GEOG 3P47

Mapping Stats

Colleen BeardMap & Geography

Librariancbeard@brocku.ca

Sharon JanzenBibliographic

Assistantsjanzen@brocku.ca

Why map data?

• Basis for statistical mapping:Any kind of data that can be expressed numerically and varies in quantity from place to place can be mapped.

Statistical mapping requires two criteria:– Data has a numeric value– Data has a geographic element

• Choropleth maps are very useful tools for representing numeric data (population density; percentages; location quotients)

Table of income data for Toronto

Statistical table of Toronto’s rich people

Census Geography

DA (dissemination areas)St. Catharines

CT (census tracts)

Niagara CMA

CSD (census subdivisions)

Niagara Region

Census data table

Variables & data valuesGeographyNiagara census subdivisions

Using GIS to map stats

• GIS (Geographic Information System) is a software that stores, displays, manipulates and analyzes geographic data.

• ArcGIS (ArcView) is software of choice for 3P47 assignments.

• Provides operations for calculating statistics and “joining” data to geography.

Map & attribute table

Mapping real numbers

Other map sources

• Topographic maps

• Thematic maps– Land use– Agriculture activity

• Other census maps

Additional help!

1. GEOG 3P47 Subject guide2. Literature on reserve3. Map Library staff