Final Project

Results

After transferring my data into ArcMap for aesthetic purposes, the final result of my analysis was born.

As I first hypothesized, the highest abundance of suitable locations is located in the downtown core of Maple Ridge. Therefore, I chose to show a zoomed extent of this area on the map. Areas that are red are the most suitable, and green areas are the least suitable (although still suitable), while areas without the obvious red/yellow/orange/green are deemed as unsuitable locations. I chose to show the neighbourhoods on the final map so that investors, or citizens of these areas, can take note and start planning development for these neighbourhoods. As well, food business licenses were left on for context as they were a factor in the analysis (street lights, transit stops and residential areas made the map too messy to include).

The reason that I think that so many of the suitable locations are located in the downtown core is because of the parameters I used. The eastern side of Maple Ridge is still less developed than the western side and therefore lacks many of the services that are found on the west side of the map. This includes businesses that sell or produce food (as shown on the final map with the blue dots) and transit stops. As well, there is still more residential areas on the western side of town, therefore weighing the west side of town as more suitable.

The neighbourhoods that received lower suitability ratings (orange or green) are because these are the areas furthest from residential areas, and therefore streetlights and transit stops as well. If you travel through Maple Ridge and the various neighbourhoods, you will see that Allco, Ruskin, Spillsbury, Whonnock and Thornhill are the areas that have the lowest populations and do not have many residential areas, especially relative to the neighbourhoods in western Maple Ridge. This is why these areas are classified as lower suitability rankings. Silver Valley has been a quickly developing area with many houses being built over the last few years. This also means an increase in street lights since the residential areas are increasing. Allco has two different businesses that have food licenses, but still barely any residential areas (as well as no transit accessibility) therefore this area is classed as the least suitable of suitable locations.