W J 13: Notes: Schuurman Chp. 1

Starbucks uses GIS to plan its sites for shops?  Wow!

Overlay became the basis for “spatial analysis.”  (p. 4)

Simple mapping is used to represent geographical data and does not create more information than was initially provided.  However, mapping can be used to discern general patterns. (p. 4)

Spatial analysis does more than just present data in a visual manner.  It can glean and analyze information from the geographical map. (p. 4)

Just like in statistics, the use of GIS requires that the user know and understand the questions being asked and the context of the data. (p. 7)

One of the benefits of GIS is that it presents information in a visual manner, which is important because people can interpret data and patterns more easily when it is presented visually rather than with numbers or text. (p. 8 )

Two “definitions” of GIS:  (p. 9-12)                                                                                                                                                                               1.   GIS systems:  collection of practices, hardware, and software (includes methods of data input, analysis, mapping, and output)                                                                                                                                                                                                                             2.  GIS science:  the theory that underlies the systems; questions about the underlying assumptions of the systems and the context of the data; theoretical basis for the way GIS processes are executed.

CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT! (p. 16)

Class notes (1/13):

DALIS Project (Delaware GIS data)