readme_scenic_byways_colorado.txt

Planning a Scenic Byway in Colorado

This data set is intended to be used in ArcGIS and ArcGIS Explorer, from ESRI, Inc., to map and analyze the spatial patterns of scenic byways in Colorado USA.

Files included:

--Zip file that includes the lesson in DOC and PDF formats.
--readme_scenic_byways_colorado.txt = this document.
--geodatabase of all data needed:  highways, rivers, shaded relief, counties, cities, scenic byways.  Data from US Census Bureau, Colorado DOT, USGS, and ESRI.  Rankings on proposed scenic byways are arbitrary and created by the author of this lesson.  

Procedures:

1)  Unzip the zip file into a folder.
2)  Use the PDF as a guideline to investigate scenic byways.
3)  Use ArcMap and ArcGIS Explorer for your investigations using the enclosed MXD and NMF files.

Summary 
This 58-question, 14-page lesson invites students to plan a scenic byway in Colorado using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as the investigative tool.
Guiding Questions
(1) What are scenic byways and what is the spatial distribution of scenic byways in Colorado?
(2) What criteria are used in determining state byways?  
(3) How can 2D and 3D GIS contribute to your understanding of state byways, and how can GIS be used to select a new state byway?

GIS Level 
This lesson is intended for university or community college students, but it can also be tackled by more experienced secondary students.

GIS Skills Engaged
GIS skills in this lesson include the use of ArcGIS Desktop to examine current byways, select a new byway based on specific spatial criteria, and the use of ArcGIS Explorer to visualize existing and planned byways.

Data Management
Create a folder on your computer for the data for this lesson and copy the data files.  Contact your instructor for the location of where your data should reside.

Requirements
This lesson requires ArcGIS 9.2 or above, an Internet connection, and ArcGIS Explorer.  It is intended for the university undergraduate level but could be used at the upper secondary level or in graduate studies.  It can also be used outside of instruction in a research environment.

Software 
ArcGIS 9.3, from ESRI.
ArcGIS Explorer, from ESRI.

Author:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph J. Kerski, Ph.D
Education Manager
Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.- ESRI
1 International Court
Broomfield CO 80021-3200  USA
E:  jkerski@esri.com
V: 303-449-7779 x 8237 
F: 303-449-8830 
Participate in the ESRI Education Community:  
http://edcommunity.esri.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 2009.  