Data Collection and Project Overview

                Goals and Objectives:

In the Context of this lab project for Geography 337, students will be learning how to properly download and use data gathered from several online platforms by a variety of organizations. The purpose of learning proper data management is to make sure students are comfortable with seeing and using multiple different data formats and download platforms. Previous to this lab, students have been given “canned” data from Esri services which is already perfectly organized and groomed for easy use in assignments. In the real world of data, clean and perfectly groomed data is never a sure thing. In order to prepare for future jobs this project aims to further familiarize students with proper techniques in downloading and using data in a geographic context of mining in Wisconsin for sand used primarily in hydrofracture mining conducted across the country for natural gas and oil used to produce energy.

General Methods Used:

                To get started with this semester long project, students first needed to obtain data from different sources online. Our first stop for information was the US Department of Transportation to get NTAD data on the railway network. The online downloading platform for this site was easy to manage and provided quality metadata for the datasets used. The next stop was to compile data for land cover, for this we went to the USGS National map viewer. The map viewer allowed access to a great abundance of different types of information about ground cover across the United States. Specifically we are only interested in the NLCD (National Ground Cover Data) for Tremealeau Co, WI.

                The third stop for data collection in this project is to the USDA, which has a simple Data Gateways platform for downloading data. Here we downloaded the Crop land data layer as well as the metadata for the set which we downloaded. The next step in data acquisition was the Trempealeau County database and land records. This county data base has a bunch of great information we will find useful over the projects duration, because of this we will download the entire database.

                The final data collection step we needed to accomplish was gathering Soil data, which can be done from the USDA NRCS web soil survey (WSS). This dataset was the trickiest to navigate and required more time to get the data into a useable format for our project. After we downloaded the SSURGO data from the WSS, we performed a join and relationship class to get the current soil information into the TMP (Trempealeau, Co.) geo database we downloaded.

Now that we have all the Data in the right place on our computers, we unzipped the files into a working folder. The unzipped files were then looked at, and important features were extracted, in particular the Raster’s for land cover and crop land cover. Now our data acquisition is complete, and can begin the next portion of the project, which is to write a Python script to project and clip/extract by mask the raster’s and load them into our geodatabase.

Figure 1: Displays the three raster's which we downloaded from online platforms. A. displays the Landcover (USGS 2013), B. displays the Crop land cover (USDA 2011), C. displays the  elevation model (DEM) from USGS. D. is a locator map for Trempealeau Co, WI.

Data Accuracy:

 As part of downloading data, reviewing pertinent metadata is very important. Accuracy standards hold great consequence for projects in the real world. After the data was collected, we looked inside each metadata set and compiled a chart of how accurate the data is and other important lineage information. This documentation is important for credibility and how confident you can be in the final project to contain real-world truth, and be of use for the application. 

Figure 2: A table of various accuracy information from the metadata compiled from the online sources. 

Python Script

Python script is a native computer code which can be used to run tools and set perimeters inside of Esri's ArcMap program. Python code can be very useful in performing tasks because it is a language which facilitates batch-processing and allows users to process multiple data set simultaneously.Furthermore Python coding also helps organize and keep track of data information prior to the mapping process which streamlines product completion. The Python scripts follow proper formatting protocol which help enable users to perform "Best Practices", and also allows users to further data integrity when using analysis tools.

In this first excersize, we were introduced to python coding, and used it to facilitate the projection, extraction(load) and clip 3 rasters which we downloaded from online sources. For our project, this enabled us to quickly and efficiently work with our raster data sets. Python is very expansive and powerful, and can be used by a variety of computer programs.

Python Code One:

Figure 1: Python coding used to project, extract and clip multiple raster datasets in our Sandmineing project.

Figure 2: Displaying the python code written for exercise 7. The script loads and projects rasters in a Batch format. Delineation and setting variables facilitated a efficient system for the sand mine project.

Blog Post 1

Hydro Fracturing in Western Wisconsin: An Overview

Wisconsin and Fracture Sand: A Brief Introduction

Today, energy consumption in the United States is at an all time high, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Because of this national influence, states like Wisconsin has been put in a special situation. In order to increase domestic production of energy (mainly oil and natural gas), companies across the country have been increasing hydrolic fracturing operations. Hydrolic facturing requires a very specific type of quartz sand which can be used during the fracturing process. Wisconsin contains the greatest deposits of this quartz sand in the United States, and because of this has become a sand mining hot spot. 

