Winter 2013 - GEOG 409-001 and GEOG 849-001 - Course Outline

Geography 409/849 Advanced Spatial Analysis & Modelling

J. M. Piwowar 2013-01-08

Geography 409/849

Advanced Spatial Analysis & Modelling

Winter 2013

Instructor: Joe Piwowar email: [email protected] phone: 585-5273

Office Hours: CL 340 I am around a lot – just drop in or email me to make a specific appointment.

Meeting Times: 2:30 – 5:30 M CL 330.2

Introduction A geographic information system (GIS) is a tool for automating geographic concepts. At its most basic level it can help us to explain distributions and make decisions. At an advanced level it can help us understand complex spatial processes. Geographers (and others) use GISs to help them understand, describe, and predict how things are arranged in the real world.

All too often we produce a map from a GIS and conclude, "Gee, it looks like there is a pattern in the data," but we struggle to attach any certainty to our analysis. The real question we want answered is most likely, "Is there a significant pattern?" The methods developed in this course will help you answer this question. The aim of this course is to enable you to build your own toolbox of spatial analysis techniques to investigate spatial processes. By the end of this course, you will feel comfortable at tackling a wide-range of spatial analyses using GIS and remote sensing.

Required Text de Smith, M.J., Goodchild, M.F., and Longley, P.A. Geospatial Analysis - A Comprehensive Guide to Principles, Techniques and Software Tools. Winchelsea: The Winchelsea Press.

Available online at www.spatialanalysisonline.com.

Recommended Texts Clarke, K.P., Parks, B.O., and Crane, M.P. (eds.), 2002. Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Modeling. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall (on reserve in the Map Library).

DeMers, M.N., 2002. GIS Modeling in Raster. New York: Wiley (can be borrowed directly from me).

Hardisty, J., D.M. Taylor, and S.E. Metcalf, 1993. Computerised Environmental Modelling: A Practical Introduction Using Excel. Chichester: Wiley (can be borrowed directly from me).

Harris, R., Sleight, P., and Webber, R., 2005. Geodemographics, GIS and Neighbourhood Targeting. Chichester: Wiley (on reserve in the Map Library).

http://www.spatialanalysisonline.com/�


J. M. Piwowar 2013-01-08

Kelly, R.E.J., N.A. Drake, S.L. Barr, 2004. Spatial Modelling of the Terrestrial Environment. Chichester: Wiley (on reserve in the Map Library).

Maguire, D.J., M. Batty, and M.F. Goodchild (eds.), 2005. GIS, Spatial Analysis, and Modeling. Redlands, ESRI Press (on reserve in the Map Library).

O'Sullivan, D. and Unwin, D.J., 2003. Geographic Information Analysis. Hoboken: Wiley (can be borrowed directly from me).

Stillwell, J. and G. Clarke, 2004. Applied GIS and Spatial Analysis. Chichester: Wiley (can be borrowed directly from me).

Wang, F., 2006. Quantitative Methods and Applications in GIS. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Coursework & Grading

Lab Assignments 20% (4 x 5%)

Literature Reviews

A review of a published research paper where advanced spatial analysis techniques were used.

20% (4 x 5%)

Spatial Analysis Tutorial

A chance for you to learn about a spatial analysis topic of interest to you and teach it to the rest of the class.

20%

Project*

A project demonstrating the development and application of advanced spatial analysis techniques to address a geographic problem.

*This is a core course activity: your Project must receive a passing grade for you to receive a passing grade for the course.

40%

You are encouraged to work together to solve course related problems and issues. All submitted work, however, must be original (i.e. using your own words), unless otherwise specified.

Literature Reviews

Prepare annotated reviews of 4 papers from refereed journals that describe GIS procedure(s) used in a project that interests you. All the papers should be focused on a similar problem and this will be the same problem that you will be using for your GIS project. For each paper you should include:

• A full bibliographic reference • The objectives of the research • A description of the data used • A description of the analysis procedure, presented as an ordered list or a flowchart • A summary of the results

The review of each paper should not be more than 1 or 2 pages long. Please submit your reviews to me by email by the dates listed in the Schedule.


