THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

DEPARTMENT OF GEOSPATIAL AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY

FGE 421: PRACTICAL EXERCISE

REPORT ON GEOSPATIAL REFERENCE SYSTEMS PROJECTIONS

CASE STUDY: BUSIA COUNTY

F19/2368/2021 FAITH JEPTOO BETT

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1. Introduction

This report provides an overview of the steps undertaken to reproject and clip geospatial data
for the purpose of analyzing flood systems within Busia County. By utilizing datasets
obtained from the World Resources Institute (WRI), this analysis aims to evaluate
hydrological changes over time by comparing flood datasets from two distinct periods: 1980
and 2080. The original datasets, which were initially presented in the WGS 84 Geographic
Coordinate System, were meticulously reprojected into the UTM ARC 1960 Zone 36N
coordinate system. This reprojection was essential to achieve a more accurate and detailed
representation of the region of interest, ensuring that the analysis aligns with the specific
geographic and hydrological characteristics of Busia County. By adopting these precise
methods, the report lays the groundwork for understanding the impacts of temporal
changes on flood systems within the area.

2. Data preparation

2.1 Initial datasets

The downloaded datasets comprised the following:

• Rivers (1980 and 2080): Global raster datasets sourced from the WRI website,
providing hydrological information for the specified time periods.

• Kenya Administrative Boundaries: A vector dataset defining the county boundaries

2.2 Coordinate System and Projection

The flood datasets were originally provided in the WGS 84 Geographic Coordinate System, a
globally recognized spatial reference framework that employs latitude and longitude. While
effective for global mapping, this system is less suitable for detailed local analyses due to
inherent scale distortions. To address this limitation, the data was reprojected to the UTM
ARC 1960 Zone 36N coordinate system, which is specifically tailored for Kenya. This
projection ensures greater spatial accuracy and precision within the study area, making it
more appropriate for localized hydrological analysis.

Steps for reprojection included:

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Step 1: Open ArcMap and Load the Dataset

i. Launch ArcMap and load the dataset (shapefile, feature class, or raster) currently using
the WGS 84 coordinate system.

ii. In the Table of Contents, right-click the layer, then select Properties.

Step 2: Verify the Current Coordinate System

i. In the Layer Properties window, navigate to the Source tab.

ii. Under the Spatial Reference section, confirm that the current coordinate system is set
to WGS 84 (EPSG: 4326).

iii. Close the Layer Properties window once verification is complete.

Step 3: Define the Target Coordinate System

i. In the Table of Contents, right-click the Data Frame (usually labeled as "Layers").

ii. Select Properties and open the Coordinate System tab.

iii. In the dialog box:

a. Navigate to Projected Coordinate Systems > UTM > Southern Hemisphere.

b. Choose Arc 1960 UTM Zone 36N (EPSG: 21037).

iv. Click OK to set this projection as the Data Frame's coordinate system.

Step 4: Project the Data

i. Open the Arc Toolbox by clicking the red toolbox icon in the toolbar.

ii. Navigate to Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations:

o For vector data, select Feature > Project.

o For raster data, select Raster > Project Raster.

iii. In the Project Tool window:

o Set your dataset as the Input Dataset or Feature Class.

o Specify the Output Dataset location and assign it a name.

o Click the Output Coordinate System button and navigate to:

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 ▪ Projected Coordinate Systems > UTM > Southern Hemisphere > Arc
1960 UTM Zone 36N.

o (Optional) If prompted, select a transformation method suitable for your area of

iv. Click OK to execute the tool.

Step 5: Verify the Projection

i. Add the newly projected dataset to your map.

ii. Right-click the new layer, choose Properties, and open the Source tab.

iii. Confirm that the coordinate system is now set to Arc 1960 UTM Zone
36N.

3. Data Processing

3.1 Importing Administrative Boundary Data

The vector file containing Kenya's administrative boundaries was imported into the GIS
workspace. The attribute table was examined to locate and identify Busia County, which was
designated as the area of interest (AOI) for this analysis.

3.2 Clipping Using SQL Commands

To isolate Busia County from the dataset:

1. The attribute table of the Kenya administrative boundaries vector data was queried
using an SQL command.

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 2. The query syntax was designed to specify the name field containing "Busia" as the
selection criterion.

3. The extracted polygon representing Busia County was then used to clip the raster river
datasets for both 1980 and 2080.

This method ensured that only data relevant to Busia County was retained, providing a focused
and accurate basis for subsequent hydrological analysis.

4. Results and Observations

4.1 Visualization of Flood Hazard in Busia County

The processed and clipped datasets presented a detailed and focused representation of the
flood systems within Busia County for the years 1980 and 2080. The visualization
allowed for a clear comparison of the flood extents between the two time periods. By
overlaying the datasets, significant spatial changes in the flood systems were
evident, including variations in flood lengths, widths, and overall distribution patterns.
These changes suggest potential influences of climate change, land use modifications, or
other environmental and anthropogenic factors over the century. The visual comparison
not only highlighted key areas where hydrological shifts occurred but also underscored
regions that may require further investigation or targeted conservation efforts. This
detailed depiction provided a strong foundation for analyzing long-term hydrological trends
within the study area.

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4.2 Accuracy and Precision

The adoption of the UTM ARC 1960 Zone 36N projection effectively reduced
spatial distortions, thereby enhancing the accuracy and precision of the analysis. This
projection is specifically optimized for East Africa, ensuring that the resulting spatial data is
highly reliable for regional applications.

5. Conclusion

The conversion from WGS_84 to UTM Arc 1960 Zone 36N within ArcMap plays a
pivotal role in maintaining spatial accuracy and ensuring compatibility across various
geospatial datasets. While WGS_84 is a global geographic coordinate system designed for
worldwide use, UTM Arc 1960 Zone 36N is a localized projection tailored to East Africa,
providing far greater precision for regional mapping and analysis.

The importance of this transformation lies in several key areas:

i. Accurate Distance and Area Calculations: The UTM projection minimizes

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 ii. Data Integration: It ensures smooth integration of diverse datasets by providing a
standardized projection, especially for projects involving geospatial data from different
sources, such as those focusing on East Africa.

iii. Mapping and Visualization: The UTM Arc 1960 Zone 36N projection enhances
the clarity of local-scale maps by aligning the data to a regionally appropriate
coordinate system, making the visualization more meaningful and interpretable.

iv. Compliance with Local Standards: Many governmental and local agencies require
the use of regional coordinate systems like UTM Arc 1960 Zone 36N for consistency
with national geospatial standards, ensuring that data is compatible with other datasets
and official applications.

By following this procedure, geospatial professionals ensure that their analyses are not only
spatially accurate but also standardized, resulting in reliable outputs that support well-informed
decision-making in the context of regional geographic studies.

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References

Transforming polygon from Arc 1960 UTM Zone 37S to WGS 1984 UTM Zone 37S? (n.d.).
Geographic Information Systems Stack Exchange.
https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/313090/transforming-polygon-from-arc-
1960-utm-zone-37s-to-wgs-1984-utm-zone-37s

Kenya Mining Cadastre Portal - Help: Conversion to WGS84. (n.d.).