Module 6 Part II: Least Cost Path Analysis

 For this part of Module 6, I started off by using the Reclassify tool to convert the original land cover layer into a raster layer is reclassified values. I reclassified the values into suitability classes and assigned ratings to each land cover value. Then, I used the Polygon to Raster tool in order to convert the soil polygon into a raster. I then used the Reclassify tool on the new soil raster to reclassify the soils classes into suitability ratings. After that, I converted the elevation DEM into a slope raster in degrees by using the Slope tool and reclassifying the slope classes into suitable ratings. I then input the river slayer into the Euclidian Distance tool. After that, I assigned suitability values to the distances through the Reclassify tool. I repeated the same process for the road layer. I then used the Weighted Overlay Tool to combine the five criteria under a similar scale. It was interesting that this section involved the passage corridor for black bears.