The map I created using the Esri ArcGIS mapping tool was made to help identify where Salt Lake City’s population density sat in relation to the Wasatch Fault as well as finding where the nearest medical centers were. The Wasatch Fault  runs along the western edge of the Wasatch Mountains here in Utah. It is approximately 240 miles long and stretches from central Utah up to southern Idaho. It is considered to be an active fault which means it is likely to be the central source of earthquake activity. Because the Wasatch fault is an active fault it is also considered to be a geological hazard , so it makes me wonder why Salt Lake City was built parallel to , if not directly on top of the fault. 

              The Wasatch Front faces a one in seven chance of being hit by an earthquake that could potentially be a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. This would result in some devastating aftermath that would destroy the infrastructure of all of Salt Lake. I used my map to visually portray where most of the city’s population sat using a filter that reflected the 2012 USA Tapestry Segmentation. This not only showed where most of the population dwells, but also where most of  middle-class suburbia sat on my map. I also added a filter to display where Earths tectonic plates ran, and the medical service centers within a mile of the Wasatch Fault. I wanted to use this map as an example of a resource that could be used if and when an earthquake struck. 

           This map could be used to help a family locate a nearby shelter or seek medical help if needed.  As you can see, the map has a red line running up and down that defines where the fault sits. There are “High Society” and Upscale neighborhoods that lay directly on the fault line. Families that reside there need to know the safest and quickest route to a hospital. According to my map, there are not enough medical centers nearby. The entire southern portion of the city, below Millcreek, is in need of more hospitals. The majority of these medical centers are actually further east, away from the fault, which makes sense, because we do not want them destroyed, however, there are still entire neighborhoods that sit too close to the fault. Those include Murray, Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, Millcreek, and Holladay. These are heavily populated suburbs that either need to implement earthquake-safety protocol, or be moved altogether. 

       The ArcGis web mapping tool is a really neat way to understand demographics, and geography. It could be used for virtually every General Education course that has any research involved. The mapping tool helped me better understand so much including population patterns, where all the Worlds major cities were, where humanitarian help was needed, and where potential danger zones were located. Every class from Environmental Sciences to Sociology would benefit from utilizing this tool in order to help students visually see and understand where concentrations of people or environmental hazards lay. 

        As an environmental science student, I plan on using this tool to help me visualize all of the aforementioned information. Honing in on where a species has been put into danger and locating fragmented zones would help me in my research and could save a population of an endangered species. Another example would be my gender studies class, where I have learned that young girls in developing nations lack established schools. This tool could help with city planning to figure out where a  neighborhood could find a central location to build a school that is easily accessible and safe for young girls and women. There are so many ways that this could be used, and having the visuals, I believe, really helps an individual understand and make better use of their education.