Abstract

Application of GIS to Evaluate Siting of New Wireless Tower
Track: Teaching with GIS in Schools
Authors: Susan Kelly

The demand for wireless services is increasing. While some community members welcome a tower proposal with open arms, others question its necessity, placement, and impact on property values. All interested parties benefit from the use of GIS to evaluate and communicate tower placement with decision-makers. Having practiced GIS, ImageJ, and Google Earth spatial analysis techniques in the course of participating in the four month-long NASA-funded Eyes in the Sky professional development program, I have found this authentic scenario to be an engaging platform for high school students and teachers to apply and extend spatial analysis skills. In order to make the investigation accessible to a wide audience, multiple platforms (ArcGIS and My World) have been integrated. The investigation includes consideration of thoroughfares, population, existing wireless towers, elevation, viewshed, coverage range, homes, and wetlands. A number of geoprocessing functions are performed in order to arrive at a defensible conclusion.