TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM

Project: Introduction to ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Extension

Mr. Ian D. Smith, B. Sc., R.P.Bio.

Prepared By:
Registered Professional BiologistMd Shakhin Uz Zaman
Client: Save the Fictitious Fern-StFF GIS-GM Certificate Candidate
235 Veggie Way, Fonthill, OnatrioNiagara College
L0S 1J0 Niagara-on-the-Lake
L0S 1J0
Subject: Weighted Overlay and Fuzzy analyses for Finlays Fabulous Fractious
Fern.
Date: 20 March, 2017 Project ID: GISC9318-D2

1. Introduction
Once upon a time, Finlays Fabulous Fictitious Fern was abundant in the areas around the Niagara
College Glendale Campus. Now a day, it is in the mode of extinction in that areas. The Niagara
College Horticultural Group, along with the Environmental Restoration Group pretends a re-
introduction into its natural habitat. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the areas suitable
for planting. As a part of this, some criteria for the plant were determined according to
Deliverable 2 - Introduction to ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Extension, to the use of the Multi - Criteria
Evaluation (MCE) and Fuzzy Logic Analysis.

Multi - Criteria Evaluation (MCE) were used to found out the best allocation of land to determine
the areas suitable for planting of the Finlays Fabulous Fictitious Fern. MCE was used to make an
assessment based on the criteria for the plant established according to Deliverable 2.

Moreover, the MCE analysis were re-evaluate using a Fuzzy Overlay Analysis. The Fuzzy Overlay
tool allows the analysis of multiple sets of criteria which were updated by the horticulture
students with detailed experiment.

The main objective was to compare the mentioned two methods and give the recommended
locations where the ferns will thrive. In addition, this project will enhance the knowledge and
skills in using the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Extension.

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2. Study Area
The area of study is in the Glendale Campus of Niagara College, Niagara-On-The Lake, Ontario,
Canada.

Figure 1: Study area

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3. Used Data
As presented in the Terms of Reference for deliverable for assignment 9318-D2, the tasks were
developed through the data available on (X:\GIS Resources\GIS- Second Semester\GISC9308 -
Spatial Analysis\Assignments\Assignment2):

1. GC_Campus_North_Mass_Points.shp;
2. GC_Campus_South_Mass_Points.shp;
3. GC_Campus_North_Breaklines.shp;
4. GC_Campus_South_Breaklines.shp;
5. GC_Area_Soils.shp;
6. Study Area.shp; and
7. IKONOS satellite imagery of Glendale Campus of Niagara College (base map for the
study area).
All the data were projected in same coordinate system (UTM_NAD_83_ZN_17N). The study
area soils data had a small problem as it was not properly aligned with the study area itself.
A clip was performed in ArcGIS to adjust this problem.

4. Weighted Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE)

Before the initiation of the Weighted Overlay Analysis process, the data were prepared by
creating a geodatabase in ArcCatalog where the dataset was imported. In addition, the working
environment was also adjusted as per the required preference. The plant was said to be
reintroduced in patches measuring 4m by 4m. Therefore, it was required to adjust the Raster
analysis pixel coverage to 4 in the Raster Analysis option by selecting the cell size.

The slope, aspect and hillshade analysis were performed after the triangular irregular network
(TIN) raster image was created that combined the North and South Breaklines shapefiles with
the North and South Mass points shapefiles. The TIN surface is a digital structure that is used to
represent surface morphology. It represents the morphology of the Mass points and Breaklines
datasets. Through the TIN, it was possible to create a Hillshade, Aspect and Slope; using the
Hillshade, Aspect, and Slope tools. However, TIN was not undertaken on the soils data for the
analysis. Rather, the soil feature class was converted to raster.

The criteria in the Term of Reference for deliverable 2 were established to determine the most
suitable location(s) for the reintroduction of the fern. Once all criteria were analyzed, some
reclassifications were developed on the Hillshade, Aspect, Slope, and Soil raster images through
the ArcToolBox. A criterion of 3 values was chosen for the weighted overlay table. The assigned
values to the provided criteria were given in the Table-1.

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Table 1: Weighted criteria chosen for the weighted overlay analysis

Output Class Result Assigned

weighted Value
Hillshade 0 to 195 Will grow 1
195 to 235 Will thrive 2
235 to 255 Will not grow 1

Aspect 247 to 360 2

Slope 0 to 20 No growth, 1
20 to 65 Sparse to full growth 2
65 to 90 No growth. 1

Soil Escarpment soils Best suited 3

Toledo and Cashel Reasonably well suited 2
Beverley, Peel, Haldimand Not at all suited 1
and Lincoln clays
Areas not mapped are Not suitable 1
urbanized
After the weighted criteria for all the variables, the weighted overlay analysis was undertaken
using ESRIs ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Extension. The horticultural group also gave information on
the importance of these variables that were applied to each variable while performing the
Weighted Overlay Evaluation. The level importance of each variable was calculated into
percentages. The results of these percentages can be seen in Table-2.

