Introduction to GIS Modeling

…an introductory course in map analysis

GEOG 3160, University of Denver, Winter 2001

Thursday evenings, 6:00 to 8:50pm, Room 125, GIS Lab, Boettcher Building (West)

Joseph K. Berry, Keck Visiting Scholar, Room 108, Boettcher Building (West)

Phone (970) 215-0825 — Email jkberry@du.edu — Website http://www.innovativegis.com/basis/

Links to Course Syllabus and other course administrative stuff

About the instructor

Installing and registering your special copy of MapCalc

Email Dialog and Other Helpful Hints

Example of a completed homework exercise (Exercise #1 -- Dissecting a Suitability Model)

Another Example of a completed homework (Exercise #4 – Measuring Distance and Connectivity)

Another Example of a completed homework (Exercise #6 – Landfill Suitability Model)

Another Example of a completed homework (Exercise #6 – Landslide Susceptibility Model)

Links to Lecture Notes (note: click hyperlink to view in your browser; right click PPoint files to download lecture presentations)

Week 1 -- Maps as Data [GIS mapping, management and modeling; Discrete (map objects) vs. continuous (map surfaces); Linking data and geographic distributions; Framework for map-ematical processing] Download

Week 2 – Spatial Analysis Operations [Map data types and their implications; Contouring implications; Characterizing size, shape, pattern and arrangement] Download

Week 3 – Reclassifying and Overlaying Map Layers [Point, region and map-wide overlay; Grid math; Error propagation] Download

Week 4 – Measuring Distance and Connectivity [Simple vs. weighted distance; Proximity and movement; Accumulation surfaces; Identifying optimal path(s); Viewsheds and visual exposure surfaces; Narrowness surfaces] Download

Week 5 – Summarizing Spatial Context [Calculating slope, aspect and profile maps; Applying spatial differentiation and integration; "Roving window" summary operations; Characterizing edges and complexity] Download
Week 6 – GIS Modeling Procedures [Deductive vs. inductive reasoning; Flowcharting spatial problems] Download

Week 7 – Surface Modeling [Spatial dependency, autocorrelation and variogram; Spatial interpolation (IDW, Kriging and others); Assessing interpolation results] Download

Week 8 -- Spatial Statistics (Descriptive) [Sampling design; Basic statistics and its GIS expression; Normalizing maps; Generating a standard normal variable map; Mapping spatial dependency] Download

Week 9 -- Spatial Statistics (Prescriptive) [Linking numeric and geographic patterns; Clustering mapped data; Investigating map correlation; Developing prediction models; Assessing prediction results] Download

Week 10 – Future Directions [Dynamic map pedigree; Toward a humane GIS; GIS software's changing roles; Evolving the GIS mindset; Is technology ahead of science?] Download

Links to Homework Assignments

Homework guidelines and example question/response

Week 1 -- Maps as Data [#1- Dissecting a suitability model (MapCalc)] Download
(Optional MapCalc Tutorials)

Week 2 – Spatial Analysis Operations [#2- Examples of spatial analysis (MapCalc)] Download

Week 3 – Reclassify and Overlay [#3- Habitat model and examples (MapCalc)] Download

Week 4 – Measuring Distance and Connectivity [#4- Distance and connectivity (MapCalc)] Download

Week 5 – Summarizing Spatial Context [#5- Neighborhood analysis (MapCalc] Download

Midterm Exam Study Questions Download

(Link to Discussion Forum)

Take the Midterm exam (return 1.5 hours after you download) Download

…posted on the class website by 10:00 am, Thursday, February 8^th, and must be completed by 12:00 midnight, Sunday, February 11th. You will download the exam (time/date stamped at our website) and email the completed document to me within 1.5 hours. BE SURE to save your completed Word file before you email as an attachment!!!

Week 6 – GIS Modeling Procedures [#6- Implementing a suitability model (MapCalc)] Download

Week 7 – Surface Modeling [#7 – Spatial interpolation (Surfer)] Download …special data files Period1.dat and Period2.dat
(Optional Surfer Tutorials)

Week 8 – Spatial Statistics (Descriptive) [#8- Basic spatial statistics (Surfer)] Download …special data file ELEV_PTS_surfer.xls

Week 9 – Spatial Statistics (Prescriptive) [#9- More on spatial statistics (MapCalc and Excel)] Download …special MapCalc database AgData.rgs

Take the Final exam/project Download

…posted on the class website by 5:00 pm, Friday, March 9^th, and must be completed by 5:00 pm, Sunday, March 16th. The exam/project can be done in teams of up to four members—one write-up per group, submitted as a Word document.

Links to Readings (BM= Beyond Mapping; SR= Spatial Reasoning; MA= Map Analysis)

(List of book topics; order texts at http://www.amazon.com/ search for keywords Beyond Mapping and Spatial Reasoning; a draft manuscript Map Analysis is available for photocopying)

Week 1 – Maps as Data [BM_ Intro, T#1, Epilog, SR_T#6]

Week 2 – Spatial Analysis Operations [SR_T#7, MA_T#9] (optional Fragstats overview)

Week 3 – Reclassify and Overlay [BM_T#6, T#7, SR_ T#4]

Week 4 – Measuring Distance and Connectivity [BM_T#2, MA_T#5, T#6, T#13, T#14]

Week 5 – Summarizing Spatial Context [BM_T#3, T#5, T#9]
Week 6 – GIS Modeling Procedures [BM_ T#10, SR_ T#1, T#5, T#8, MA_ T#1, T#4, T#11]
Week 7 – Surface Modeling [BM_T#4, SR_ T#2, MA_ T#2]

Week 8 – Spatial Statistics (Descriptive) [MA_T#3, T#7]

Week 9 – Spatial Statistics (Prescriptive) [SR_T#10, MA_T#8, T#10]

Week 10 – Future Directions [BM_ T#8, SR_ Intro, T#3, T#9, Epilog, MA_ Intro, Epilog, T#12]

Links to Course Software

MapCalc [included with the MapCalc Learner educational materials—install from the CD; see www.redhensystems.com for more information on MapCalc software]

MapCalc databases [right-click on a file and select “Save Target As…]

Tutor25.rgs – basic tutorial database (25 rows x 25 cols)

Island.rgs – natural resource database (100 rows x 100 cols)

Smallville.rgs – business database (100 rows x 100 cols)

AgData.rgs – agriculture database (66 rows x 64 cols)

Surfer Software [included with the MapCalc Learner educational materials—install from the CD; see www.goldensoftware.com for more information on Surfer software]

SnagIt [download (1.25MB) the Windows-based program for screen capture; 45 day evaluation; $39.95 to purchase (recommended); see www.techsmith.com for more information on SnagIt software]