J. M. Piwowar 2013-01-08

Spatial Analysis Tutorial

For an advanced spatial analysis topic that is of interest to you, learn enough about the topic so that you can apply it for yourself, and develop an introductory tutorial that emphasizes how it can be used.

Your topic can be related to your course project (although this isn't a requirement). Please discuss your topic with me before you adopt it.

Tutorials will be graded in consideration of your program level (Bachelors/Masters/Doctoral), the level of difficulty of the subject material, and how well you clearly explained it.

1. Submit a 1 or 2 page write-up that includes:

• Some background information for your topic. Use the course text or other sources; be sure you provide proper citations.

• At least 1 reference to an academic journal article where the topic was used.

• Applications (when would someone want to use this topic?). Try to include both natural science and social science applications.

• Required input data.

• Limitations.

• Output examples.

You should distribute 1 copy of your write-up to each member of the class.

2. Prepare and deliver a tutorial to the class that demonstrates your topic. Your tutorial should:

• Take about 1 hour.

• Should focus more on application than theory.

• Include a demonstration of your topic and a hands-on exercise.

• Be clear and simple to follow.

• Include sample data from Regina and/or Saskatchewan.

Learning Resources

A great way to learn a new spatial analysis topic is to see how someone else has applied it. You can look for some online tutorial material at:

• ArcGIS Training - http://training.esri.com • ESRI Canada Education Resources - http://www.esricanada.com/en/content/education-resources • User-Contributed ArcGIS Lessons - http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/arclessons.cfm • United States Geological Survey - http://education.usgs.gov • Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center - http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu

NB: If you use one of these lessons, I require you to develop your class tutorial using a different data set from what was used in the original instructions.

http://training.esri.com/�

http://www.esricanada.com/en/content/education-resources�

http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/arclessons.cfm�

http://education.usgs.gov/�

http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/�


J. M. Piwowar 2013-01-08

Tutorial Topics

Here are some ideas that you can use to base your tutorial on. Some topics are well-defined, while others are quite broad. In the latter case, you can select a sub-topic for your tutorial. You are also free to choose your own topic (but be sure to clear it with me first).

• Linear Referencing • Location-Allocation • Vehicle GPS Navigation (Network Analysis) • Drainage Systems and Watersheds (Hydrology) • Aquifer Analysis (Groundwater) • Modelling Solar Radiation • Geographically-Weighted Regression • Hotspot Analysis • Temporal Analysis (Tracking Analyst) • Gridding and Surface Interpolation (Geostatistical Analyst) • Viewsheds • Cellular Automata • Geosimulation • Principal Components / Cluster / Factor Analysis • Artificial Neural Networks • Central Place Theory • Universal Soil Loss Equation • Gravity Modelling • TIN Modelling • 3D Visualization • Public Participation GIS • Home Range Analysis • GeoWeb / GeoSpatial Web 2.0 • Health GIS / Epidemiology • RS – GIS Integration • Cartographic Representation • Least-Cost Path Analysis • Retail Location Strategies • Others…….


J. M. Piwowar 2013-01-08

Project

Develop an advanced spatial analysis problem and work it through to completion. You are to find data to support your investigation, design an analysis strategy, and implement your solution. Projects will be graded in consideration of your program level (Bachelors/Masters/Doctoral), the level of difficulty of the subject material, and how well you implemented it.

• GEOG 409: You may work on this project individually or in groups of not more than 2. • GEOG 849: You must work on your project individually.

Assignment 1. Prepare your results as a PowerPoint presentation documenting your objectives, data, analysis

procedures, and results. You should be able to present it in about 20 minutes (i.e. it should not have more that about 15 slides).

2. Prepare a research paper describing your project. In your paper you should: • Introduce what you were trying to accomplish. • Review of some previously published work on this topic. • Describe the data and study area. • Describe the analysis approach (include a flowchart). • Present results of your analysis (maps, graphs, or tables where relevant). • Interpret your results. • Discuss the assumptions and limitations of your work. • Present a summary and conclusions. • Provide suggestions for future research. • A research paper that earns top marks will be one that has the potential to be submitted to

a refereed journal for publication.

