Some Further Developments of the Echo::System Project

mbmosher's channel shows some the raster layers that I compiled for the echo::system project.




Find out more here: http://ame2.asu.edu/projects/echoSystem/

Syntax Invaders

I wasnt going to let a reversed brace and parenthesis ruin my day

bring it on!

Traverse Line With Multiple Vertices

Command Line Execute of Path Tracing Program

Path With Multiple Vertices's, After Traveling Halfway Down

Close Up Of Location After Running Program

 

Way-point finding algorithm

            The 'path' is a multi-segment line, 'poly-line', each segment is composed of a start and end vertices. The more detailed the path the more segments are needed to describe the shape of the poly-line.  The poly-line for the Echo::System project was relatively coarse (in comparison to the 75881 meters that path traversed) using 30 vertices (ie pairs of x and y coordinates); however,  30 vertices is adequate. The goal is to 1) render the current location on a map and 2) use the new coordinates to perform a spatial query of a database, with a 100 meter buffer. The spatial query was an intersection of the geometry in the database with a circle buffer around the way-point. 

            The Algorithm to find a 'way point' for any distance along the path  is a combination of the pythagorean theorem, a line interpolation function, and a few if statements to handle the fringe cases.  The algorithm takes a distance and returns the coordinates of the way-point, ie the current location.  The way-point can then be rendered, after scaling, in a graphic interface or the way-point is used, with-out scaling, to query the spatial database. 

            All the vertices were captured by hand digitization in a GIS (Geographic Information System).  Here, the vertices that are found in this report are accurate when used in the projection system  UTM 27 12N (The 1927 standard of projection, in central Arizona 12N.   However, any means of capturing or simply writing  a set of coordinates would work—depending of the application and subsequent utilization of the way point geometry. For example, to simply render a moving object through a Cartesian coordinate system, one could simply write the coordinates of that system in two arrays—one for x and one for y and then apply the algorithm iteratively to have an object traverse the set of vertices.

 

**PYTHON CODE**




**Though this is python syntax, the algorithm and structure of data is easy to read and simple to convert to any language.**




import math

import sys

"""THE X AND Y ARRAY< UTM COORIDINATES NAD27 12N"""

XCOORD = [412289.298439, 412726.272491,412762.686995, 412981.174021, 421975.556587, 422011.971091, 421866.313074, 422011.971091,421793.484065, 421731.148716, 421811.604292, 421802.707074, 421724.811872, 421684.240552, 423213.649734, 429386.697708, 430136.355440, 430751.452127, 432353.690317, 433591.783463, 434028.757515, 435048.363636, 442985.698246, 451179.989048, 451088.439122, 450488.113466, ]

YCOORD = [3698314.413159, 3698277.998655, 3697622.537577, 3697404.050552, 3697404.050552, 3694873.242502, 3694509.097458, 3693926.465389, 3693198.175303, 3682258.321551, 3681768.668214, 3681288.218442, 3681146.205408, 3674025.938781, 3673133.783425, 3666978.075473, 3665894.790950, 3664813.069189, 3664194.022616, 3662701.027939, 3660916.717227, 3658731.846969, 3651541.523362, 3651428.170527, 3649901.843337, 3649790.545163,]

#needs length of line, and distance

def getPercentPosition(d, l):                             

            p = d/l                                                  #percent of line travelled

            return p                                     #returns a fraction of distance/totalLength (ie .5 halfway)

# coordinates of segment ((a1,b1)(a2,b2)) and how far we are inbetween

def getCoordinatesOnLine(a1, a2, b1, b2, percentPosition):       

            p = percentPosition

            w1 = (a1 * (1-p)) + b1 * p                                               # for the x coordinate

            w2 = (a2 * (1-p)) + b2 * p                                                # for the y coordinate

            return w1, w2                                                    

# good ol' pythagorean, length of line in 2 dimensions

def getLengthOfLine(a1,a2,b1,b2):                                            

            l = math.sqrt(math.pow((b1-a1),2)+(math.pow((b2-a2),2)))

            return l

#make an array for each of the segment ((XCOOR,YCOOR)(XCOOR+1,YCOOR+1))

def buildLengthTable():                                                 

            totalLength = 0.0                                               #total length of arcs:

            for i in range(0, len(XCOORD)-1):          

                        l = getLengthOfLine(XCOORD[i], YCOORD[i], XCOORD[i+1], YCOORD[i+1])

                        segmentLength.append(l)

                        totalLength = l + totalLength

def segmentByCount(distance):

            distanceToTravelonSegment = distance

            for segment in segmentLength:              # go through each element in segmentLength[].

