Methodology
The methodology will be divided into five parts: data collection, data consolidation, information exploration, various analyses, and creating a digital map of the area in question. This section will detail what all five parts mean and how we will complete them. We will first collect information on the networks' locations using a Global Positioning System and NetStumbler, a program that tracks wireless networks, and is put into Microsoft Access in order to create a database of the information.
In order to finish creating the database, we will have to consolidate many of the points into one, because the NetStumbler program may come into contact with the same wireless network more than once and therefore record the same point many times over. Once the information has been consolidated and the database has been finished, we will then take the newly created information and export it in to our Geographic Information System, ArcGIS 9.1.
In order to make the necessary map(s), we will have to perform a few analyses. First, we will perform a Population Analysis in order to locate the areas of the highest and lowest density of the population. We will then perform a Spatial distribution analysis of Networks in order to find the areas of highest and lowest density of wireless networks. Finally, we will perform an analysis of both of these areas in order to determine the best place for HooDooNet to locate its services. Using the information that we have put into ArcGIS 9.1, we will make detailed map(s) showing the spatial distribution of wireless networks in San Marcos within the city limits and where to locate new services.