DeLorme Professional Weblog

California Wind Resources: 3-D Map displaying wind resource data layer for California from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) overlaid on DeLorme’s SAT10 satellite imagery

Wind Farm Layout: Simulated wind farm mapping project displayed simultaneously in 2-D, with a base map of USA Topographic data, and in 3-D, overlaid on an aerial image downloaded using XMap’s Netlink function. Other layers show property ownership polygons, turbine locations and a 2000ft buffer indicating the zone of maximum impact.

Wind Projects in Southern Scotland: Currently active wind energy projects in the Glasgow region of Scotland. Points were imported from a spreadsheet containing data from each wind farm.

Wind Potential and Turbine output in Denmark: Point layer containing all wind turbines in Denmark, symbolized to convey electrical output in 2007, overlaid on a map showing areas of maximum wind speed.

North Atlantic Wind Speed: Near real-time satellite derived wind speed data downloaded from NOAA. Each point displays the speed and direction measured at the point of observation.

Brazil Wind Resources: Wind resource data covering Brazil, classified and symbolized to show area of maximum potential. 

What is a GIS and how can it help you? 

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is, quite simply, a tool for displaying and analyzing crucial information as it relates to a geographic location. 

If you’ve ever scribbled notes on a map, added data annotations to a mapping software program, or even maintained a database that contains locational information such as addresses, you’ve created a simple GIS. 

Full-featured GIS software programs such as XMap 5.0 GIS Editor provide a quantum leap in efficiency, delivering the ability to organize, query, and analyze your data, and to ascertain the answers you need for informed decision making and comprehensive research. 

How is a GIS created? 

Typically, a GIS is created by collecting all available and appropriate data, processing it into a usable form, and overlaying the resulting layers on a base map for a given area. This data may be derived from field-collected GPS log files, an existing spatial database, a list of objects with a known location or address, published GIS data layers, or by using object drawing and attribution tools within the GIS software. 

When these data layers are in place, they provide a visual perspective that can help answer your fundamental who, what, where, and how questions. For example: Where are the areas of greatest average wind speed? Which properties are adjacent to the project site? Are there specific areas of the state that are more suitable for a wind farm? How close is the nearest access road? 

Making GIS accessible 

Until recently, the cost of a full-featured GIS was prohibitive. Between software, labor costs and training, many wind energy developers simply couldn’t afford or justify the expense. Today, software and mapping companies like DeLorme are developing GIS products that can run on standard desktop or laptop computers using mainstream database technology with minimal maintenance and training required. 

GIS provides significant benefits to countless types of users. Here are some examples related to wind energy management: 

Optimize the placement of wind farms and turbines 

Determine ownership of abutting properties and contact local residents 

Create high quality printed maps for project presentations 

Map newly developed access roads 

Catalog turbine performance and analyze spatial patterns 

Virtually all data has some sort of locational component. A well organized GIS can help to expose these geographic patterns and trends providing a deeper level of understanding of the subject at hand. 

For more information on XMap 5.0, DeLorme’s easy-to-use and affordable GIS solution, visit www.xmap.com or call 1-800-293-2389 

Why Would a Wind Energy Management Company Use XMap? 

The application of GIS technology for wind energy applications 

Project managers utilize GIS technology for many aspects of wind energy management operations: 

Wind Potential Analysis 

GIS software can import and display wind resource data, which indicates optimum wind availability in your area of interest. Historic wind patterns can be correlated with wind speed measurements collected onsite and overlaid on a topographic map or aerial image. 

Property Acquisition 

GIS data, often readily available from local, regional or national government GIS departments, can clearly display property ownership, easements, public land, community boundaries and much more. This data can help developers plan, negotiate and eventually apply for permitting to comply with the legal requirements for a project. 

Power Planning and Distribution 

GIS can display transmission line availability and capacity for power distribution planning. During construction, the new power collection infrastructure can mapped and integrated as a new GIS layer. After a wind farm has been constructed, GIS can provide project managers with infrastructure monitoring and transmission line connection status. 

Tower & Turbine Placement 

A topographic map and 3-D terrain model will quickly highlight the optimal site for turbine placement and help expose obstructions to the prevailing wind. Integrated GIS data can also help determine the suitability of site from a geophysical or geological perspective. 