                        # if the distance to travel is less than the first segment, then your done.

                        if distanceToTravelonSegment

                                    # we've arrived at the segment where we will stop.

                                    break                                       

                        # if the distance to travel is greater than the current segment.

                        if distanceToTravelonSegment>segment:           

                                    # the segment is traveled, the distanceToTravel is lessened.

                                    distanceToTravelonSegment =  distanceToTravelonSegment - segment   

                                    count = count + 1

            return distanceToTravelonSegment, count

def main(distance):

            distanceToTravel = sys.argv[1]   # The argument provided by the caller

            segmentLength = []                               # array of all the segment lengths

            totalLength = 0.0                                   # total length of all arcs (nice to know)

            distanceToTravel= 0.0                # the distance that will be traveled

            w1 = 0.0                                                # coordinates on line after distance traveled

            w2 = 0.0                                                # coordinates on line after distance traveled

            count = 0

            buildLengthTable()

            distanceToTravel, count = segmentBYCount(distance)

            positionOnline = getPercentPosition(distanceToTravel,segmentLength[count])

            w1, w2 = getCoordinatesOnLine(XCOORD[count], YCOORD[count], XCOORD[count+1], YCOORD[count+1], positionOnline)

            print "UTM coordinates: ", w1, w2

 

Updates to the Echo::GUI

Echo::System

I'll be now reporting all of my Echo::System Project activity on this page.
The main site for Echo::System can be found here:http://www.echo-system.org/

Learning To Program

Learning To Program

House Keeping:
1) Using the Command Prompt:
Its integral to programming that you use the command prompt.
Go to C:/Windows/System32/cmd.exe (Windows XP) and make a short cut on your desktop.
Right Click the Short Cut and Change the Properties including:

--Start in: This is a great way to have your command prompt open in your working directory everytime. That way you don't need to cd, change directory, to get to your everyday programs; or you dont need to type long directory path names to run common programs.
--Cool! you can also change the colors, layout, and more--so your command prompt is fun/functional

From Urban Ecological Processes

1)A) Navigating the Command Promt
--cd (change directory)
--cd .. (go back a directory)
--Path (display paths)
--mkdir (in cmd. promt type help mkdir for easy explanation to make directories)
--Start . (opens explorer for current directory)
--Start .. (opens explorer for one directory up)
--C:\windows\java> CD ..\system32  --> C:\windows\system32
Moving up and down the folder tree in one command. CD (change dir), .. (move down tree), then go to file brilliant!
--fc filename.txt filename1.txt (prints the contents of two texts so comparisons can be made)

Command Prompt while running Programs
java Assignment1 < input1.txt > myout1.txt  //runs java program with input for system.in and creates text file

2) Setting up Path so everyday programs can be run with a single, or few, commands.
--Some of these setting are for Python, and some are just good to have for basic programming functionality.
In your Command prompt type Path.
You will see the directories windows looks in when the command prompt runs a program.
--To edit Path, so that it includes directories where you will store your programs you can do 2 things:
     Right click on My Computer, go to properties, click on the advanced tab, click on the Environment Button and look for
     Path in either user variables or system variables, I can't explain the difference, so I put in both.
     Now this is only where Windows or the Command Prompt looks to execute files.

From Urban Ecological Processes

To change the Python Path  go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Python\PythonCore\2.6\PythonPath in Registry Editor and add your paths where you would like Python to search for Programs

From Urban Ecological Processes

To change Java Path

"In
Windows 2000/XP, open "Control Panel". (You might be able to get there
by going through "Start" -> "Settings") Select "System". (you might
need to select "Performance and Maintenance" before this) Select
"Advanced" Select "Environmental variables" Add C:. to CLASSPATH and
PATH. If it already contains something like: D:\java\. Then you need to
add C:. as D:\java\.;C:. Then click OK buttons to get out. Then reboot
your computer. "
(Taken from Object Oriented Programing course ASU CSE 205)

There is some  convention on changing paths--do some searching to determine what they are; however I can tell you that it would be a good habit to make a folder named bin. And begin to Save your main programs there

Next, I will start adding to my bin file and try to start running programs with less effort.
Also, I will start exploring using Python IDLE to more interactively clean up and run programs.

