The second lecture
of GIS comprised mainly three parts, the examples of practical research by
using GIS, GIS software and the way to gain relevant data for the research.
In the
beginning, Dr. Adam Dennett, the lecturer of CASA, informed the aim of the lecture
to understand the basic elements of social science research using GIS and the diverse
analytical approaches with it. He showed several example maps, which are
related to population, crime, deprivation, health care, flooding, and education,
and the way how to read economic, social and physical characteristics from the maps
and its meaning in the projects. (Image 1)
And then, he
moved to GIS software industry which has been significantly growing. As interest
and the utilisation of GIS are increasing, GIS software market is
expanding almost 10% every year and now it is used in all industries and public
sectors such as business, public safety, military
and education. The popular GIS tools: Arc GIS, MAP Info, Quantum GIS, Python
and R, and specific points of each tool were introduced. Also, small description
of GIS cloud and online GIS tools was following. (Image 2)
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| Image 1 |
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| Image 2 |
In the last
part, he said of various kinds of the data and the way of gathering the data which
is the key element to proceed the research. Easily, we can classify the data according
to the way of gathering. On the one hand, we can use the open data, which are
provided by public sectors and other organisations. On the other hand, we need
to collect the data through participation and measuring by ourselves. Some
websites of the UK, which contain the open data or shapefiles, and the characteristics
of each website were mentioned. As we can see Image 3, some other methods like WebScarping and Volunteered Geographic Information were shown as alternative ways
to collect the data by ourselves, when the given data are unclear, and the goal
of the research needs the specific data.
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| Image 3 |
The lecture was
finished with the emphasis on caution when using the open data and the mapping
with it. Much of the data are made with inadequate formats like pdf, or do not
include any spatial reference, so we need to be careful to collect and use the data.
When it came to the mapping with the data, he insisted that it is necessary to make
analytical and meaningful maps rather than something fancy or colourful. In
addition, it is essential to acknowledge that some errors could be made by way
of ‘generalisation’ in the process of research, therefore, setting up the range
and the level of the research will enrich the quality of it.
After one hour lecture,
students had a training session that mapping population data on the map of
London Borough with R. (Image 4)
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| Image 4 |
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