"One is always a long way from solving a problem until one actually has the answer." - Stephen Hawking

Repeat GIS Project #2, however in this application, use the ArcGIS ArcToolbox command Analyst Tool → Proximity → Multiple Ring Buffer to generate 20 buffered areas at one mile intervals out to 20 miles from the construction site and then use the command Analyst Tool → Overly → Identity to measure the distances from the University of Memphis Construction site to each material vendor. Compare the distances with those measured manually with ArcGIS Measure tool.

Use the spreadsheet developed GIS Project #2 to calculation of the total cost of delivered materials. Compute the total cost of delivered materials required to make 1,500 yd³ of concrete with a mix ratio of 1:1:2 with a w/c ratio of 0.4 (assume that concrete weight 150 lbs/ft³).

Next, use the ArcGIS concrete material database (Concrete_materials) to estimate the distance from each material vendor to the Engineering Science Building (the delivery point) and collect data for unit cost ($/ton/mile) and inventory volume (tons) for each concrete material. With data for unit cost, volume, and delivery distance for each material, estimate the minimum delivery cost for the required concrete materials. The total cost of each delivered material may be estimated as:

Total Cost ($) = Unit Cost ($/ton/mile) x Volume (tons) x Distance (miles)

For convenience, vendors require the estimated delivery distance to be rounded up to the next mile (for example, 5.24 miles is 6 miles). Also, note that if one vendor cannot supply all the material, several vendors may be used. For simplicity, compute the minimum cost for each material and then add the results together to estimate the minimum total cost.

This website was originally developed by Charles Camp for CIVL 1101.
This site is Maintained by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Memphis.
Your comments and questions are welcomed.