Table 2: Weighted level of importance for the variables

Variable Weighted level of Importance (%)

Slope 47
Aspect 23
Hillshade 15
Soils 15

A flow diagram depicting the processes that were undertaken to the Weighted Overlay Analysis
was given in Figure-2.

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Figure 2: Flow diagram of the Weighted Overlay Analysis

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The results of the suitable locations for the reintroduction of the Finlays Fabulous Fern using the
Weighted Overlay of the MCE was given in the Figure-3.

Figure 3: Formal Layout of the desired layout of the Weighted Overlay Analysis

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5. Fuzzy Overlay Analysis
Fuzzy Overlay Analysis was also conducted to find and recommend the most appropriate areas
where the ferns to be planted. This was done because this would give better information in the
decision-making process as to where to plant the 110 ferns plants (Osmunda Finlayeensis).

Fuzzy Overlay Analysis is a tool that combines the Fuzzy Membership raster based on a selected
overlay type. Moreover, the method applies membership values to the variables to place in a
membership class. The created Aspect, Hillshade, Slope and Soils raster images were needed to
be reclassified according to the new weighed values for the Fuzzy Membership. The criteria
provided by the horticultural group was in Table-3.

Table 3: The Criteria chosen for the Fuzzy overlay analysis

Output Class Result Assigned Value

Hillshade 0 to 180 Will grow very sparsely 1

180 to 195 Will grow but wont thrive 2
195 to 220 Will thrive, 3
220 to 235 Will grow but will not thrive, 4
235 to 255 Will not grow. 5

Aspect 0 to 247 1
247 to 292.5 Very sparse growth 2
292.5 to 337.5 Heavy growth 3
337.5 to 360 Very sparse growth. 4

Slope 0 to 20 Very sparse growth, 1

20 to 35 Sparse growth, 2
35 to 45 Moderate growth, 3

45 to 55 Heavy growth, 4
55 to 65 Sparse growth 5
65 to 90 Very sparse growth. 6

Soil Escarpment soils Best suited 4

Toledo and Cashel Reasonably well suited, 3
Beverley and Peel Poorly suited 2
Haldimand and Lincoln clays Not at all suited 1

Areas not mapped are urbanized Not suitable 0

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Once all criteria were evaluated and a new reclassification of Hillshade, Aspect, Slope and Soil
were completed, Fuzzy Memberships were executed according to the criteria established from
the Term of Reference - Deliverable 2. The values were given in the Table-4.

Table 4: The values of Fuzzy Membership

Variable Membership Type Midpoint Spread

Hillshade Gaussian 3 0.1
Slope Gaussian 3 0.1
Aspect Near 3 0.1
Soils Linear 3 (Max) 0 (Min)
Figure-4 illustrates the processes that were undertaken in ArcGIS to perform the Fuzzy Overlay
Analysis.

Finally, suitable locations for reintroduction of the Finlay's Fabulous Fern were established
through the Fuzzy Overlay Tool. The Fuzzy Overlay analysis result was given in the Figure-5.

6. Findings
The labeled yellow features in the formal layout in Figure-3 were calculated as the desirable areas
where the Osmunda Finlayensis ferns will thrive. These areas were in the escarpment part of the
study area. The area was calculated as the maximum desirable pixel values under the MCE
analysis. These areas were produced a pixel count of 336 which exceeds the desired allowance
for the client. Under this pixel count, the 110 ferns can be easily planted as this area. It should
be noted that the MCE provides a general area where the ferns will thrive. On the other hand,
the Fuzzy Overlay effort will produce a better number of pixel counts.

The labeled red and cyan features in Figure-5 were the produced results for fuzzy analysis. They
were in the escarpment area where it the ferns will thrive. To compute the best possible areas,
the symbology of the map was changed to unique values in the layer properties in ArcMap. The
results of the unique values showed that the red labelled area produced a pixel count of 155 and
the cyan labelled area produced a pixel count of 144. Again, this value surpasses the required
110 space required by the client. Therefore, the client can use the Fuzzy Overlay Model as well
to plant the ferns.

It was recommended for the client to choose either method to plant the ferns as both analysis
produced values that were higher than the desired amount the client wants to plant. It was found
that most desirable zones for the reintroduction of Finnlayensis Fern were located on the
escarpment at the south of Niagara College Glendale Campus. The client should plant these ferns
close to the pathways so that the habitat in this area will not majorly affected. Therefore, the red
circled area was recommended as shown in Figure-6.

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Figure 4: Flow diagram of the Fuzzy Overlay Analysis process

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Figure 5: Formal Layout of the desired layout of the Fuzzy Overlay Analysis

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Figure 6: Layout for the both Weighted and Fuzzy Overlay Analysis

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6. References
1. Smith, I. 2017: GISC 9318-Terms of Reference- Introduction to ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
Extension.