GIS Project Implementation Process 1) Determine the objectives of the project

a) Identify the problem to solve b) Break down the problem into measurable criteria c) Determine data requirements

2) Build the database and prepare the data for analysis a) Identify and obtain relevant data b) Add spatial and attribute data to the database; derive new attributes, if necessary c) Manage and modify the data; re-project the data, if necessary d) Create a data dictionary that includes for each data set: data source; date of collection;

projection; attributes that you use, their definitions, and their value ranges 3) Perform the analysis

a) Determine methods and sequence of operations b) Process the data c) Evaluate and interpret the results d) Refine the analysis as needed to generate alternatives

4) Present the results a) Create final products for your intended audience b) Document your results c) Create metadata for your new data files


J. M. Piwowar 2013-01-08

Schedule Date Topic Assignments

January 7 Course Introduction

Why are Spatial Data Special?

Basic Spatial Analysis Tools

Review: Getting Started with GIS (for ArcGIS 10.1) available at http://training.esri.com

Any time before February 15 you must book a meeting(s) with me (send me an email to request a meeting time) to discuss (i) your project idea; and (ii) your spatial analysis tutorial topic

14 The Spatial Analysis Process

Lab 1: Attribute and Spatial Relationships

21 Spatial Analysis of Point Data

Lab 2: Point Pattern Analysis

Lab 1 due

28 Spatial Analysis of Linear Data

Lab 3: Line Pattern Analysis

Lab 2 due

February 4 Spatial Analysis of Area Data

Lab 4: Aggregating Polygons

Lab 3 due

Project Proposals due

11 Spatial Autocorrelation Lab 4 due

18 Reading Week

25 Spatial Analysis Tutorials Literature Review 1 due

March 4 Spatial Analysis Tutorials Literature Review 2 due



25 Spatial Analysis Tutorials

April 1 Project Presentations Project presentations

8 Project Presentations Project presentations

26 Project Reports / Research papers due

http://training.esri.com/�


J. M. Piwowar 2013-01-08

NAME: MARK:

/5

LITERATURE REVIEW GRADING RUBRIC

Paper Title:

Review (5 marks)

• A full bibliographic reference

• The objectives of the research

• A description of the data used

• An ordered list or flowchart that documents the analysis procedure

• A summary of the results


J. M. Piwowar 2013-01-08

NAME: MARK:

/20

SPATIAL ANALYSIS TUTORIAL GRADING RUBRIC

Topic:

Demonstration (10 marks)

• Length (about 1 hour)

• Focus more on application than theory

• Include a demonstration of your topic and a hands-on exercise

• Include sample data from Regina and/or Saskatchewan

• Clear and simple to follow

Description (10 marks)

• Includes background information

• Has at least 1 academic journal reference, properly cited.

• List of applications. Try to include both natural science and social science applications

• Required input data

• Limitations

• Output examples


J. M. Piwowar 2013-01-08

NAME: MARK:

/40

PROJECT GRADING RUBRIC

Class:

Presentation (5 marks)

• Objectives • Data • Analysis procedures • Results • Interpretation • Clarity & timing

Research Paper:

Introduction and Background (5 marks)

• Introduction to what you were trying to accomplish. • What has been done by others? • Objectives • Description of the study area.

Methods (10 marks) • Description of data used in the analysis. • Description of analysis approach. • Flowchart.

Results - Graphics (10 marks) • Results of analysis (images, maps, graphs, or tables where relevant).

Results - Documentation (5 marks) • Interpretation of results. • Statement of limitations. • Suggestions for further research.

General Presentation (5 marks) • Neat and concise reporting. • Free from spelling and grammar errors. • Organization – Report is well laid-out using appropriate sections. • Can this paper be submitted to an academic journal for publication?

Winter 2013 - GEOG 409-001 and GEOG 849-001 - Course Outline

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