PHYSICAL GEOLOGY HONORS PROJECT: USING GIS TO MAP THE DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS LANDSCAPE

This honors project mapped the geologic features of a forested section of campus using GIS software. Rocks, trees, a stream, and a pond were plotted in a suburban region of southeastern Pennsylvania, using the MM Field app on the MobileMapper50. Trees with a diameter of 6 inches or bigger were identified using the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees; their location, condition, species, and circumference were entered on the MobileMapper50. Additional attributes were then generated in a spreadsheet to estimate other characteristics.

The data was symbolized in ArcGIS Pro to display various attributes and the results can be viewed in the accompanying maps. An area of 3.3 acres is populated by 160 rocks and 206 trees, giving a density of 62 trees per acre. The forest is in overall good condition, with almost no adverse effects from the stream or adjacent parking lot. The Value map shows which areas are favorable for purposes such as harvesting timber and which are favorable for other purposes that require clearing land. In conclusion, the data suggests that the various geologic features mapped are in a healthy balance.