Implications: In a variety of ways, frac-sand has become a much debated topic. From economic consequences, to environmental concerns, frac-sand is an important issue. Focusing only on how the sand mining influences the state, several issues can be discussed directly. Firstly, how the sand mining in western Wisconsin effects the local residents (health, and economic functions). Secondly, how the sand mining is transported out of the state to the operational sites where the holes are drilled and gas produced. 

For the purposes of this lab, we will analyze frac-sand efficiency in transportation and mine operations using Esri ArcGIS programs with information provided by the State DNR, and national data from NCRS soil survey, USDS and USDA. The purpose of this blog post specifically is to give background information on the mining operations and the logistics behind the fracturing process. 

Hydrolic Frac-Sand Mining

For decades, hydrolic fracture mining has been a technique used to extract natural gas and oil from deep within the earth surface for industrial, commercial, and residential energy production. Hydrolic-fracturing consists of drilling kilometers down into the earths crust, typically into the layer of shale rock which holds the natural gas and oil, pumping silica sand (Frac-sand for short), water and various chemicals into the hole. After the water and sand has been pumped in at great pressure, the rock fractures releasing the desired gas or oil which is normally trapped by the weight of the rocks pressing down.
This is a simplistic explanation of the highly technical process involved, called horizontal hydrolic fracturing, displayed below:

Figure 1: Horizontal fracturing technique

(http://www.enviromineinc.com/got-frac-sand/)

Silica Sand (Quartz)

Quartz sand is practically suited for use in hydrolic fracturing processes because of its perfectly rounded size, extreme pressure capabilities and uniformity in size. Once the sand is pumped into the the drilled hole, the rounded size props open the small fissures created by the pressure of the water. The water is then pumped out leaving the sand behind keeping the fissures open. If the sand could not withstand such great pressure, the cracks would close leaving the gas or oil unobtainable. 

Quartz sand is also particularly easy to mine, requiring only minimal hole creation and post-mining processes to obtain the completed product.

Figure 2: close up image of silica sand holding a crack open

(www.jasonmunster.com)

Where can the Sand be found?

Wisconsin is located in such a region that contains great deposits of silica sand. This is mainly because the Sands that meet these specifications are mined from poorly cemented Cambrian and Ordovician sandstone's which are abundant in western Wisconsin which were previously marine coastlines during the late Cambrian period. Another advantage of the location of the sand in Wisconsin is that during the periods of glaciation the part of western Wisconsin were left untouched by glaciers leaving the uniform size of the sand intact. 

Figure 3: locations in Wisconsin of Quartz sand 

(http://www.isthmus.com/media/2014/03/20/586CoverIndustrialSandPotential3912.jpg)

Primary regions of Natural gas production

Figure 4: Map of United States showing Natural gas (in red)

(Wisconsin DNR)

Overview of GIS in project

Primarily Geospatial information system can be used to implement efficient and effective routes to direct the traffic of trucks from the mine to a particular rail station for further transport across the country to specific fracturing sites. Another application of GIS programs is operational productivity of the mines. Monitering the volume of sand produced each day or month can be done in a GIS program and be used to ensure peak productivity of the mine and the workers. As we all know time is money, so being efficient and productive to the greatest extent is key to a profitable mining operation. 

Sources:

West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

http://wcwrpc.org/frac-sand-factsheet.pdf (accessed 10.20.15)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/documents/SilicaSandMiningFinal.pdf (accessed 10.19.15)

Isthmus Online Newspaper

http://www.isthmus.com/media/2014/03/20/586CoverIndustrialSandPotential3912.jpg

Image of Quartz Sand:

www.jasonmunster.com (Accessed 10.20.15)

http://www.wintershall.com/

Image of Hydro fracturing Diagram

http://www.enviromineinc.com/got-frac-sand/ (Accessed 10.20.15)

(Courtesy of First Electric Newspaper (2012))