Compliance and Community Collaboration 

Environmental compliance is critical for wind energy project development. Developers must take into account avian and bat migratory patterns, wetland or other environmentally vulnerable areas, cumulative turbine noise potential and visual impact. GIS can display and present these data layers for public review and community outreach. 

Data Collection

GPS data collected on site and imported into GIS software can assist with all aspects of wind farm development, including site-specific wind speed measurement, tower site placement, new power distribution networks, road construction and much more. 

GPS Navigation 

Whether you are a construction foreman, a project coordinator, a land acquisition specialist, an electrical engineer, a vegetation control manager or a GIS administrator, you still need to know where you are going. GIS & GPS provide the essential routing, location and navigation tools to help you find the job site quickly and efficiently. 

To learn more about GIS for wind energy visit xmap.com/wind or contact the DeLorme professional sales team at 1-800-293-2389 or prosales@delorme.com 

The Field Creation dialog box is among the most powerful components of the GIS tab in XMap. Admittedly, it is quite difficult to find this tool, but if you click the Design View button in the Attributes tab, you’ll see an Options menu that contains several field management tools including Add Field… Sooner or later, most XMap GIS Enterprise or Editor users will encounter a situation that requires that they visit this area of the software.

The basic function of the Field Creation dialog box is to generate a new field or column of attributes for an OpenSpace GIS layer. For instance, if you import a shapefile containing local property polygons, you may need to add a field that allows you to include information on the value of each property, or if you download waypoints from the Earthmate GPS PN-20 and import them into the GIS tab, you will likely need to use the Field Creation function to assign the appropriate data to each collected location.

There are two approaches to creating a new attribute field: you can either create an empty field that allows you to manually type the required information for each object, or you can build a formula that creates data from your existing data fields. An example of the latter would be if you want to convert the values in the area field for a polygon layer from square kilometers to acres.

In either case, the initial steps for creating a new field are the same:

• Open the Field Creation dialog box in the attribute Options menu as noted above.
• In the Field Name area, type a name for your new field.
• Select a Data Type from the drop-down list.
  The most common type selections from this list are String, Integer, and Float (a numeric field-type that allows decimals). It is important that the appropriate consideration is given to this selection as a new data value cannot be typed into an incompatible field. For instance, you cannot enter alphabetic characters into an integer field. Also note that if you need to create a range classification based on the new field, the field-type must be one of the numeric options. For more information on the other data-type options, refer to the help documentation within XMap.
• If appropriate, select the String Size, which determines how many characters the new field will accommodate.
• If you need to create an empty field, simply click the OK button and return to the Datasheet View to enter the necessary data.

The additional components of the Field Creation dialog box control the development of a formula that can be applied to one or more of your existing fields to create new data. To simplify the process, a selection of preformatted functions is provided in the window on the right side of the dialog box. As each function is highlighted, a brief explanation of the resulting formula is displayed at the bottom of the window. To build a formula based on one of these functions, double-click the function name to automatically add it to the Formula window.

The window on the left side lists all of the current attribute fields for the selected OpenSpace layer. After highlighting the appropriate section of a formula, double-clicking the required field will automatically add it to the formula.

For example, if you choose the AVG(field) formula to generate a new field containing the average property values, highlight the “field” statement in the formula and double-click  the existing property values field to add it to the formula. The new formula will read like this: AVG([Property Value]).

The Formula window can also be used to manually create a formula. For example, to create a new field that converts the existing Area value in square kilometers to acres, type the following into the formula window: [Area*247.1054].

For new fields that have been created using a formula, modifying, deleting, or updating the original fields that were used in the formula will alter the values or text that appear in the new field.

For more information on this or any other XMap function, refer to the Help Topics or click the User Guide link in the software’s Help menu.

In short, yes you can. Since it was first released almost two years ago, the Earthmate GPS PN-20 has been periodically updated and enhanced. While the device itself has remained the same, the firmware, or internal programming that determines how the device functions, has been revised and new versions have been released several times. Each firmware update improves the performance of the device, upgrades the existing functionality, and often adds new features and functions. Running the firmware updater is like trading in your old PN-20 for the latest model. If only trading in your car was that simple.

