Exercise 2c: Reframe the problem statement

Understanding GIS: An ArcGIS Project Workbook for ArcGIS 10 Lesson 2: Preview data - Redefine
the project criteria to eliminate vagueness. This video was produced for the first edition of
Understanding GIS: An ArcGIS Project Workbook. Users of the second edition may notice small
differences in workflows and results. Book resources are located on ArcGIS for Professionals.
http://video.arcgis.com/watch/1114/exercise-2c-reframe-the-problem-statement

Video Transcription
00:01 This is Lesson 2: Preview data...
00:03 ...Exercise 2c: Reframe the problem statement.
00:06 In this lesson, well complete our data requirements table by filling in...
00:09 ...some specific quantitative values where we need them.
00:12 Some of the councils guidelines were specific and measurable.
00:15 Others were vague.
00:17 We cant do the analysis until we eliminate the vagueness from all the guidelines.
00:21 In the process, well also familiarize ourselves with metadata...
00:24 ...which is the data we have about our data.
00:27 Now well go back to the data requirements table we worked with in Lesson 2a.
00:35 The first thing we need to define is what we mean by near LA River...
00:38 ...and away from existing parks.
00:40 Well type less than or equal to .75 miles next to near LA River" entry...
00:45 ...and greater than .25 next to the entry for away from parks.
00:49 Your book includes a deeper discussion of how these values were arrived at.
00:53 If necessary, expand all the folders and subfolders in the Catalog Tree again.
01:06 Click the tracts feature class and preview the attribute table.
01:11 We need a measure for population density, which is already calculated in this table.
01:16 In the block groups table, we have values for total population in the current year...
01:20 ...but well need to make a calculation for density on our own later by incorporating...

01:23 ...the area value.

01:25 The population density for Los Angeles in 2000 was just under 8,000 people per square mile...
01:30 ...so for our purposes, well define dense as anything over 8,000 people per square mile.
01:35 That's not in the table, but we found it at the Census Bureau website...
01:38 ...as noted on page 76 of the book.
01:41 Next on our list of requirements is the need for lots of kids.
01:45 Back in the block groups table, we locate this field containing the attribute...
01:48 ...for population 18 and up.
01:51 Simply subtracting this value from the total population will give us a value for people under...
01:55 ...age 18, which is the legal definition for child in the United States.
02:00 In the tracts table, things are configured a little differently.
02:04 Here well be required to add two fields together to come up with a value for children.
02:08 So weve determined that the tracts and the block group datasets...
02:11 ...will both serve our purposes.
02:13 Looking again at the overall values for Los Angeles, 25 percent of the population is under...
02:17 ...age 18, so well use a percentage above this as our requirement for defining lots of kids.
02:23 Next well examine our data in terms of how we can define low income.
02:30 On the right side of the block groups table, we see these somewhat cryptic field names.
02:34 To know for sure what they represent, well take a look at their metadata.
02:38 Under the ArcCatalog options, well switch to this more detailed metadata style.
02:42 The topic on page 78 of your book differentiates the various metadata styles.
02:47 Now when we click on the Description tab for block groups...
02:50 ...we can scroll down and find an option for ArcGIS metadata.
02:53 Under Esri fields and subtypes, we find longer field descriptions...
02:54 Under ESRI Fields and Subtypes, we find longer field descriptions...
02:57 ...that make more sense than their short, cryptic field names.
03:00 There are in fact several measures of income here, including per capita, average...
03:04 ...and aggregate.

03:05 The one well use contains the attribute 2008 median household income.
03:11 The median household income for Los Angeles is $48,610.
03:16 So well round up and type less than or equal to $50,000 as the definition value...
03:21 ...into our data requirements table and median household income...
03:24 ...as the attribute data to be analyzed.
03:27 Late in the analysis process, well be evaluating a short list of candidates...
03:31 ...in terms of the number of people they serve.
03:33 Well use this block points dataset as a means to accurately sum up populations...
03:38 ...into specific quarter-mile service zones.
03:41 In quantitative terms, this looks like less than or equal to .25 miles as the definition.
03:48 Before exiting ArcCatalog, well switch back to the default Item Descriptions metadata style.

Esri 2015 http://www.esri.com