From my Data Requirements for Reservoir Site Suitability post, I mentioned the following data layers as possible contributors:

  • Hydrology
  • Soils
  • Vegetation
  • Elevation
  • Roads
  • Parcels
  • Structures
  • Airports

Additional data layers that could be used are:

  • Rain Levels
  • Subdivisions
  • Zoning

The first big test is availability.  If I can’t get the data layer then it doesn’t do me any good to add it to my study.  Layers that I can get are Hydrology (location not flow volume), soils, elevation, roads, parcels, structures, airports, subdivisions, and zoning.  The nine layers here are too many to perform an appropriate suitability analysis.  I need probably either five or seven.

The two layers that jump out at me as the ones not to use are zoning and hydrology.  Hydrology may sound weird as the one to pull, but it seems like I can make a visual call on whether the location falls near some water flow.  The hydrology layer I have does not differentiate between a dry river bed during the summer and a full river throughout the entire year.  And I chose zoning to pull out because that can change and it really has not impact on this study.

The ones remaining are: airports, elevation, parcels, roads, soil, structures, and subdivisions.  I plan to use them in the following ways:

  • Airports - Proximity to reservoir as bodies of water attracts large flock of birds that can cause airplane bird strikes
  • Elevation - Knowing where the water will flow
  • Parcels - Finding who will be impacted and at what cost
  • Roads - Determine which roads may be closed or need a bridge improvement
  • Soil - Provides impermeable area such as clay
  • Structures - Will help identify all building impacted even if outlying from subdivisions
  • Subdivisions - Shows where housing clusters are