HMP Project - The Start

For our first assignment of 2013, we are beginning our culminating Honors Mentorship project that concludes the program. While we are still five months from the end of school, it's time to begin the process. Our assignment is to draft a preliminary proposal answering "I need and want to know this", "What is your current essential question?", "How do you envision using technology to best showcase your project?", and "What will you do for your 'real inquiry'?" REMEMBER that this is NOT set in stone: it is simply the preliminary thought process for this project.

For my final project, I need and want to know what must be determined to find the best location for a new rail line or an expansion of an existing one. My essential question is, "How is an area of land evaluated in order to develop a beneficial railroad line?" and has not changed since my original draft.As technology use grows and technology becomes more publicly available, I will be able to use USGS topographic imaging software to visually determine rail line location. For my real inquiry (my research process that leads to a conclusion), I plan to first analyze where a new rail line could be used, then I will look at USGS and TIGER topographic data (shows terrain changes and road/railroad/river placement) to determine the best layout of the rail line. I will then hypothesize the water table of the area, then to maintain it, I will look at where I will move dirt for fills and where I will put dirt from cuts. Finally, I'll conclude based on the benefits of the rail line, the land changes, and the effects my changes would have on the people in the area.