Spatial Statistics with Geographic Information Systems

taught by Dave Unwin

Brief Description:

Spatial statistical analysis uses methods adapted from conventional statistics to address problems in which spatial location is the most important explanatory variable. This course will explain and give examples of the analysis that can be conducted in a geographic information system such as ArcGIS or Mapinfo.

Instructor(s):
Level: Intermediate

Who Should Take This Course:

Analysts and researchers who need to know how to use and interpret the data from Geographic Information Systems (GIS's), including those in environmental analysis and management, banking, insurance, logistics, law enforcement services, defense, media, real estate, retail and more.

Dates:
November 09, 2012 to December 07, 2012
geostats Click here to be reminded of future sessions of this course.

Registration:
Please read the syllabus tab, noting the prerequisites, text and software requirements.

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Spatial Statistics with Geographic Information Systems

taught by Dave Unwin

Aim of Course:

Spatial analysis often uses methods adapted from conventional analysis to address problems in which spatial location is the most important explanatory variable. This course, which is directed particularly to students with backgrounds in either computing or statistics but who lack a background in the necessary geospatial concepts, will explain and give examples of the analysis that can be conducted in a geographic information system such as ArcGIS or Mapinfo. The motivation is simple: it is one thing to run a GIS, but quite another to use it analytically to help answer questions such as:

• Is there an unusual cluster of crimes/cases of a disease here that we need to worry about?
• Do these data show variation across the country that I need to know about?
• What is the most probable air temperature here?

In the course we will explore methods that enable answers to be given to these, and similar, questions involving spatial variation.

This course is a core requirement or elective in the following Program(s) in Analytics and Statistical Studies (PASS):

• Biostatistics - Epidemiology

• Business Analytics

• Data Mining

• Engineering Statistics

• Environmental Science

Prerequisite(s):
To gain maximum value from the course, you will have had some previous experience of basic statistical analysis to the level of correlation and regression, as well as familiarity with standard matrix/vector notation and operations. See also software requirements below.
Course Program:

SESSION 1: Some Basics:

• geographical data
• statistics
• describing spatial data using maps

SESSION 2: The Analysis of Patterns in Point Data:

• introductory methods for detecting non-randomness in dot/pin map distributions

SESSION 3: The Analysis of Patterns in Area Data:

• detecting and measuring spatial autocorrelation in lattice data

SESSION 4: The Analysis of Continuous Field Data:

• creating contour-type maps using inverse distance weighting and geostatistical methods

Note that the course does not concentrate on the analysis of spatially continuous data using methods that are collectively referred to as geostatistics. Lesson 4 has a brief introduction to the basic concepts as used in interpolation, but this is all.

HOMEWORK:

Homework in this course consists of short answer questions to test concepts and guided data analysis problems using software.

Organization of the Course:

This course takes place over the internet at the Institute for 4 weeks. During each course week, you participate at times of your own choosing - there are no set times when you must be online. Course participants will be given access to a private discussion board. In class discussions led by the instructor, you can post questions, seek clarification, and interact with your fellow students and the instructor.

The course typically requires 15 hours per week. At the beginning of each week, you receive the relevant material, in addition to answers to exercises from the previous session. During the week, you are expected to go over the course materials, work through exercises, and submit answers. Discussion among participants is encouraged. The instructor will provide answers and comments, and at the end of the week, you will receive individual feedback on your homework answers.

Credit:
Students come to the Institute for a variety of reasons. As you begin the course, you will be asked to specify your category:

1. You may be interested only in learning the material presented, and not be concerned with grades or a record of completion.
2. You may be enrolled in PASS (Programs in Analytics and Statistical Studies) that requires demonstration of proficiency in the subject, in which case your work will be assessed for a grade.
3. You may require a "Record of Course Completion," along with professional development credit in the form of Continuing Education Units (CEU's).  For those successfully completing the course, 5.0 CEU's and a record of course completion will be issued by The Institute, upon request.

Course Text:

The required text for this course is Geographic Information Analysis, 2nd revised edition by O'Sullivan, D. and Unwin,D. J., and it can be ordered from Wiley by clicking here. Wiley typically offers statistics.com customers up to 15% discount on this book (and all other statistics titles): enter the code aff15 in the Promotion Code field when prompted during checkout and click the Apply Discount button. (If you are located in Asia, the web procedure for your location may not accept this discount – try calling your regional Wiley representative.).

PLEASE ORDER YOUR COPY IN TIME FOR THE COURSE STARTING DATE.

Amazon may have second hand copies available. Under no circumstances should you purchase a so-called 'supplement' from a company called CRAM 101 which may well show up at the same website.

As and where necessary, the instructor has also prepared additional comments to extend the materials or point to newer work that you should know about. Students unfamiliar with basic GIS concepts might also like to consult: Geographic Information Systems and Science, 3rd Edition, by Paul A. Longley, Mike Goodchild, David J. Maguire, and David W. Rhind, ISBN 978-0-470-72144-5, available here.

Software:

The course also features added homework assignments that use some public domain software to perform the analyses. Each of the assignments for Lessons 2-4 makes use of software that you can download without paying a commercial license fee. The intention here is not to replace analyses that are available in whatever GIS it is that you run, and if it suits you better then please use it. For pedagogic reasons the instructor prefers to use these rather more educationally oriented systems. In themselves these systems are useful for learning about spatial analysis in GIS without the need to purchase a full GIS. Two things follow from this. First, students must be prepared to spend time downloading, installing and running these three systems (CrimeStat III, GeoDa and 3DField). For information on obtaining Crimestat and GeoDa, click here. All the assignments are also easily run using a fully-functional system such as ArcGIS and advice on how to do this will be given.

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Spatial Statistics with Geographic Information Systems

taught by Dave Unwin

Instructor(s):
Dates:
November 09, 2012 to December 07, 2012
Course Fee: $499
Academic Rate: $399

Before registering, please read the syllabus tab, noting the prerequisites, text and software requirements. When you click the register button, you will be taken to our secure transaction page.

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