Abstract

Visualizing Economic Community Sentiment Using ArcGIS Spatial Statistics Tools
Track: Urban and Regional Planning
Authors: David Merwin

This presentation describes how the Spatial Statistics Tools in ArcGIS ArcToolbox can be used as a means for analyzing and visualizing the results of an economic survey given to local businesses in downtown Framingham, Massachusetts. The goal of the survey is to assess the sentiment of local business owners with regard to a number of economic issues in the downtown area, including vacant store fronts, parking availability and traffic congestion. For this study, spatial statistics tools in ArcGIS, including hot spot analysis, geographically weighted regression and spatial autocorrelation are used to determine if there are geographic patterns in the survey results and to explain reasons why such patterns exist. This presentation may beneficial to local officials and others interested in learning how GIS can be used to assist in analyzing and visualizing the economic views of a community.