Challenge #214: US Military and High Points

A solution to last week’s challenge can be found here. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pentagon

This week's challenge comes to us from @Blake and @Aaron_Harter - thank you for your contribution!

The MIRTA dataset, released by DoD, contains geographic information for major military installations, ranges, and training areas in the United States and its territories. The other dataset is a listing of the high elevation peaks in each U.S. State, the name of the point, and its elevation.

Using the data provided, filter for active MIRTA sites and answer the following questions.

1. Which peak ranks #14 when only considering the highest peak in each state?
2. Which high peak is closest to a MIRTA site?
3. How many high peaks are closest to a MIRTA site in a neighboring state?

challenge_214_start_file.yxmd

challenge_214_solution.yxmd

Parse

Preparation

Advanced

Data Analysis

Intermediate

Transform

Spatial

Accepted answers

All comments

johnemery

Fun challenge! Probably not the most elegant solution, but it works.

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View my solution video here:

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Challenge 214 Solution jemery.yxmd

patrick_digan

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Edit: Thanks @mbogusz , I've fixed my attachment

challenge_214_start_file.yxmd

NicoleJohnson

My solution!

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Cheers!

challenge_214_NicoleJohnson.yxmd

dsmdavid

In a "neighboring state" or "not in the same state"? Not quite the same (30 vs 26)

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I've used this https://www.census.gov/geographies/mapping-files/time-series/geo/carto-boundary-file.html to find neighboring (i.e. touching) states.

david_214.yxzp

zajaccount

Took me quite a while to figure out why my answer to Q3 was 33. Turns out I used a too simplistic solution for cleansing the State name which resulted in getting rid of the spaces between the words in states like New Mexico.

Also did quite a bit of transposing and cross tabbing and then I got the epiphany of the Make columns tool.

Also, I think the task should be phrased a little differently, "in a neighboring state" does not necesarily mean in a "different state" - unless I missed something, I think we were unable to check the neighbouring states using only the provided data - unless Alteryx has some built in polygons of the US states?

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challenge_214_start_file_zajaccount.yxmd

Blake

Hi @dsmdavid and @zajaccount - good catch. I should have used the use of the word "nearby" or "different" rather than "neighboring". The intent of the question was not to have users track down a separate data set and make sure that states were touching, just that the closest peak/site were in different states.

Kenda

Glad to see @NicoleJohnson has jumped back on the Weekly Challenge Train! ❤️

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challenge_214_start_file.yxmd

terry10

Nice challenge! Lots of opportunity to practice Regex and some spatial too. Question 3 was a lot easier than I had originally figured!! - thanks for the clarification Blake.

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challenge_214_terry10.yxmd

Jonathan-Sherman

Challenge 214 is done! Tried for as few tools as possible, managed to get it down to 16 with the exact output or 13 for the correct answers!

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challenge_214_JMS_solution.yxmd

FlorianC

Not the simplest solution but a robust one.

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Challenge #214.yxzp

freewind

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lazy guy answer without too much formula. could reduce 2/3 of the workflow using the formulas. Make columns could be used for more efficiency

Runtime is not that bad tho.

challenge_214_start_file.yxmd

Maskell_Rascal

This was a fun one! First time using spatial plotting, but I figured it out. 🙂

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challenge_214_Solution_Phil.yxmd

karp

My solution - I try to use as basic a tool as possible, in the most basic, step-by-step way as I use these challenges as a fun way to train up the rest of my team.

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ryan_challenge_214.yxmd

balajilolla

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Solution Attached

challenge_214_start_file.yxmd

TonyA

I misunderstood the third question and assumed that "neighboring" meant "adjacent." So I solved for that first then checked the solution and realized the question just meant in another state. So both solutions are shown below.

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challenge_214_TonyA.yxzp

mbogusz

Cool topic learning about the highest peaks in the U.S.

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challenge_214_solution_mbogusz.yxmd

mbogusz

@patrick_digan your solution file is a blank start file. I am interested in seeing the inner workings of your formula tool in the Highest Peak transformation. Can you please reattach when you get a chance?

Sudha8990AI

Good Exercise for Data Preparation, Data Analysis and Spatial

214_Solution.yxmd

214_WC.pdf

kelvin_law1

Here is my solution:

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challenge_214_solutions.yxmd

huynv96

Thanks, my solution:

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challenge_214_huynv96.yxmd

jasperlch

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challenge_214_JL.yxmd

RolandSchubert

My solution. A chance to practice spatial.

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challenge_214_solution_rsc.yxmd

philipmannering

I got caught out by the Western longitudes being negative :S .. a schoolboy error.

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Workflow

Challenge 214 - US Military and High Points.yxmd

unknown

A little messy...

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challenge_214_start_file-Qiu.yxmd

Ladarthure

my solution, lot of fun!

challenge_214_start_file.yxmd

OllieClarke

Nice challenge. I took 'neighbouring state' to mean 'any state which wasn't its own' as I didn't have any polygons for US states to hand.

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challenge_214_OC_solution.yxmd

Jean-Balteryx

Here is my solution !

challenge_214_workflow.yxmd

JohanRanschaert

In attach my solution

challenge_214_solution_JR.yxmd

mrmichae

What a challenge! Definitely tested my knowledge of A LOT of tools. I'm sure there is a way to solve with less tools, but my solution works and shows off different ways to accomplish similar tasks. Enjoy and good luck!

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challenge_214_ContinuusTechnologies_MattMichaelson.yxmd

tavakian

I love that there are so many different ideas to do the same thing:)

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challenge_214_start_file.yxmd

tavakian

Using that Make Columns was brilliant. Didn't even know it was there. I've never looked in the Experimental grouping section.

tavakian

I really appreciated what Jonathan-Sherman did to keep the # of tools as limited as possible. I'm not great at the Regex command, so I used his formula tool and was able to get it down to only 12 tools. 9 for the correct answer:)