick, red line.

 

View the result

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Identify the area that are suitable cougar habitat using the criteria defined by the experts from the State Park.

In ArcGIS Online, the Derive New Locations tool allows you to combine attribute and spatial criteria in a single statement by adding a set of expressions, one at a time. A new layer of areas that meet the specified criteria is created.

 

1 Before running Derive New Locations, filter the vegetation layer to select the three vegetation types to be included: codes 34, 49, and 67. (You can actually specify the vegetation criteria in the Derive New Locations tool, but using the filter first will create a simpler selection statement. It will also streamline the process when you run the analysis again using the criteria defined by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.)

 

View the result

 

 

2 Now perform the suitability analysis. The slope layer is continuous across the entire study area so can be used as the basis for the analysis--that is, the layer to which the other criteria layers are related (although you could also use the vegetation layer). Click the down arrow next to the Slope layer in the Contents, select Perform Analysis, and, under Find Locations, select the Derive New Locations Tool. 

 

3 Use the Add Expression button to add each of the following expressions in turn. Learn about building expressions in the Derive New Locations tool.

 

  • Slope where SLOPE_CODE is Steep
  • Slope intersects Vegetation
  • Slope within a distance of 500 feet from Stream
  • Slope not within a distance of 1500 feet from Highway

 

View the completed dialog for each expression.

 

4 Once the expressions are complete, run the analysis.

 

View the result

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

Identify areas that are suitable cougar habitat using the criteria defined by the experts from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

1 First, edit the Vegetation filter to add the timber harvest areas. Add a fourth expression and specify VEG_CODE is 121 (you’ll need to scroll down to see the newly added expression). Then apply the filter.

 

 

View the result

 

2 Now open the Derive New Locations tool again, and add the expressions, as shown in the previous analysis. This time, though, specify that the suitable areas are within 2500 feet of a stream and more than 500 feet from a highway. When the expressions are complete, run the analysis.

 

 

View the result

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tap for details Swipe to explore

LEARN MORE

Tap to go back Swipe to explore

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