1Introduction

 My project tries to answer the question:
"What is the best place for my girlfriend to live?"

To come up with an answer I am using a GIS software
called ESRI ArcView 3.1, which looks at all of my girlfriend's
criteria for a place to live and then tries to find as much
information about the GVRD area that will allow it to
come up with a reasonable answer.
 

My project in  ESRI ArcView 3.1

 

The question above is very important for my girlfriend
since finding a place to live in the Lower Mainland
is obviously a big step for her, and she can use as much
assistance with the decision as possible to allow her to find
an adequate place to live. The fact that this question is a
'real-life' problem makes my project more relevent and also
motivates me to strive for good data and proper results.

My project's goal is to be an aid for my girlfriend in picking a
place to live. She is currently looking for places to live based
on rent values; she doesn't seem to have an exact location in the
Lower Mainland in mind. My project will thus help her at least
narrow down her choices to a handful of areas, and once
this happens she will only need to look for rent ads for places
in those particular areas. She could also physically go and
personally inspect these areas to locate appropriate properties
and then ask the managers of those properties when/if there
would be a vacancy there soon.

The ultimate goal of my project is, of course, to make my girlfriend look
at me this weekend and say: "You're amazing!" and then give
me a big hug.
 

: )

Project Outline:

Initially I had created a project outline that had me collecting
information about crime in the Lower Mainland and from this
information analysing crime trends. However, a week or so
later I realized that my girlfriend (Leigh) was searching for a place
that she could rent in the Lower Mainland. (She wants to
move out in June, but she wants to figure out all the details about
where to live before that, obviously)

Leigh's main problem is finding a place to rent that would allow
her dog (Aussie!) and thus would almost certainly have to be a
single-unit house, or a townhouse.(Since she wants Aussie to
be able to run around in the backyard in the daytime.

Her other problem is finding a place that will suit her budget;
she can't afford a rent higher than approximately $900/month.
She would also like her place to be either close to her current
workplace (on Westminster Highway & Gilbert Street in Richmond)
or close to a convenient transit link to the location of her work.
She (and I!) would also appreciate an area with low crime and a
walking-distance to shopping since she will not have access to a vehicle.
 

For reference, here is my (new) project outline.