Untangling the Variability in Urban Ecological Processes: Socioecological Drivers of Residential Landscape Management and Ecosystem Responses

Notes_CAP-LTER_LARSON PROJECT

Title:
Untangling the Variability in Urban Ecological Processes: Socioecological Drivers of Residential Landscape Management and Ecosystem Response
Hypothesis Question:
! What are the factors that drive residential landscape management decisions, and how do these practices affect ecological processes, specifically biogeochemistry?
Methodoloy:
! We will evaluate how landscape types (xeriscape yards, turfgrass lawns), irrigation practices (technology, frequency), and the application of agrichemical products (fertilizers, pesticides) impact soil nutrients, microbial processes, and emissions of trace gases into the atmosphere.
! Through an integrated sampling design and field work, we aim to investigate coupled socioecological processes by explicitly linking reported landscape practices from social surveys to biogeochemical responses.
Discussion:
! Small area globally, intensively managed urban landscapes such as lawns are increasingly prevalent. Turfgrass is now the largest irrigated crop in the U.S. (Milesi et al. 2005 covering 10-16 million hectares (Robbins et al. 2001). Alternative residential landscapes, such as water efficient xeriscapes, are often planted with densely spaced productive species that are drip irrigated, raked, and pruned (Martin 2001).
Conclusion:
! Ultimately, How are diverse homeowner practices impacting biogeochemical cycling?
Few studies have linked the drivers of residential land management to ecological impacts.
Location
In the arid region of Phoenix, AZ.
-----------------------------------------------------------
LTER support through a Social Science Supplement grant

Incorporating ecology into stormwater management solutions

Urbanization modifies hydrologic processes and contributes to contaminant loads in stormwater runoff. These relationships are well established and have been documented by numerous studies. However, most studies relate stormwater runoff volume and water quality to bulk measures of urbanization such as broad land-use categories (e.g., urban/undeveloped) or percent impervious cover (Dougherty et al. 2006). These bulk measures do not adequately reflect the complex structure of urban catchments that may influence stormwater runoff (Groffman et al. 2004, Carle et al. 2005, Walsh et al. 2005). Further, most stormwater studies have addressed conditions in the more mesic eastern United States (and other countries) that may differ from the unique monsoon storms of the arid Southwest. Thus, complex dynamics among catchment characteristics, storm attributes, and runoff in highly urbanized settings of the Southwest are poorly understood. A better understanding of the complex relationships between urban development patterns and stormwater runoff that are specific to the arid Southwest is essential to meet these challenges and to manage stormwater runoff effectively.

CAP-LTER Project DetailsIncorporating ecology into stormwater management solutions
Personnel:
Nancy Grimm (Principal Investigator)
Rebecca Hale (Graduate Research Assistant)

Project Begin: 2008

City of Phoenix Resources

CITY OF PHOENIX - NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Phoenix Neighborhood
Maps, Meetings, Projects

§Map Gallery§Public Meetings§Capital Improvement Projects§

Back Yard Garden Video From Peak Moments: Crimson and Clover

As a culture, we've taken a few steps back--De-evolution. Complex systems such as the creation of food, cloaths, shelter, and waste have moved from out of our hands and into compartamentalized sources and sinks.

We need to move to the back-yard garden, community gardens, back-yard waste composting, and community recycling.

Domestic vs. Wild non-human animal

So here I am walking to the USF shuttle stop and I start thinking about this cat that I like to see on the path I take and how I would like a cat when I move out of my apartment.

I hardley ever see the cat anymore but the few times that I had we played and acted like we always new eachother-thats a lot of fun for me (and the cat too cause I'm fun to play with). So I start wishing that I had a cat at home so I could see a little buddy like that more often-something more predictable (of coarse).

Well then I start thinking about how much fun it is to have a little non-human animal friend that is only a little dependent on me, but also very free; like that squirrel in your yard you always give nuts to, or a great blue heron that comes to your house everyday in the morning to get some fish, or a wild-domestic cat that hangs out near your house, keeps you company while your in the yard, and hides under your car when your home, all cause you leave a bowl of food outside. (I guess whether the non-human animals hang out or not is completely dependent on what they get out of the deal-mostly food).

And just as I get done fantasising about all the great opportunites we all have with the living creatures around us, and all the great things we can do for one another, I walk around the corner and see a dead racoon in the road. Now some may think that 'one dead racoon among many living racoons' big deal; but actually here in Tampa Florida I hardely ever see racoons, I dunno why-I just don't think the population is thriving as much as it could.

