Vertical Mapper Examples
Vertical Mapper was used to create a
polyline contour map of average household incomes in San
Francisco.
Average income values for blockgroups for the County of San
Francisco were exported from PCensus.
These values were gridded using Inverse Distance Weighting.
The resulting grid was trimmed to the boundary outline of
San
 Francisco.
The contours were created with an interval of $10,000.
Vertical Mapper was used to
create a Natural Neigborhood (Voroni) diagram for McDonald's
Restaurants (marked with stars) in San Francisco.
The edges of each area (also known as a Thiessen polygon)
are equidistant between adjacent outlets.
This technique can be used to select locations that maximize
distance from sister stores or competing ones.
Thiessen polygons create a sense of a chain's location
strategy and provide a tool to visualise the effect of
potential changes in strategy.
Problem: A gold exploration company is evaluating a
new tract of land that has recently become available for staking.
Geological evidence suggests that soil geochemistry is a valid
exploration method for this terrain.
Solution Data from soil samples throughout the area
was downloaded into Vertical Mapper. Soil chemistry is used to
delineate potential areas of interest. Combining this with other
information, the company has developed an effective exploration
model for the area.
Result The company is able to narrow their search
and further define the target areas for future testing. By using
Vertical Mapper to gain a clearer understanding of the geochemical
environment, they have been able to save a great deal of time and
money by narrowing their search areas.
Problem: With the enormous
infrastructure costs associated with installation of a wireless
communications system, it is critical to determine the optimum
location for transmission towers making use of elevation models
along with a map of clutter type covering the area.
Solution: RF propagation modeling software in a desktop
GIS environment allows complex siting decisions to be made with an
easy to use, multi-dimensional product. With Vertical Mapper it is
possible to convert point files of signal strength into grid maps
displaying the coverage of receivable signals over broad map areas.
These coverage grids can be converted to usage contours for display
and analysis purposes.
Result: Using Vertical Mapper, RF engineers can
calculate viewshed maps for the purpose of analyzing elevation
models and aid in the site selection for antenna and microwave tower
placement. This analysis is further enhanced by Vertical Mapper's
intervisibility graphing tools featuring normal earth curvature or
4/3 earth curvature correction.
Problem: A municipal
government must proceed with construction of a new landfill
operation on the edge of the city. The site has been zoned for this
purpose since the mid-60's but residential development since then
has come to within a mile of the proposed site. The planning
committee must reassure property owners that, once operating, the
site will not impact visually on their neighbourhoods.
Solution: Using current topographical data, Vertical
Mapper is used to create a 3D model of the land surface. An aerial
photograph of the subdivision, including the proposed landfill area,
is draped on top of the 3D surface. Viewing the model at different
angles and perspectives depicts how the site will visually affect
the land.
Result: The majority of the residents conceded that
the proposed landfill site, situated on the far side of a high
knoll, will not be visible from their homes. In addition, the
municipality has mapped a new access route to the site that will
avoid any residential areas and will itself be relatively hidden by
the natural topography.
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