As part of the academic field work unit "GEOG 192: Field Methods in Geography", we were tasked with updating the Ecological Profile of Libmanan, Camarines Sur. Through this endeavor, our field class split up into groups that were relevant to the sectors needed for the creation of an updated Ecological Profile. Our "group" consisted of two members, practically a duo, but I was responsible for data organization, data preparation, and charts/map creation while my partner focused on technical writing and analysis, proofreading, and reporting.
Data Collection: A shared responsibility between members as online/secondary data was scarce, so we had to personally request records from the government offices themselves. Most of the data acquired were either written in pen and paper or had no digital copy, so we had to do the arduous process of digitizing all types of data (nominal, ordinal, and ratio) into a consolidated Google Sheet file.
Data Preparation: After collecting, we had to validate the data (cross-checking, improving spatial precision) and convert them into usable .csv files and joinable fields for spatial statistical analysis. Once the data was imported QGIS, this further opened the potential for calculating various fiscal formulas provided by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Map Creation: Creating maps were optional in the Institutional Sector for an Ecological Profile, but I saw the potential in visualizing tax allotment dependency, barangay income, and the placement of election facilities across the land. These maps will be helpful for stakeholders, government officials, and volunteer researchers.