The most recent firmware update (version 1.4) was released in mid-April, 2008 and offers a number of significant enhancements for PN-20 users. Perhaps the most noteworthy, especially for XMap users, is the option to display hybrid maps, meaning that both raster and vector data layers can be displayed simultaneously. For instance, you can now view an aerial image on the PN-20 screen and overlay OpenSpace GIS data layers, which can be independently turned on or off as needed. This function also provides the means to display the roads and streets from the USA Topographic Data on top of an image.

 To display a hybrid map on the PN-20, follow these steps:

• In XMap, create the required map package or packages containing the imagery, road network, GIS data, or any other features. Note that multiple data types can be combined in a single map package however you might find it easier to manage your multiple data types by creating a unique package for each type of map layer.
• Transfer the saved packages to the device using the Exchange wizard in XMap. For larger files, it is recommended that transfer the map packages to the external SD card using a dedicated SD card reader.
• After the transfer of data is complete, click the Page button on the device until the map screen is displayed.
• Press the Menu button and select Map Setup
• The first item on the list is Data Layering. This provides the tools for enabling or disabling a particular type of data and for adjusting the layering sequence. The type of data appears at the top of the list will be topmost layer on the map. To create a hybrid map, ensure that both the image and the appropriate vector data are visible and that the image or raster layer is on top.
• Press the Quit button to return to the Map Setup list and scroll down to Data Management. This list displays all of the map packages that have been transferred to the PN-20’s internal memory or SD card. If you combined several data types into one map package, then you may see only one item listed. On the other hand, if you created different map package for each data type, these will be individually listed and can be independently controlled. Make sure that the map package or packages containing the imagery and the vector data are visible.
• Press the Quit button and continue to scroll down the Map Setup list until you see the Show Hybrid Maps option, which will be turned off by default. Select the check box to enable this feature.
• Finally, press the Quit button again to return to the map view. All active line and point objects such as roads, rivers, borders, draw objects, or OpenSpace GIS data will appear on top of the image. Note that the display of polygons such as lakes, parks, or OpenSpace polygon layers is not supported using the hybrid map option.

For more information on creating map packages and transferring data to and from the PN-20, refer to the documentation that was included with the device. To check the firmware edition on your PN-20, press the Menu button, select Device Setup and scroll down to About this Device. For a list of firmware enhancements and to download the latest release, click here or check the NetLink tab in XMap for the latest available downloads.

The Earthmate Blue Logger is arguably the most versatile GPS receiver that DeLorme has ever produced. This remarkable device can wirelessly transmit a GPS signal to virtually any Bluetooth enabled computer or PDA, turning your laptop, Palm, or Windows Mobile device into a portable navigation tool.

The pocket-sized Blue Logger is also a powerful standalone data collector. Simply turn it on and, as soon as it picks up a GPS fix, it will begin to record its location, speed, and more, at a distance or time interval that is established using the included Blue Logger Manager software. The collected data is downloaded wirelessly in one of a number of formats and can be easily imported, displayed, and managed in XMap.

The Blue Logger GPS has been used in a wide variety of applications including:

• Monitoring fleet movements
• Creating trail and road networks
• Managing highway maintenance crews
• Mapping forest stands
• Recording vehicle location and speed.

Click here for more information the Earthmate Blue Logger GPS, or click here to order yours today.

DeLorme is pleased to announce that the Mobile Airport Authority’s Brookley Complex in Mobile, Alabama, has selected XMap to help build and manage their Geographic Information System.

MAA staff members are using XMap GIS Enterprise for a wide variety of spatial data management functions, including property and building footprint mapping, tenant and lease management, marketing, strategic planning, and much more.

The MAA opted for the Enterprise version of XMap as it offers a multiple point image registration tool. Having recently captured high resolution aerial imagery of the entire Brookley complex, the ImageReg function was used to accurately create a raster layer as a base map for a variety of mapping tasks.

“We selected XMap because it was relatively easy to use,” said Jana Stupavsky, of the MAA marketing department. “Because none of us had any previous experience in GIS, it was important that the software we chose was uncomplicated yet powerful enough for our needs. XMap met these criteria.”

