Lab 7 Mapping the Station Fire

Wildfires play a significant role in Southern California life. The dry, warm climate characteristic of the area makes wildfires a concern. They affect multiple aspects of life from weather to vegetation to transportation. Here, we will attempt to observe and analyze the effects of the 2009 Los Angeles wildfire on the major roads and highways of the area. By using GIS and mapmaking to combine shape files of the geographic boundaries, fire area and major roads and highways, we can analyze the relation between the fire and its effect on the roads.

8/29

On the first day since the outbreak of the fire, we see that Highway 2 and Big Tujunga Canyon Road are already affected. There is no question that these two major roads/highways are closed off. In addition, Highway 210 is in proximity of the fire area and as a precaution, the roads in the southwest (with Hwy 210) are likely to be closed off also. Soledad Canyon Road or Highway 14 in the north of the map are likely detours/alternate routes to get to/from Los Angeles to the Southwest/Northeast.

8/30

On the second day of the fire, the fire spreads Northwards and Eastwards. This could be seen by not only comparing the fire shapefiles of 8/30 to 8/29, but also the two shapes of varying times on 8/30. In addition to the roads/highways mentioned in 8/29, Highway N3, Soledad Canyon Rd, and Highway 14 are likely to be closed off also due to the increased spread of the wildfire.

8/31

On the third day of the fire, we see that the fire has not spread Northwards but has spread in the Eastern direction. The fire has now consumed part of Sand Canyon Road, making it more and more difficult to move from/to Los Angeles in the Northeast/Southwest direction by car. From the relatively smaller number of major roads/highways, it can also be inferred that the wildfire area is less urban and more mountainous compared to the web of roads/highways seen in the Southern part of the map.

9/01

9/02

On the fourth and fifth days of the wildfire, by comparing the relative sizes of the wildfire polygons it can be seen that the fire is starting to get under control and contained. The size of the fire ceases to increase as rapidly as it did in the first few days of the wildfire. Through overlapping the various layers related to the wildfire of Los Angeles (county lines, roads, highways, wildfire, California) in GIS, the progress of the fire can be monitored, along with its effect on the roads. A reference map to give the reader background information on the subject and a thematic map to focus on the cause-effect of that subject can be created. Combined, the reference and thematic maps enable one to answer questions such as “which roads are closed when and where?”.

Works Cited

Mapshare California State (Generalized). GIS at UCLA. Web.<http://gis.ats.ucla.edu//Mapshare/Download.cfm?FilePath=/Data/ESRI/9.3/Data%20and%20Maps%20and%20StreetMap%20North%20America/California/census/states.zip&GISDataID=4910>.

Mapshare Los Angeles County (2008). GIS at UCLA. Web. <http://gis.ats.ucla.edu//Mapshare/Download.cfm?FilePath=/Data/ESRI/9.3/Data%20and%20Maps%20and%20StreetMap%20North%20America/LACounty/LACounty_dtl_cnty_Select.zip&GISDataID=5540>.

Mapshare Los Angeles County Highways (1.04mb ver). GIS at UCLA. Web. <http://gis.ats.ucla.edu//Mapshare/Download.cfm?FilePath=/Data/ESRI/9.3/Data%20and%20Maps%20and%20StreetMap%20North%20America/LACounty/LACounty_highways.zip&GISDataID=5544>.

Mapshare Major Cities. GIS at UCLA. Web. <http://gis.ats.ucla.edu//Mapshare/Download.cfm?FilePath=/Data/ESRI/9.3/Data%20and%20Maps%20and%20StreetMap%20North%20America/LACounty/LACounty_citiesmjr.zip&GISDataID=5538>.

Mapshare Major Roads. GIS at UCLA. Web. <http://gis.ats.ucla.edu//Mapshare/Download.cfm?FilePath=/Data/ESRI/9.3/Data%20and%20Maps%20and%20StreetMap%20North%20America/LACounty/LACounty_mroads.zip&GISDataID=5551>.