Abstract
Teaching Spatial Analysis With Spatial Analyst and Spatial Statistics
Track: Teaching with GIS Across the Curriculum
Authors: Richard Kos, Mike Pogodzinski
The ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension opens the door to a wide array of powerful, raster-based tools to assist with the analysis of geographic features and relationships. With raster data (an array of cells with attached values), continuous geographic features such as terrain, slope, and precipitation patterns can be more effectively analyzed than by using vector data (points, lines, and polygons). Additionally, the Spatial Statistics toolbox offers a wealth of tools for advanced spatial analysis including summarizing a spatial distribution (e.g. mean center, directional trend), mapping hot/cold spots and clusters, assessing patterns of clustering or dispersion, and undertaking regression analysis. This session will cover these tools from the perspective of teachers teaching fellow teachers, with an emphasis on curriculum and distance learning development. Online sources of free raster data will be presented along with demonstrations of ArcGIS Spatial Analyst and Spatial Statistics for site suitability and economic development applications.