And to be a little poetic, as I looked at the dead racoon in the road, I few things went through my head. Should I be the brave soul to pull the dead body from the road before it become completely dismembered? Am I the only one who cares about this dead racoon? Who is going to miss that awsome biotic being?

And my answers are: I should pull the dead racoon from the middle of the road-because I would want someone to do that for me. Many people cared; as they drove by, or sat at the bus stop, everyone noticed the dead racoon, everyone made clear intentions not to hit the carcass anymore, everyone was interested as to what had happend to produce this body now laying lifeless in the road. I dont know if anyone will miss this specific creature of the night; I dont think most people know how to miss a non-human animal that is out at night doing a great service for us all.

Many people will notice the animal now dead in the road, because they are respectful of life and because they are interested in that life. However, most people do not know how to live a life aware of those creatures and most people dont know what to do to show respect.

Here are some tips: enjoy the fact that when you come out of your house in the morning and you see that an animal has broken open your trash the previous night, and enjoy it for this reason-instead of those scraps of food going to the land fill as trash, the food is being consumed on your own piece of land, and that creature is then going to sit in your rose bush and fertilize it, and then that creature is going to sit near your window and sing you a sweet song as you sleep, and then that creature is going to clean up all the litter from your parking lot, all for free! OR it could be that cat I was talking about, that on the way to and from work he was hanging out, happy after eating a nice and fresh meal composed of scraps from your dinner last night; and is now going to rub on your leg and wish you a great day!

Loving life.

Muesli Recepie

The Moment you've all been waiting for...

MY Muesli Recipe

(Muesli: Swedish Oatmeal w/nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and whole grains)

Rolled Oats (just a big container of Quaker oats, about 17 servings)
Wheat germ (wheat germ is the nourishment for the oat seed contains antioxidants, vitamin E, and B vitamins!!)
if I can, I also grab some rye flakes, millet flakes, or just a container of mixed grain
Each of the following packages you purchase should be near 20 servings, this will make the ratio in your mix appropriate for a well balanced meal. The amount of servings in a package is on each label.
1 package sliced almonds
1 package chopped walnuts
1 package flaxseed
1 package sunflower seed, unsalted
Raisins
Chopped dates
(dried apricots and pineapple would be good, but I've never done it)
Now mix all ingredients. This makes more than 20 servings, so I would suggest placing all the ingredients into a clean kitchen bag to mix. Check to see that each ingredient can be seen through-out the mix; if, for example, there if very few chopped dates to be seen, consider adding more! Store a weeks worth in an airtight container in the cabinet; and store the rest in the refrigerator.
Preparing Muesli to eat: Whether you prefer water with cinnamon and sugar, Yogurt and honey, or milk (which I haven't tried yet) the directions are as follow.
Water/Milk-Add 3/4 cup boiling water to 3/4 cup Muesli mix, let sit for 4 minutes or longer.
Yogurt-Add 1 cup yogurt to 3/4 cup Muesli mix, let sit in refrigerator overnight, add honey before or after you let it sit.
Add fresh fruit, such as banana or apple, and enjoy!!!

Tips while shopping: Chopped dates are found in the produce sections, raisins and nuts are found not only in the produce section but also in there own aisle.

How to store

If I ruled the world, I’d free all my sons.

I love'em love'em baby.~

I have a dream; I think about it like an addict. I'm addicted to my vision. I feel something whole, yet I've only lived it pieces.

I dream of a time where neighbors work together. I see people sharing, participating, seeking help, lending a hand, and investing into the soil, water, air, and biotic community. I feel that it is not unlike the time we are in now; so it is also, full of much potential, opportunity, riches, engagement, and excitement as well as times that are not so full of life.

What happens here is that people waste nothing; for they find a great deal of value in all of the material and energy of thier surroundings. And because they understand that this ecology is valuable they become stewards of their property, street, sub-division, and region.

Homes, wasting nothing, seperate their garbage, compost thier organics, burn paper to heat thier homes, use water that rains onto thier homes, and process some materials into re-usable tools and materials. Energy from the sun, wind, water, and biotic processes are harnesed for the purposes of processing materials--which support the lifestyle of the human inhabitants.

