Suppose we wanted figure out where on Mount Tom, in Holyoke, Massachusetts would be a suitable place for a wind turbine. How would we go about doing it? This document contains the procedure of analysis, a table with data layers, a table with the main geoprocessing tools used, as well as documentation of the work. This analysis is done in Arcmap. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sGUq3TaRUpW9VdRt9shV_OctlMtnXJMRnxMtodXuTtI/edit?usp=sharing

Here are two Google Earth maps of Adams and Otis. The polygons are all of the locations in both towns suitable to the three criteria for a solar-wind farm. The three criteria were: The site has to have a slope angle of 20 degrees or less, or flat, the slope has to have a southerly aspect of 135 to 225 degrees, and the wind speed at 30 meters has to be above 5 meters per second.

Here is a raster analysis of the BGEC Solar-Wind Farms using ArcGIS Online. 

http://www.arcgis.com/apps/OnePane/azuretwitter/index.html?appid=2b45be364fad43f5948f610ae2c64a8f

Suppose the Berkshire Green Energy  Committee (BGEC) wanted to know locations meeting all criteria for  combined solar and wind farms . . . what would that map look like??? Well this map below shows all of the suitable locations in the Berkshire County towns of Adams and Otis, Massachusetts. Take a look!

The map above displays the two parcels that are suitable for a Bio-Tech industrial Park in Northampton Massachusetts. The three criteria are: the parcel must be ten acres or greater, the zoning must be industrial or commercial, and the parcel must be 100 feet or more from a wetland.

Analysis of Suitable Parcels in Northampton for a Bio-Tech Industry

After processing the city data in ArcMap, the number of suitable parcels in Northampton is two. These parcels are ten acres or greater, are 100 feet or more away from a wetland, and are coded for either industrial or commercial use.  There are not many parcels to choose from in Northampton. Out of the two parcels, the most North western parcel has a structure on its most eastern side, but then has open land to the west. If the Bio-Tech Industrial Park where to be built from the ground up, then the empty section of this parcel would be prime. The other parcel, to the South east, is already built up. This parcel has a couple structures as well as an entrance and exit. Both of these parcels are situated between Route 9, as well as another road that connects to Route 9 nearby. This road access makes either of these two lots just as suitable as the other. The lot that is half empty would also be able to have an exit on the west side of it if there were to be a park built there.

Other options that exist to site this Bio-Tech Industrial Park are accessibility of more than one entrance or exit, parking lots, and other necessary structures.  The dimensions of this building have to fit certain criteria, and these other factors listed previously have to be considered. Ten or more acres is a decent sized parcel, however the parking lot, other needed structures, and enough entrances as well as exits have to be considered when planning this project. It would also be smart to place it closer to, or among other businesses so to draw more attention, and make it known to the public. If it is hiding away on a less traveled road, then it will not be as known to the public.

This site selection analysis has many steps involved. To make this process more convenient and efficient, it would be doable to create a layer available on MassGIS, or another GIS website, that included most of these steps already put together. This layer would include parcels that are large enough for the desired project, zoned according to the specific project, and only including parcels that aren’t within 100 feet of a wetland. This layer could realistically be done for every town, with the criteria generally set. It would create a temporary job for someone, and would be a great help to towns, cities, planners, contractors, and any other involved group of people.

 Below is a flowchart with the steps that I followed throughout this spatial analysis.

      The map above displays all suitable parcels for a Bio-Tech Industrial Park in Westfield, Massachusetts.

                         

     

Analysis of Suitable Parcels in Westfield for a Bio-Tech Industry

After processing the city data in ArcMap, the number of suitable parcels in Westfield is twenty- five. These parcels are ten acres or greater, are 100 feet or more away from a wetland, and are coded for either industrial or commercial use.  While all of the twenty-five parcels found are all suitable for the Bio-Tech Industrial park, some are more desirable than others. For instance, access is an extremely important factor. Without convenient road access, the park might not receive as much traffic, verses a spot right of Route 202. Another reason why some lots are less desirable than others is that there are already buildings with companies occupying them. I have separated the parcels that have nothing built on them from the parcels that have an existing structure. The parcels with an existing structure might not always be the inconvenient choice, because there would already be a structure on the lot, and the park wouldn’t have to be built from the ground up. On the other hand, the demand may include a brand new building; therefore any empty lot would be the better choice.  Additional site criteria to be incorporated into this analysis may be to consider parcels closer to the Mass Pike entrance/exit for the convenience of employees, customers, etc. It would also be smart to place it closer to, or among other businesses so to draw more attention, and make it known to the public. If it is hiding away on a less traveled road, then it will not be as known to the public.
Some other options that exist to site this Bio-Tech Industrial Park are accessibility of more than one entrance or exit, parking lots, and other necessary structures.  The dimensions of this building have to fit certain criteria, and these other factors listed previously have to be considered. Ten acres is a decent sized parcel, however the parking lot, any other need structures, and enough entrances as well as exits have to be considered when planning this project.
This site selection analysis has many steps involved. To make this process more convenient and efficient, it would be doable to create a layer available on MassGIS, or another GIS website, that included most of these steps already put together. This layer would include parcels that are large enough for the desired project, zoned according to the specific project, and only including parcels that aren’t within 100 feet of a wetland. This layer could realistically be done for every town, with the criteria generally set. It would create a temporary job for someone, and would be a great help to towns, cities, planners, contractors, and any other involved group of people.

Below is the flowchart I followed for this site selection analysis for the Bio-Tech Industrial Park.

This is a map displaying the spatial analysis of the proximity tuition break clause.
 If Connecticut students live closer to Westfield State University than they do another University in Connecticut, they receive free tuition under the proximity tuition break clause if they decide to attend WSU.
 I used the near tool in Acrmap 10.1 to figure out which towns in Connecticut were closer to Westfield State University than any other university in Connecticut.
Check it out!

This is a poster that I made using U.S. Census Data from 2000. It displays the spatial patterns of ethnicity and housing in the thirteen cities of Western Massachusetts. Take a look!