Lab 6: Microclimate Data Collection with Phone Application

Introduction:
     This lab taught how to use smartphones to collect microclimate data on an ArcCollector app after creating a normalized geodatabase. The class was broken into seven groups of two which each had a separate zone of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus. Each group collected 20 to 30 points with attached data including temperature, dew point, relative humidity, wind speeds etc. within an hour period. Those points were then compiled and put into an attractive map form.

Figure 1. A photo of me using a kestrel and the ArcCollector app. Taken by my group member

Methodology:
     Since the previous lab did not turn out as anticipated, this lab became a bit more simplified and more suitable for the task. The previous lab focused on the creation of a normalized geodatabase. A geodatabase that's fields were set specifically for the information that was to be recorded, in our case microclimates around campus. The 7 groups of 2 set out and collected points with a Trimble Juno GPS. After collecting points the groups came back in hoping to see the points transferred onto ArcMap, when only one groups worked (my group infact) without reasonable explanation this current lab was created in hopes of a better outcome. The main simplification of this lab was that the professor provided an already normalized geodatabase so that more time could be spent on learning how to download and use the ArcCollector application on our smartphones to collect the data rather than using the previous GPS. In order to connect the normalized geodatabase for the microclimate data to the phones it had to be shared on Esri Online which was done ArcMap while logged into Esri Online. Once the application was downloaded all that had to be done was to log into Esri and download the geodatabase. The application provided a beautifully detailed topographic map of campus which was set as the background. Once in groups again we set out to collect as many points as we could with the smartphones and kestrel meters. The groups collected 20 to 30 points each in an hour time frame in various locations spread through our assigned zone of campus.  After each group successfully transferred the data back into ArcMap they were shared. Since the data was recorded on the phone application the data was automatically recorded and saved online as well. therefore it didnt need to be reshared and once the attribute table was made visible so were the data point collections on the computer screen. The new task was to then compile the data and display on an attractive and effective map.

Figure 2. A screenshot of the phone application on my groupmates phone. The bright green dots indicate recorded points.

Results
     Below is a map of each group's points displaying the recorded temperatures by color and wind speeds by size. My group, #5, had the lower campus zone in the center. The colder temperatures appeared near the river, more forested areas and in shadowed areas behind buildings. It was also noticed that higher wind speeds were recorded in between buildings and on the bridge. Highest temperatures were also found to be in concrete areas that had been in the sun for a long period over the day.

Figure 3. Map of recorded microclimate data around UWEC campus

Only 2 minute issues arose, the first was that not being more familiar with or creating the geodatabase lead to slight confusion and guessing of abbreviations and an inability to input some data like in the notes field. The second, a common issue working with GPS, was the displacement of several points because of proximity to the large buildings on campus, those being only by a few meters each.

Conclusion:
   The ArcCollector app for smartphones turned out to be quite effective in this successful lab. Each group was able to collect enough detailed points and was able to share them with the rest of the class. Those points were then  formatted into a map displaying some of the information gathered. The map above visualizes temperatures and wind speeds at each collected point. The lab was conducted on March 8th of 2016 from 4 to 5pm.