Spatial Analysis
The spatial analysis category looks at data manipulation techniques in GIS.
Turn Restrictions Simplified
This guest article by Tim Hirrel takes a look at a new method for implementing turn restrictions in GIS street data. Turn restrictions (e.g. no right turn allowed or no u-turn allowed) are an important component of network data used for driving directions and logistics. Tim Hirrel is the creator of TdhGIS, a free [...]
Basic Uses of GIS
What are the basic uses of GIS? This article reviews some of the most common and basic users of GIS including mapping data, proximity analysis, buffers, cluster mapping, and querying a geographic area for features.
Heat Maps in GIS
Heat mapping, from a geographic perspective, is a method of showing the geographic clustering of a phenomenon. Also known as hot spot mapping, heat maps show locations of higher densities of geographic entities. The ‘heat’ in the term refers to the concentration of the geographic entity within any given spot, not to be confused with [...]
Using GIS to Showcase College Acceptance
Every June, my local paper is filled with the local private school announcements containing lists and lists and lists of where students have been accepted to. With all the private schools competing with each other to showcase college acceptances for that year, creating a map showing the locations of colleges and universities that have accepted [...]
Distance Decay and Its Use in GIS
Distance decay is a phenomenon observed between locations or ethnic groups- the further apart they are, the less likely it is that they will interact very much. In essence, distance decay describes how things like communication and infrastructure break down relative to distance from a cultural center. This leads to cultural differences between an urban [...]