Lab 8: Spatial analysis and modelling

Spatial analysis is a type of geographical analysis which seeks to explain patterns of

human behavior and its spatial expression in terms of mathematics and geometry, that is, locational

analysis. Examples include nearest neighbor analysis and Thiessen polygons. Many of the

models are grounded in micro-economics and predict the spatial patterns which should occur, in,

for example, the growth of networks and urban systems, given a number of preconditions such as

the isotropic plain, movement minimization, and profit maximization. It is based on the tenet

that economic man is responsible for the development of the landscape, and is therefore subject

to the usual criticisms of that concept, such as the lack of free will.

(https://researchguides.dartmouth.edu/gis/spatialanalysis, 2017)

Spatial modeling is an analytical process conducted in conjunction with a geographical

information system (GIS) in order to describe basic processes and properties for a given set of

spatial features. The objective of spatial modeling is to be able to study and simulate spatial objects

or phenomena that occur in the real world and facilitate problem solving and planning.

(https://www.techopedia.com/definition/1940/spatial-modeling, 2017)
Steps in Spatial Analysis and Modelling

1. Decide what the question that you want to answer. Simple question such as a particular

features location can be asked. An answer to a question can lead to other related questions.

Additional analysis and query results can provide the basis for further analysis.

2. Add the data. ArcCatalog can help to locate and evaluate the data for the analysis. It can

be connected to the internet such as Geography Network to search for data online or in

your computer. Once potencial datasets are located, ArcCatalog can display geography,

table and metadata views of the data as well as indicate what type of data is present such

as shapefiles and rasters. Data in text file that contain geographic component such as

latitude and longitude can be saved as DBF format files, added as tables and displayed as

a layer using Display XY data functionality.

3. Put it in a map. ArcMap symbolizes spatial data in layers and organizes those layers in

data frames. ArcMap contain tools and menu choices that simplify the process of

interactively querying data. Using the Identify tool, feature attributed can be called up by

clicking on the map features. One data evaluated and assembled, next we displayed it in a

map.

4. Query the map. Control key to select all the desired record or using an expression to select

features based on attributes for more efficient method. Example such as Choosing

Selection, then Select by Attributes, and creating the expression”???” > 4 in the query box.

Exporting the selected features to a new shapefile lets us deal only with dose features.
5. Modify the map to ask new questions. Labelling each of the data by magnitude and

adding labels to the data so it is easier for us to handle the data. Alternatively, events could

be symbolized by time or depth to perhaps uncover other aspects of the data. Using this

iterative process, reasoning ability and the tools in ArcGIS, we can understand the data

better and the portion of the world it describes.