To help get the most out of XMap and to acquire a basic understanding of the principles of GIS, several MAA staff members attended a Web-based XMap training program. “The training class was very worthwhile investment,” said Ms. Stupavsky. “Because it focused specifically on our intended use of XMap, we were able to quickly learn how the software could help us surmount the unique challenges that we face.” 

About the MAA’s Brookley Complex

Situated on the site of a former U.S. Air Force base, The Brookley Complex is the region’s foremost industrial and aviation technology center. The 1,700 acre complex, which includes a 9,600 ft runway, is home to over 100 companies with a combined workforce of over 4,000 highly skilled employees. Aerospace companies, including US Airways and United Airlines, are among the major tenants at the complex. Recently, it was announced that a new U.S. Air Force refueling tanker, a joint $40 billion EADS/Northrop Grumman project, would be built at the Brookley Complex along with Airbus’s A330 freighter aircrafts.

When symbolizing points in a GIS layer your options are virtually limitless. XMap includes dozens of preformatted symbols and it provides the means for you to create your own symbology. Choose from the following alternatives:

Stock Symbols

The default appearance for all point objects imported to, or created in, the GIS tab is a green circle with a diameter of 6 pixels. This is an example of a Stock symbol in the Symbolize Layer dialog box. Other Stock symbols include a square, a star, and a triangle. These simple shapes are often the most effective way to represent points in a GIS layer as they are easily distinguishable and they produce a relatively tidy map. Another advantage of using stock symbols is that their size and color can be customized so a single shape can be used to represent several groups or classes of related features that can be differentiated by variations in size or color.

DeLorme Symbol Sets

When XMap is installed, a folder called Symbols is created on your local hard drive. This folder contains several symbol sets that can be assigned to objects in either the Draw or GIS tabs. Options include pushpins, flags, dots, and an extensive and stylish set of symbols that were created for use with DeLorme’s handheld PN-20 GPS receiver. The Set dropdown list in the Symbolize Layer dialog box provides the means to select a symbol set and to choose the individual symbol for the objects in your layer. Note that symbols of this type cannot be resized and their color cannot be customized.

Custom Symbol Sets

If you have used the draw tools to add points to the map, you are probably familiar with XSym, the simple graphic tool for creating and editing symbols. XSym can be used to open an existing symbol set for editing or for creating a new symbol set. In either case, symbols can be created using the included drawing tools and color palette or by importing a bitmap image, such as a company logo. Bear in mind that the final size of the symbols is 24 pixels square so a complex image file, such as one with a wide variety of colors, will likely not work well as a symbol. After a symbol set is saved using XSym, it can be added to the list of available symbol sets in the GIS tab. In the Symbolize Layer dialog box, click the Add button and browse to the Symbols folder in your DeLorme Docs folder to select the new symbol set (*.dim). Now the new symbols can be selected in the same way as the DeLorme symbols as noted above.

Bitmap Images

When using the Add button to locate a newly created symbol set, as outlined in the previous paragraph, you may notice that there is an alternative to the .dim format in the browse window. The Files of Type dropdown list also includes bitmap files, which means that an individual image can be added to the symbol set list. This approach allows any bitmap, regardless of its native dimensions, to be attributed to a point object on the map and, therefore, is a viable alternative to XSym for assigning a complex image file to a point on the map. Because there is no size constraint or scaling of the original image, care must be taken when choosing a bitmap for this application. It is quite likely that a large image assigned to each point on the map will result in an untidy cluster of overlapping images.

For more information on symbolization or any other XMap feature or function, check the Help Topics or PDF User Guide that were installed with the software and are accessible from the Help menu on the toolbar in XMap.

How do I use field-collected data to create a GIS layer?

When DeLorme’s long-awaited handheld GPS receiver, the Earthmate PN-20, was released over a year ago, we couldn’t have anticipated the level of interest that the device would garner among XMap users. With the release of XMap 5.2, which offered support for the PN-20, professional users were quick to recognize the value of being able to transfer any map, GIS layer, or aerial image to a gadget that they could easily carry in their pocket.

As with most other handheld GPS receivers, the PN-20 also offers a low-cost method for collecting data in the field. This data can be in the form of location points, typically referred to as waypoints, or lines, which record the movement of the device and are referred to as tracks.