Material and energy are traded first locally, but then regionally. Complex communication and organization networks are created as people specialize in the gathering and re-distribution of materials. Because everything is of value, money is earned by gathering and storing materials, while processing them so they can be sold at a higher price, and when a quantity that is large enough to sell is gathered, the material is sold to the community. The money is stored in the communities bank; from here the credits are transfered to the patrons as the deposition and withdrawl of materials from the community are made.

Every type of material can be included in the communities bank--the communities bank simply needs a location to store the material. This would include an electronics shop, recycling centers, compost centers, gardens, and other markets. The bank does not make any money from the community, for the bank is simply a custodian of the materials, and the materials trasactions, cataloging, and other tabulations.

Depending on the complexities of the markets, available tools, technologies, and long term investments of the community I see most common materials, such as organics, paper, glass, and plastics, re-used directly in the community. Organics form the soil for growing produce--which provide food, more organics, and surpluses for the market. Paper can be burnt for fuel, recycled, re-used, or converted to create another material. Glass can be used for the preservation of food surpluses or remelted for the communities building needs. Plasitics have a vast number of re-uses such as building materials and carpeting. Thier will be a greater need for efficient re-use of the materials, so tools can be created for gathering and processing and these tools can be made built from recylcled materials.

I can imagine small blacksmith sheds, tractors, armies of shovels, plots of land with primative plastic and metal smelting, and privatly owned facilties, owned by the community, that harness the vast improvements of efficient made through economies of scale.

Many of these processes are already happeing. Whats not happening is mass individual co-operation and faith. Their are paradigms upon paradigms; and so my dream is very confusing to make into a reality. What I need to do is to find the things that I like to-do, that aren't aligned prima facie , at first glace, and do those things. What should happen is something close to what I dreamed of. I need to do something; because I can't just keeping dreaming.

The paradigm is my dream involves more than just myself participating and my dream requires a bit of civil disobedience, for new rights, programs, and regulations would have to be instituted. So I don't want to be out there, sorting my trash, digging in my compost pile, growing my produce, working on my ecosystem--alone. Those activities cannot prevent me from being evicted from my property--though their far more valuble then what most audits would report.

So perhaps what needs to be done is the audit.

How much do we pay a year for plumbing and waste disposal.

If a neighborhood pooled thier money and paid for this treatment 'in house', thus starting the process of community banks, what are the cost and benefits? How much does the communities buisnesses pay for these proceses?

Environmentalist and Environmental Regulator

The Differences Between a Environmentalist and an Environmental Regulator
The degrees of power and authority are the characteristics that best describe the differences of an environmental regulator and an environmentalist. Authority is a term, often used in implementation of law, which explains a position of a person that has responsibility and obligations in maintaining a standard. Power is a term to explain influence and ability. With varying degrees of power and authority, both an environmentalist and an environmental regulator provide important functions. Certainly, one person can play both roles; however, defining the roles is critical when a person is charged with the power and authority of regulating the environment (the environmental regulator). This essay will qualitatively explain the difference of an environmental regulator and an environmentalist
An environmentalist can do anything in his or her power to advocate and act as a steward to the natural environment; as history would show, this role does not necessarily require the means of abiding by the law. The intrinsic authority of an environmentalist is to maintain a just philosophy. This philosophy is carried out through the means of right actions and thought; these means are oriented towards managing consumption and waste for the ends of a healthier ecosystem.
The quality of this end is manifested through the power of the environmentalist to manage him or herself and influence other people. So, an environmentalist has power and authority over him- or her-self to maintain a standard of environmental stewardship and advocacy.
An environmental regulator can do only those activities that are in his or her power and authority; most importantly, the authority is delegated to him or her by the legislature, executive body, and maintained by the judiciary. This authority is outlined in laws or statutes and bureaucratic interpretation of laws—rules.
The power of an environmental regulator is over any action, as cited in law, which impacts the natural environment; the means of influence and ability are also designated by law and rules.
An environmental regulator has the power and authority over him- or her-self and the public to maintain a standard of environmental stewardship and advocacy.
As mentioned before, one person can satisfy both roles as an environmentalist and an environmental regulator. However, if and when an environmentalist/environmental regulator is asserting his or her influence and abilities on to the public he or she is charged with the authority to maintain the law; and if the public is receptive then the environmental regulator may advocate environmental stewardship practices.

Environmental Associations and Societies

Certified Environmental Professionals
http://www.abcep.org/
The National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP
https://www.naep.org/
Society of Wetland Scientists
http://www.sws.org/