Creating a landscape model

Creating a landscape model involves several steps that include selecting the layers to include in the model and assigning weights to the classes and the layers themselves. You can also change the basemap and color ramp associated with the model results.

In this example, we will go through the process of selecting a site for a new park in a community.

Signing in to Landscape Modeler

Before a landscape model can be created, you must sign in to the Landscape Modeler web app. This requires an ArcGIS Online organizational account.

Steps:

1. Start a web browser and open the Landscape Modeler page.

   A sign-in page appears.

2. Type your user name in the Username text box.
3. Type your password in the Password text box.
4. Click Sign In.

Selecting feature layers

The next step in creating a landscape model is selecting the layers to include. These layers represent the data needed to provide meaningful analysis so the best site for a new park can be determined. For this project, we are going to use the Critical Habitat, Development Risk, Insect and Disease Risk, and Wildland-Urban Interface layers.

Steps:

1. If necessary, click Select Layers.

   The Select Layers properties appear.

2. Check the check boxes next to the following layers.
   • Critical Habitat
   • Development Risk
   • Insect and Disease Risk
   • Wildland-Urban Interface

Assigning weights to the layers and choosing a color ramp

After the layers have been selected, you can assign percentages to the different layers and weights to the classes within each one. The classes allow you to assign values to categories within a layer. This provides a greater level of granularity for determining the importance of a category of information in the layer. For example, by assigning a 9 to the Endangered class in the Critical Habitat layer, you indicate that this class will have the highest level of importance in the model results.

For more information on layer weights and classes, see Defining layer weights and classes.

You can also change the color ramp so the areas of high suitability appear in green instead of red.

Steps:

1. Click Design Model at the bottom of the Landscape Modeler pane.
2. Assign percentages to the layers.
   • Critical Habitat = 40
   • Development Risk = 40
   • Insect and Disease Risk = 10
   • Wildland-Urban Interface = 10
3. Expand the Critical Habitat layer and verify the weights are set as follows:
   • Critical Habitat = 9
   • Noncritical = 0
4. Expand the Development Risk layer and verify the weights are set as follows:
   • No Risk = 0
   • Low = 5
   • Moderate = 5
   • High = 8
   • Very High = 9
5. Expand the Insect and Disease Risk layer and verify the weights are set as follows:
   • Low = 1
   • High = 9
   • Medium = 5
6. Expand the Wildland-Urban Interface layer and verify the weights are set as follows:
   • Interface = 1
   • Noninterface = 9
7. Optionally click the Color Ramp drop-down arrow and choose a different color ramp.

   This is the color scheme used to display the model results. By default, the areas with high suitability are displayed in green.

8. Click Run Model to view the results of the model.

Save the model

Once you run the model, you can save it so it can be reused at a later time.

Steps:

1. Click Save on the Landscape Modeler pane.

   The Save Model dialog box appears.

2. Type Potential Park Site in the Title text box.

   The Description text box is automatically populated with the names of the layers used in the models and the percentage assigned to each.

3. Click the Category drop-down arrow and choose People & Places.
4. Click Save.

   The model is saved using the account you used to sign in to ArcGIS Online.