 The Exchange function of XMap allows waypoints and tracks to be downloaded and displayed on the map. Waypoint and track layers are managed using the Draw tab tools, which include the option to change the appearance or symbolization of the objects as needed.

 More often than not, these field-recorded locations represent more than just points or lines on the map; they usually denote the location to which an array of data or information is attributed. For instance, a point might represent a nesting site to which such data as species, nest condition, number of eggs, etc. is assigned.

 In order to carry out this type of data mapping, the collected points or lines must be converted into GIS layers using XMap GIS Editor or Enterprise. The conversion process is very straightforward:

•  First click the File button in the Draw tab and select the appropriate layer.
• To the right of the tab area click the Copy To button and choose GIS Layer. This opens the GIS Import Layer dialog box with the selected waypoint or track layer automatically added as the source file.
• Select a target database and click the Next button to begin the import process. The new layer will appear in the Workspace of the GIS tab.

Several attribute fields are automatically added to GIS layers that are created from data in the Draw tab. These include the label that was previously assigned, the type of symbol used to denote each object in the original draw layer and the date and time at which each object was created. Any or all of these attribute fields can be removed or deleted if needed.

The benefit of migrating field-collected data from their original draw layer format to the GIS tab is that additional data can now be added to each object. Attribute fields can created manually and the relevant data can be entered for each object in the layer. Alternatively, external data in the form of a spreadsheet, database file (.dbf), or several other formats can be imported and appended to the objects in the layer to automatically create additional attribute fields. These two functions are accessed by clicking Attributes button on the left of the GIS tab, clicking the Design View button at the upper left corner of the attributes table and clicking the Options button.

With the appropriate attributes added to each field-collected point or line, the data analysis tools of the GIS tab, such as the classification and querying tools, can now be employed to expose the spatial patterns in the data.

While the Draw tab in XMap provides an adequate level of functionality for simply representing a field-collected point or line on the map, you should consider using GIS tab to efficiently manage the data behind each point or line. Transferring data to the GIS tab is a simple as a couple of clicks of the mouse

In the spring and summer of 2007 the Environmental Protection Agency and the Casco Bay Estuarine Partnership commissioned the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (WNERR) to map fringing marsh along the mainland coast of Casco Bay, Maine. Early (spring) work involved the use of aerial imagery to identify fringing marshes along the mainland coast. Later in the summer, after vegetation had matured, teams performed field surveys at randomly-selected sample points to obtain information not available from aerial photography. The following white paper, written by Peter S. Hayes of the WNERR (www.wellsreserve.org), documents the research process and findings of the study, in which XMap was extensively used.

 Fringing marshes are small salt marshes that form along estuary channels, protected coves, and other areas shielded from heavy wave action. Unlike the better known barrier or finger salt marshes, fringing marshes are small – often only a few meters long and a meter or two wide – and, because of these characteristics, have not been documented in resource or ecosystem inventories as have larger salt marshes. With an increasing appreciation of the ecological significance of these small ecosystems, there is increasing interest in documenting their existence and, where appropriate, improving efforts for their protection.

The goals of the project were to produce GIS-compatible files of the location and areal extent of the fringing marshes along the mainland coast. Field surveys were to provide estimates of the size of marshes as measured using hand-held GPS units. Those marshes surveyed were subjected to a ‘rapid assessment’ protocol that provided quick estimates of characteristics significant in evaluating marsh health and degradation causes. Finally, as part of the GPS measurements of marsh area, the perimeters of a subsample of marshes were to be measured at an elevation of forty centimeters (40 cm) above the existing marsh perimeter. This would provide an estimate of the potential marsh adaptation to a predicted 40 cm rise in sea level over the remainder of this century.

Pete Hayes combines an eclectic background, including degrees in electrical engineering, environmental studies, and (soon) environmental economics, and experience in computer databases and software development. His interests in promoting a better, more sustainable human-ecosystem coexistence have led to participation in several projects for the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, with activities ranging from field work in coastal watersheds and salt marshes to image processing and computer modeling. He lives with his family and four dogs in Cumberland, Maine, working to make life, as the Maine slogan says… the way it should be!