I have gained valuable knowledge and experience in Coursera's GIS specialization. Experience using Model Builder has been elusive in the professional setting, but use of this ArcMap feature has been essential in Imagery, Automation and Applications, which is the fourth course in the specialization.

Experience using Model Builder

Workflow
In ArcMap, develop a model to determine the best site for a new school.
  • Set the model properties. Processing Extent and Raster Analysis are set to Same as Layer Elevation in Model Properties.
  • Click the Environments tab, check the Extent box, then click the Values button. Do the same for Raster Analysis.
  • This will establish the gdb I made, named Scratch.gdb, as the default destination for new output.
  • Add layers: elevation, schools, rec_sites to the model
  • Add tools to the model: Slope, Euclidean Dist (2x, for schools and rec_sites)

  • Establish the tool parameters: right click the tool, select Open, then establish the input raster, name the output raster, then enter 0.3048 to convert the output unit from feet to meters.

  • After running the model, each output layer can be added to the display by right clicking and selecting Add to Display
  • Reclassify each of the 3 outputs.

  • Con tool - If the value of Suitable Areas = 9, the output variable's cells will receive that value.
  • Final model:

  • Use the Majority Filter tool.
  • The value of 8 in Number of neighbors to use will establish a 3-by-3 cell window for each cell as the filter kernel. "Majority" in Replacement threshold means a cell will retain its value if 5 of its neighbors share its value. After having run this tool, areas considered too small were removed.
  • Use the Raster to Polygon tool
  • Convert the Filtered Optional Areas raster to polygon and reduce the stair-step effect when a raster is converted to a polygon by leaving the Simplify polygons checked by default.
  • Use the Select by Location tool to select the optimal areas that intersect with roads

  • Select a subset of optimal areas based on areas >= 25000 square meters

  • This is the end result!

    Website Designed with HTML5, CSS and Bootstrap 4 in Notepad++ by Doug Wolfinger. © 2020 Doug Wolfinger