Turning Data into Information Using ArcGIS 10

Description

This course examines the scientific methods used to derive useful information from spatial data. A companion to the book Geographic Information Systems and Science, Third Edition published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, the course is designed to complement this book and reinforce its concepts through exercises and examples. You will explore GIS theory related to the visualization, measurement, transformation, and optimization of spatial data. An underlying theme that uncertainty is an inherent characteristic of spatial data is thoroughly examined and you will learn how to identify it, measure it, and live with it.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for those with a basic or intermediate knowledge of GIS who want to develop the skills associated with creating useful information from spatial data. This course is a companion to the book Geographic Information Systems and Science, Third Edition. The book can be ordered through John Wiley & Sons but is not required to complete the course. Students and GIS professionals alike will find this course provides core skills that will be a beneficial addition to their GIS knowledge base.

Learn How To

• Describe what spatial data are and how information is derived from them.
• Assess the nature of spatial data and techniques of spatial autocorrelation, sampling, and interpolation.
• Understand how uncertainty in spatial data is propagated through the conception, measurement, and analysis of geographic phenomena.
• Visualize, query, and measure spatial and attribute data.
• Perform spatial overlays, interpolation, and density estimations in order to transform spatial data into meaningful information.
• Conduct optimization studies with spatial data to identify desired point locations and routes.
• Assess uncertainties associated with spatial data.

To complete course exercises, you need the following software:

• ArcGIS 10.0 for Desktop (ArcView, ArcEditor, or ArcInfo)
• ArcGIS 10.0 Spatial Analyst

• Basics of Data and Information: Representing geography; The nature of geographic data; Creating and visualizing information; Uncertainty
• Cartography, Map Production, and Geovisualization: GIS-based visualization; Representing attributes and spatial objects; Scientific visualization; Advanced methods for improving visualizations
• Query and Measurement: Querying views of a GIS; Advanced queries; Querying for measurements
• Transformations and Descriptive Summaries: Buffering, point-in-polygon, and polygon overlay; Spatial interpolation and density estimation; Centers and dispersion; Histograms, pie charts, and scatterplots; Spatial dependence and fragmentation
• Optimization and Hypothesis Testing: Optimization; Hypothesis testing
• Uncertainty: Measuring uncertainty of nominal and ordinal values; Measuring uncertainty of interval or ratio values; Uncertainty issues for spatial data

Completion of Learning ArcGIS Desktop or equivalent knowledge is required.