1. Potential Scenic Sites Analysis for the Hill Country Conservancy Nancy A. Heger, ManagerGene Sipes, Assistant Manager Matt Broadaway, GIS AnalystMatt Gray, Web Master Image source: http://www.philadelphianstours.com/

2. Progress Report Brief Project Description Brief Project Description Past Work Past Work Current Work Current Work Work Completed Work Completed Future Work Future Work Final Deliverables Final Deliverables Conclusions Conclusions

3. Purpose Identify potential sites for future preservation by the Hill Country Conservancy (HCC) Identify potential sites for future preservation by the Hill Country Conservancy (HCC) Identify areas that are “scenic” as defined by factors such as topographical relief, proximity to water bodies, and vegetation. Identify areas that are “scenic” as defined by factors such as topographical relief, proximity to water bodies, and vegetation. Provide a map of potential scenic sites that HCC can use to identify areas for future preservation Provide a map of potential scenic sites that HCC can use to identify areas for future preservationSCOPE Study region - 22 county area in Study region - 22 county area in Hill Country Hill Country Will take approximately 3 months Will take approximately 3 months (6 Sept. to 13 Dec.) (6 Sept. to 13 Dec.)

4. Past Work - Model Criteria Road Buffer Road Buffer 3 mile buffer around roads 3 mile buffer around roads Topographic Variation i.e. slope Topographic Variation i.e. slope Areas with more relief preferred Areas with more relief preferred Distance from streams Distance from streams Areas closest to streams preferred Areas closest to streams preferred Distance from State Parks/Historic Sites Distance from State Parks/Historic Sites Areas closest to State Parks preferred Areas closest to State Parks preferred Distance from unique natural feature Distance from unique natural feature e.g. Enchanted Rock Areas near these features preferred Areas near these features preferred Land Use Land Use Areas with preferred vegetation types Areas with preferred vegetation types

5. Current Work Current Model Criteria: Current Model Criteria: Distance from streams Distance from streams Areas closest to streams preferred Areas closest to streams preferred Land Use Land Use Omit all urban areas Omit all urban areas Topographic Variation i.e. slope Topographic Variation i.e. slope Areas with more relief preferred Areas with more relief preferred Reassessment of current suitability model and viewshed analysis Reassessment of current suitability model and viewshed analysis Testing of revised model and refinement of viewshed analysis Testing of revised model and refinement of viewshed analysis

6. Work Completed Data collection and preparation Data collection and preparation Pilot study run on Hays County using scenic suitability model Pilot study run on Hays County using scenic suitability model Viewshed Tests Viewshed Tests

7. Hays County Pilot Study Model needs refinement Model needs refinement Scoring changes Scoring changes Weighting Weighting Variables used Variables used

8. Creation of Tools to View Results Toolbar demo

9. Creation of Tools to View Results

10. Viewshed Tests by County

11. Viewshed From Rivers

12. Future Work Use visualization tools to validate model Use visualization tools to validate model Refine model and scoring system Refine model and scoring system Mosaic county viewsheds and run model on viewable area Mosaic county viewsheds and run model on viewable area Use Arc Scene - ESRI product that allows 3-D visualization Use Arc Scene - ESRI product that allows 3-D visualization

13. Arc Scene

14. FINAL DELIVERABLES Final deliverables will include: Final deliverables will include: A Detailed Final Report (2 copies) A Detailed Final Report (2 copies) Professional Poster for display in the Geography Department Professional Poster for display in the Geography Department Website Website CD (2 copies) containing CD (2 copies) containing All data All data Metadata Metadata Proposal, Progress, and Final reports Proposal, Progress, and Final reports Poster Poster Power Point presentation Power Point presentation Instructions on how to use CD (readme file) Instructions on how to use CD (readme file)

15. Conclusions Conclusions Need model refinement Need model refinement In the process of revising model scoring, weighting, and criteria used to identify scenic areas In the process of revising model scoring, weighting, and criteria used to identify scenic areas Model validation Model validation Once model is refined, it will be validated using SyncArcGE tool Once model is refined, it will be validated using SyncArcGE tool Viewshed analysis on a smaller scale may be do-able Viewshed analysis on a smaller scale may be do-able Currently running county viewsheds, which will be combined to access scenic value of viewable areas. Currently running county viewsheds, which will be combined to access scenic value of viewable areas. Other potential viewing Other potential viewing Arc Scene Arc Scene Outcome Outcome Model will be created that can be used in other areas to determine scenic beauty. Model will be created that can be used in other areas to determine scenic beauty.