Chapter 4
When reading chapter four I learned many new terms and found many things interesting. Firstly starting mapping density is very interesting, I like how it is well explained how this differs from other maps and that it can be more efficient than when blocking concentration of areas. Along the sames lines as this density surface being created by GIS is also cool to see and be explained in this book. I would have never thought the calculation process would be a complex as it is, the images shown to depict this are also very interesting. Also the significance of cell size is something I never considered to be a detrimental factor to GIS. The word Quantile is something new that I learned which essentially means that each class has the same number of cells in it. Contour lines are also something I found very interesting especially since when I have seen them before it is typically associated with the documentation of hills and ground patterns. To see it here being used in GIS not just for land but in terms of value and change like for example used with mapping local businesses. I also find it interesting how much data impacts the map we see more data points equals an increase in density which creates a more cohesive and readable map, while only a few points can cause a more empty map and leave it harder to read. Overall chapter four gave more clarity and purpose for density mapping and how this can be more efficient as well as holds important.
Chapter 5
When starting chapter five there were again many things I learned as well as found interesting. Starting with the difference between single area mapping versus multiple area mapping. Firstly this is something I knew coming into this chapter the difference being that single areas focus on just a single plot point data set area. While multiple areas plot multiple sets of data and points in a given area that then compares these data sets. I can see how both would be desirable as data sets, however I find that seeing inside multiple areas can be really useful. I also feel like discrete and continuous has been something discussed in earlier chapters, the same seems to apply to these features when applying it to finding what’s on the inside. I also found the linear features can lie outside of features as well as inside. When looking at the map example images given this looks very interesting I also found how mappers utilize this feature as an example of wanting to include parcels within a 300 foot buffer, the usage of this method seems to prove useful. Finding what’s inside is explained very thoroughly and as such is an easy concept to grasp. I also appreciate the table with the comparison and the good features and trade-offs for each method is very nice. It’s also very nice how you are able to select certain feature within an inside area. I honestly did not really concept what GIS is capable of, however it does really remind me of the coding site R studio, in that they both are very capable of doing a lot that allows for data to correctly be read. It also seems like the software we are going to be using within this class ArcGIS has some handy tools to make utilizing results easier. Overall this chapter seemed to explain a how to use GIS with the contents of finding what’s inside, it seemed a lot of the methods and concepts seemed to apply to earlier chaptersĀ and thus I feel as though I was able to grasp these terminologies more.
Chapter 6
Finally when starting chapter six I again learned many new things as well as found other things very interesting. I will first start with the concept of chapter six, being finding what is nearby, this being able to find and monitor events within a given respected area is a concept I again never thought GIS would be able to do. I will say that one thing I have found when reading this book is that I am constantly finding out all that GIS can do and it is typically more than what I believe it can do. Steering back my interests and learning ot chapter six, I did not know to find what is nearby in GIS you need to consider the measuring of either distance or cost, specifically cost being the measurement of time. This is something I again would have never thought GIS could do.Ā I also like the incorporation of different mapping types that can be utilized to find this data and theĀ three differing ways of finding what is nearby. Again the chart used to show the differences and the pros and cons of each of these methods makes forĀ linear and cohesive learning experience for me as the reader. When looking at the types of maps that can be made for finding what is nearby (excluding the continuous maps) I find similarities to these and the graphs you can produce with R studio. Overall this chapter was a longer one that seemed to explain yet another new method of mapping just as the previous chapter (chapter five) did. With this being established I found it helpful how all measures were explained and shown with examples.