The Vancouver Island GIS data used in this project originated from the "canned" data available in the SFU GIS network (the S:\\ drive) as well as from the Vancouver Island CORE Landuse Plan internet web site, the source site for the provided raster and vector layers.

    The initial plan at the start of this project was to acquire GIS data of my own rather than depend on the "canned" data set aside on the SFU GIS computer network.  About three weeks was spent on the internet searching for appropriate subject information that I had some sort of background knowledge or understanding of in order to do a proper analysis, and that could be  imported into IDRISI format (without a significant loss of data in the process).  However, much of the internet data required purchasing, had too few data overlays, seemed very incomplete having unknown and missing metadata, or was unable to be downloaded due to server technicalities (at the source location).

   As a result, the supplied Vancouver Island data was reluctantly chosen for the project given the many layers available to create a comprehensible spatial analysis, and my familiarity  with the location.  Unfortunately, though raster and vector layers were plentiful, most of the Vancouver Island datatables and metadata information was missing, with layers containing unexplained legend categories and legend classifications.  Consequently, an additional search was deemed necessary to find and supplement the missing and unknown data links.

    The source web page of the canned Vancouver Island data was found where from this web site, about 22 raster and vector layers - some not found on the local SFU s:\\ drive were downloaded.  These layers were then converted into Feature Image files and imported into Arcview 3.2 where Shape files were made from the downloaded data.  The Shape files were then imported into IDRISI where they were converted into the appropriate IDRISI format.  Data tables could then be accessed in IDRISI and additional background information pertaining to the data values, sources, administrative and species classifications relevant to my project could be viewed and used from the web site.

        The chosen raster and vector data layers that I chose to download off of the internet and use from the s:\\ drive were:

• BTM                        Land Use/Ground Cover Data Set
• COREBOUN        General Island Outline
• CORE_LU              Land Use
• CROWNPR            Crown and Private Land
• DEER                      Deer Winter Range
• DEERELK              Deer and Elk Winter Range
• DEM                       Digital Elevation Model of Vancouver Island
• ENDANGER          Endangered or Threatened Wildlife Species
• FISHCORVI           Recreational Fishing Corridors
• FISHLAK               Stocked Fishing Lakes
• FISHLAKE             Fisheries Resource for Lakes
• FISHRIV                 Popular Fishing Rivers
• HUNTING              Hunting Areas
• HYDROLINE         BC Hydro Transmission Line Right of Way
• ISLDHWY              Vancouver Island Highway
• LANDUSE              Land Use
• PCON                     Additional Protected Areas
• REGDIST                Regional District Boundaries
• RIVANNO              Major Rivers
• ROADS                   Primary and Secondary Roads
• TOURCOM             Tourist Capability
• WILDLIFE               Wildlife Capabilities

Additional background information pertaining to Vancouver Island, it's tourist industry, wildlife capabilities, and hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations were obtained from the following web sites:

       The Vancouver Island Land Use Plan, By the BC Government Land Use Coordination Office
       BC 2000-2001 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis
       The Government of BC Official Internet Web Page