In order to fully serve the purposes of my thesis, I used the Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS), the most comprehensive and current geographically-referenced statewide resource data available. RIGIS is administrated by the Division of Statewide Planning and is maintained by various state agencies and the Environmental Data Center at URI. It can be used with ARC/INFO software and has many GIS extension functions available.

I used the GIS extension for Mr. Sid's 1997 Orthophotographs to apply the most recent draft Master Plans for the proposed developments as sets of spatial data onto the aerial photographs.

Another available and useful extension is the CAD Reader which can convert AutoCAD files into sets of data that can be used with GIS. AutoCAD is a software package that is used by all engineers and several towns in the state in order for them to have digitized site designs. The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation made some AutoCAD files available to me which contained the present existing development on the properties.

This image shows the railroad lines in green which I obtained from the AutoCAD files.

I then applied sets of data from the RIGIS database to see the relationship between the plans for development and the underlying and surrounding environment. Data & Analysis

RIGIS datasets used

• wetlands (including 50' buffer)
• streams (including 100' buffer)
• 100 year flood zone
• lakes (including 50' buffer)
• community and non-community wells and Wellhead Protection Areas
• sole source aquifers
• groundwater reservoirs
• groundwater recharge areas
• agriculturally significant soils
• rare species habitat
• significant marine habitat
• forests
• historical districts
• historical sites
• State Greenways Corridors
• brushlands
• vacant lands