SPOT Analysis

The resolution for the panchromatic image looks much higher. The picture looks much clear as compared to the Multi spectral image. But at the same time it is easier to distinguish between the vegetation (red), built up areas and water (blue) in MSS which gives different color to each. The pan image is black and white and hence difficult to identify.

Exercise II: What can you see?

What problems you infer or identify in using type of Picture (attachment 2)?
The vegetation is in shades of red which makes it difficult to identify specific details or type of vegetation. It is difficult to pin point which is forest cover, grass land etc. The blue shades mostly look like built up area but to identify types of buildings etc is not easy. The major intersections and roads can be seen easily but smaller lanes and details are not easily noticeable.

Contour Map showing Mean Annual Preciptation

I used manual interpolation method for contour map. The minimum value of 45" and maximum value of 70" is used. The isohyet interval is 5 inches. The width of contour lines is 2 points.

Wind Farm Location in Great Lakes

The potential off shore wind farm location is near "Water intake crib" which is around 3-4 miles off from the NW of the downtown Cleveland,OH.
Reasons for selecting this location:
1. There is estimated wind power of class 3 to class 5 in offshore areas of Lake Erie. Prevailing northerly and westerly winds have a long, smooth fetch across Lake Erie which results in strong winter and spring winds, especially along the coastal areas [1].
2. Already a pilot project is being done in the selected location.
3. BERR criterias: a) The average winds on the lake Erie are the highest recorded in the state. The average wind speed in the location is 16.4 mph which is excellent for power generation(utility scale wind farms require average of 15.7 mph). Prevailing winds are Southwest [2].
b) There could be impact on aquatic organisms, fishes due to placing the wind turbines , electrical cables. But this would not be a long term problem according to the study by DLZ Ohio Inc., a subcontractor to JW Great Lakes .
c) The nearest dwelling is around 12 miles from the location which satisfies the noise and shadow flicker problem criteria in BERR. According to the BERR criteria for noise, if the turbine to receptor is between 200 & 300 m, then noise power level is less than 50dBA. Also, source noise level of wind turbine is between 100-106dBA[3]. As regards to the nearest port "Cleveland" is nearly 16 miles from the location.
d) It being a off shore site, landscape visual impact would not be a reason for concern.
Sources:
[1] http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/chp3.html#lake
[2](http://blog.cleveland.com/pdgraphics/2008/09/large_01FGWIND.jpg)
[3] http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/planning/onshore-wind/noise/page18728.html

FlowMap

I used maximum line width of 40 points. I did not put the heading for the legend because of space constraint.

CARTOGRAM

Contiguous Cartogram, Robinson Projection; 10 Iterations

Non-Contiguous, Feature shape Cartogram

Non Contiguous Circular Cartogram (Most appropriate)

I feel Non Contiguous Circular Cartogram is most appropriate for showing the World's GDP. One can easily figure out the countries GDP from the changing size of circles. I have added both Feature shape and circular types of Noncontiguous cartogram just for comparison.

Dot Distribution Map