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Sam's Project Page |
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Intern: Sam Ying
Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Donald Janelle and Dr. Michael Goodchild
Department: Geography |
APPLYING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM METHODOLOGIES TO SOCIAL SCIENCES
GIS is used as the primary technology for many natural science spatial analyses. Some common applications include digitization of polygons from remotely sensed data, buffer analysis, parent map overlay analysis, land suitability analysis, and density estimation. Many of these analysis tools are commonly used in physical geography and other sciences, but have not ventured into the toolboxes of researchers within the social sciences. The Center for Spatially Integrated Social Science (CSISS) has designed a program that introduces spatial thinking and applications to social science research, which range from anthropology to criminal justice. The area of research in which I am involved aims to integrate GIS into the everyday analysis tools used within the social sciences. The product will be a website which contains methodologies that show how to use the common spatial analysis tools in GIS when placed in a social science environment. Information about each analysis tool will also be posted to address the pros and cons of each tool within difference scenarios of research. The primary software applications used to create the methodologies include ArcView 3.2, ArcGIS 8.0, and MapInfo. The final product/webpages will be presented to the CSISS committee in Los Angeles to be approved for continued research in the area.
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