163
Key Terms
The output of GIS Models is often used to aid in
decision-making processes and could have a significant impact. For instance, trying to determine which
sites would make the most suitable locations for a
new casino development would greatly affect the social, economic, and land use conditions of an area. If
the end result of a model is determining what areas of
a residential area are under the greatest potential to
get flooded, this can have a strong impact on an area’s
real-estate market. What kinds of impacts can these
types of models have on local, state, or federal policy?
Also, consider, what if the results of the model
are incorrect? If they predict one area is the optimal
location for a new shopping center—and it turns out
not to be—how could these results affect this area
and future decision making? Keep in mind that you
could have a great model or design, but have inaccurate data for one (or more) of the layers. If that’s
the case, how can having this kind of poor-quality
data in a model affect the output (and what kinds of
impacts could the results of models using inaccurate
data have on policy decisions)?
What Are Potential Societal or Policy Impacts of GIS Models?
Thinking Critically with Geospatial Technology 6.1
Chapter Wrapup
Spatial analysis is really at the core of working with geospatial data and GIS.
While there are many more types of spatial analysis that can be performed
with GIS, this chapter simply introduces some basic concepts of how it can
be performed (and some applications of it). Next chapter, we’re going to look
at taking GIS data (for instance, the results of an analysis or a model) and
making a map from the data. This chapter’s labs will return you to working
with GIS software (either AEJEE or ArcGIS), to start in on more functions, like
querying and buffers.
Important note: The references for this chapter are part of the online companion for this book and can be found at http://www.whfreeman.com/
shellito1e.
Key Terms
spatial analysis (p. 147)
query (p. 148)
SQL (p.148)
relational operator (p. 149)
compound query (p. 150)
Boolean operator (p. 150)
AND (p. 150)
Intersection (p. 150)
OR (p. 150)
Union (p. 150)
NOT (p. 150)
Negation (p. 150)
XOR (p. 150)
Exclusive Or (p. 151)
buffer (p. 151)
dissolve (p. 152)
geoprocessing (p. 153)
spatial query (p. 153)
overlay (p. 155)
intersect (p. 155)
identity (p. 155)
symmetrical difference (p. 155)
union (overlay) (p. 156)
Map Algebra (p. 156)
Site Suitability (p. 157)
Suitability Index (p. 159)
GIS Model (p. 160)
MCE (p. 161)
Key Terms
The output of GIS Models is often used to aid in
decision-making processes and could have a significant impact. For instance, trying to determine which
sites would make the most suitable locations for a
new casino development would greatly affect the social, economic, and land use conditions of an area. If
the end result of a model is determining what areas of
a residential area are under the greatest potential to
get flooded, this can have a strong impact on an area’s
real-estate market. What kinds of impacts can these
types of models have on local, state, or federal policy?
Also, consider, what if the results of the model
are incorrect? If they predict one area is the optimal
location for a new shopping center—and it turns out
not to be—how could these results affect this area
and future decision making? Keep in mind that you
could have a great model or design, but have inaccurate data for one (or more) of the layers. If that’s
the case, how can having this kind of poor-quality
data in a model affect the output (and what kinds of
impacts could the results of models using inaccurate
data have on policy decisions)?
What Are Potential Societal or Policy Impacts of GIS Models?
Thinking Critically with Geospatial Technology 6.1
Chapter Wrapup
Spatial analysis is really at the core of working with geospatial data and GIS.
While there are many more types of spatial analysis that can be performed
with GIS, this chapter simply introduces some basic concepts of how it can
be performed (and some applications of it). Next chapter, we’re going to look
at taking GIS data (for instance, the results of an analysis or a model) and
making a map from the data. This chapter’s labs will return you to working
with GIS software (either AEJEE or ArcGIS), to start in on more functions, like
querying and buffers.
Important note: The references for this chapter are part of the online companion for this book and can be found at http://www.whfreeman.com/
shellito1e.
Key Terms
spatial analysis (p. 147)
query (p. 148)
SQL (p.148)
relational operator (p. 149)
compound query (p. 150)
Boolean operator (p. 150)
AND (p. 150)
Intersection (p. 150)
OR (p. 150)
Union (p. 150)
NOT (p. 150)
Negation (p. 150)
XOR (p. 150)
Exclusive Or (p. 151)
buffer (p. 151)
dissolve (p. 152)
geoprocessing (p. 153)
spatial query (p. 153)
overlay (p. 155)
intersect (p. 155)
identity (p. 155)
symmetrical difference (p. 155)
union (overlay) (p. 156)
Map Algebra (p. 156)
Site Suitability (p. 157)
Suitability Index (p. 159)
GIS Model (p. 160)
MCE (p. 161)