Maps evaluation, Mt St Helens terrain analysis, and Suitability analysis in London

Part A: Map evaluation

Scenario

You work at a mapping agency. A colleague of yours is preparing some maps for a client to help them understand the population distribution in London. He created a population map of London with population counts and sent it to the manager (see Figure 1). The manager, after sending an angry email, is now asking you to draft a report about the reasons why this map is of unacceptable quality. She is also sending you the data, asking you to create a well-designed population map in QGIS that the client will be able to use.

What you have to do

Write a report that contains a critique of the map in Figure 1, pointing out all the flaws in both design and in map making. Using the provided data, you will then have to create a new population map. When creating the map, remember that:

• you do not have restrictions on the page orientation;

• you can add a base map if needed;

• you can add insets and captions if you feel it could help to convey information;

• you can add local authority boundaries.

You are free to use your cartographic skills in order to create a readable and informative population map.

Scenario

Mount St. Helens is well known for its catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980, at 8:32 a.m. PDT, one of the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic events in human history. 57 people were killed; 250 homes, 47 bridges, 15 miles (24 km) of railways, and 185 miles (298 km) of highway were destroyed. A massive debris avalanche triggered by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale caused an eruption that reduced the elevation of the mountain's summit from 9,677 ft (2,950 m) to 8,365 ft (2,550 m), replacing it with a 1 mile (1.6 km) wide horseshoeshaped crater

What you have to do

Use the digital elevation model (DEM) provided to interpret the topography (in 300 words) of Mt St Helens after the eruption. Things to do: 1) Change the colour of the DEM for clear visualization; 2) Create hillshade, slope and aspect maps.

Scenario

You work for a real estate agency that helps clients find locations in London. Your clients are looking for areas that match specific criteria and they want you to produce maps that will support their decision-making (for example to open new shops and cafes). The analysis will focus on “points of interest” (POIs) in London, i.e. spatial objects that have a particular function, such as pubs, restaurants, and hotels. What you have to do Using QGIS, analyse the points of interest using buffer, intersection, and union operations to produce maps that will show the following areas. Produce a map for each set of criteria (3 maps). Note: As the data is expressed in metres (see below), you can specify distances in metres in the buffer tool.

a) Education: All areas that are within 400 metres from schools AND universities (intersection of two layers).

b) Night life: All areas that are within 300 metres from pubs OR restaurants (union of two layers).

c) Cultural activities: All areas that are within 250 metres from museums OR cinemas OR theatres (union of 3 layers).