Environmental Spatial Data Analysis

Stefan Falke

stefan@wustl.edu

Urbauer 319D

935-6099

CE/ENVE 424/524

Aims & Objectives

Develop an understanding of the unique characteristics of environmental data

Acquire skills in spatial analysis techniques

Gain background and hands-on experience with software tools for working with data and conducting spatial data analysis.

Examine the art of visualizing spatial data and data analysis results

Appreciate the complexities involved in data manipulation, analysis, and mapping

My aim and objective is for each of you to become a SAP!

Spatially Aware Professional

Course Outline

Spatial Analysis ConceptsSpatio-temporal Patterns and TrendsEnvironmental Data Types

GISPrinciples of GISGIS TechnologyGIS Functionality

Spatial Analysis TechniquesPoint Data AnalysisContinuous Data AnalysisSpatial InterpolationVisualization

Implementation and ManagementData Acquisition and Spatial DatabasesMetadata and InteroperabilityData Analysis and Decision-making

Texts

Longley, Paul; Michael Goodchild; David Maguire and David Rhind, Geographic Information Systems and Science, John Wiley & Sons, 2001

O'Sullivan, David and David J. Unwin, Geographic Information Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, 2002

Both are on reserve at Olin library and the Earth & Planetary Science Library

along with:

Burrough, Peter and Rachel McDonnell, Principles of Geographical Information Systems, Oxford University Press, 1998

Computer Lab Sessions

Labs will be held in Lopata 401

Tuesdays, approximately every other week

ESRI ArcGIS 9.0 Software Suite

ArcView/ArcEditor/ArcInfo

Spatial Analyst

Geostatistical Analyst

3D Analyst

Survey Analyst

First Lab is Tuesday February 8, 4:00-5:30.

Washington University has acquired a ArcGIS site license – if ArcGIS isn’t installed in your favorite lab, let me know

Journal Article Review

For this paper assignment you will select and review a journal article that describes a spatial analysis method from a topic area covered in class.

The paper should be a 2-3 page summary for ENVE 424 and approximately 4-5 page critical review for ENVE 524.

Please notify me of your article selection by Tuesday, March 29.

Paper reviews are due Thursday, April 7.

International Journal of Geographical Information Science

Environmetrics

Computers and Geosciences

Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing

Journals in your field

Example Journals:

Final ProjectThe project involves data analysis for a problem of interest to you. You will analyze your data using several of the techniques discussed in lectures and the GIS tools introduced in lab. A project consists of three components:

Proposal describing the problem and the data and methods to be used (up to two pages) Due March 24

Paper describing the project data, methods, tools, and results. (up to 12 pages)

Presentation summarizing the project. (up to 10 minutes)

Paper and Presentation are both due on the date and time assigned for our final exam period.

Two (of many) options for projects:

• Compare different methods

• Analyze your own data

Grading

Problem Sets 25%

Mid-term exam 25%

Journal article review 10%

Final project 30%

Class participation 10%

Late Policy:

Problem sets have due dates (usually) on Tuesdays. You are allowed to submit two problem sets during the following class period without penalty. Otherwise, the penalty is 5% per day. The Article review and project related materials may not be submitted late.

Summary

19 Lectures

8 Labs

4 Problem Sets

1 Exam

1 Article Review

1 Project

Information Request

Please send an email to stefan@wustl.edu with the following:

Name:

Email:

Department:

Level:

Interest in course:

Previous experience with spatial data analysis and/or GIS:

Class Webpage

http://capita.wustl.edu/ENVE424/

Webpage will contain:

• Class syllabus

• Lecture slides

• Online links to resource materials

Pop vs Soda vs Coke

http://www.popvssoda.com/

Pop vs Soda vs Coke by County

2000 Presidential Election Results

Bush

Gore

votes: 50,456,169

votes: 50,996,116

States: 30

States: 21

2000 Presidential Election Results by County

Bush

Gore

2004 Presidential Election Results

2000

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

States size are adjusted to be proportional to populationStates size are adjusted to be proportional to number of electoral votes

2004 Presidential Results by County

County size is proportional to population

What is Spatial Data Analysis?

• Spatial analysis is the quantitative and qualitative study of phenomena that are located in space.

• Environmental spatial data analysis describes characteristics and behavior of the environment

• Explores patterns, trends, and relationships in environmental data

• Seeks to explain these patterns, trends, and relationships

Differs from general data analysis in that it:– Spatial data are dependent on location and related by location (they do not

adhere to the independence assumption made in regular data analysis)– Have properties that require special analysis methods

Wind Direction

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2/1 2/2 2/2 2/3 2/3 2/4 2/4 2/5

(deg

N)

What is GIS?Traditional definition is that GIS is a set of computer tools for accessing, processing, visualizing, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting spatial data.

‘GIS’ is Geographical Information System OR IS IT

Geographical Information Science?

GISystems: Emphasis on technology and toolsGIScience: Fundamental issues raised by the use of GIS, such as

Spatial analysisMap projectionsAccuracyScientific visualization

Implementation and application of GIS covers a wide spectrum:

Simple mapsOverlaying multiple map “layers”Conducting proximity or cluster analysis based on distanceComparing data sets (simple spatial statistics)Complex statistical analysis

What’s the Difference?

The distinction between spatial data analysis and GIS becomes fuzzier every year

The distinction depends on your perspective:

Traditional GIS perspective:

Here are some tools, use them.

Import data into a GIS and what you see is what you get.

Traditional spatial analysis perspective:

Start with spatial analysis and use GIS as a tool.

Use GIS to help figure out what the data means

In many fields, the two perspectives appear to be merging as oneSpatial analysis is GISGIS is spatial analysis

Geospatial Information Science and Technology

Monitoring

Sites

According to a recent Department of Labor report, the three most important emerging and evolving fields are:

• Biotechnology• Nanotechnology• Geospatial technology(Gewin, V., Mapping Opportunities, Nature, 427 (6972) 376-377, Jan. 2004)

“…acquires, manages, interprets, integrates, displays, analyzes, or otherwise uses data focusing on the geographic, temporal and spatial context.”

(GeoSpatial Workforce Development Center at the University of Southern Mississippi)

gis.com