ILO-6. Automation of data management tasks

Due Oct 25, 2012 by 3pm
Points 100
Submitting a file upload
Available after Oct 11, 2012 at 3pm

Learning Objectives

Learn the basic concepts of data management automation using Python.
Learn Python scripting using the ArcPy module for automation of geospatial data management and analysis tasks.
Learn Python scripting using the PyODBC module for automation of SQL Server based data management tasks.

Computer and Data Requirements

Data: The Little Bear River ODM database.
Software: Microsoft SQL Server access, ESRI ArcGIS 10.0 or 10.1, PyODBC. Please refer to the PPT slides presented in class for the relevant URL’s to get this software.

The Problem

Let’s consider the scenario in which you have accessed a number of time series observation weather data station files from the Utah Climate Center web site and you would like to automate the activity of reading them, parsing them, and uploading them into an ODM style database on Microsoft SQL Server. You may also want to estimate the spatial distribution of the parameter in question and generate a large PDF file with a series of custom maps showing your interpolated variable. This is a perfect problem for the tools we studied this week – Python coding using ArcPy and PyODBC!

Deliverable

Upload 10-15 weather station precipitation data files to your ODM database on SQL Server. Download data for all sites for a single year. Automatically generate a PDF file with 12 maps of interpolated precipitation data for a region of interest in Utah. Prepare a onepage report of your effort and attach the Python script you wrote, and your final PDF file of maps as an appendix.

Some more details and suggested approach here: Link
A sample Python script for parsing and uploading your Utah Climate Center GHCN precipitation data is here Link: You are welcome to use this script as a starting point, customizing it to meet your needs. For part two of the exercise, you'll need to write your own script from scratch (for the GIS interpolation part).
A rubric for this ILO is here: Link Please make sure to include it in your submission with your self evaluation.