Exercise 1: Terrain Surface Survey

Introduction
For the first lab assignment in Geospatial Field Methods Geog 336 we were randomly placed in groups of three. I was placed in Group One.

Each group was tasked with creating a unique series of surface features using sand within a four by four foot box. This exercise was to allow us to 'get our hands dirty' and allow us to begin using the geospatial techniques we will utilize often in this course and develop necessary skill sets for further projects and careers.

Methods
Our task was to create a unique landscape within a four by four foot wooden frame. A variety of features was required in order to provide a wide range of data for us to collect and subsequently process into ArcMap for analysis. The features required to be present in our landscape were:
Hill
Valley
Ridge
Depression
Plain

Figure 1 Landscape Features

We were to create these features within our box in our sample plot which was underneath the UWEC campus footbridge near the Haas building on the river floodplain. This area was sandy and reasonably protected from the elements and potential vandals.

We cleared large debris from out site and smoothed the sand slightly. We leveled the frame using a liquid level and additional sand was packed under corners that dipped slightly. Leveling our frame prevented us from having to adjust our data during data processing.

Figure 2 Leveling the frame

Using a shovel and sand from outside of our sample area we created the required features, slightly smoothing them with our hands to allow for less subjective measurements.

Figure 3 Smoothed Features

We applied masking tape to the edges of the frame and marked off 10cm increments with a pen.

Figure 4 10cm Markings

Using two different colors of string held taught on the top edge of the frame we created a 12x11 grid which provided our X and Y values at each crossing point.

Figure 5 Making the grid

Using a meter stick we measured the Z value by noting where the strings reached on the meter stick in centimeters when the bottom-most corner touched the feature point directly below the crossed string. A light hand was needed to prevent the meter stick from going too far into the feature.

Figure 6 Taking Measurements

Zach and I held the string taught at each 10cm mark and took turns reading off the measurements when the other could no longer see it. Peter entered data in Excel using a portable tablet and held the cross string taught with a weight providing resistance on the other end. In total we collected 133 points.

Figure 7 Data Entry

We then measured the height of the frame and determined the factor for 'sea level.' We applied the value to the data and inverted it to determine the actual height of the data points. Unfortunately we forgot to place the frame slightly lower in the sand than our 'flat' areas so we had points with 0 height resulting in a negative value. This is something we will likely change in the subsequent lab.

Discussion 
This lab was beneficial in giving physical tasks to theoretical concepts. As once who learns by doing, this made the concept much more understandable. I was initially unsure of the goals and our means of accomplishing them so I relied on my group members to help get the lab started. Once I began physically working on the tasks the overall goal seemed much more attainable.

Working in teams is usually something I need to work on because I find I am at my most productive when I work by myself. However this lab taught me the importance of allowing your group mates to take charge on a project. Data collection was initially a slow process but once each of us found our place in the task it sped up considerably.

Conclusion
This exercise gave us a useful task to accomplish and required some creative and critical thinking. Once our data is imported into ArcMap and analyzed we will have a better idea of how successful our methods were.

Although some aspects of our methods will be changed in the subsequent lab it gave us a good jumping off point and set the stage for geospatial thinking. Overall this lab was an excellent warmup to what we will accomplish later in the year.