Chapter 1
This chapter introduced me to the simple breakdown of GIS. At first glance, the Geographic information system can seem quite puzzling and often can intimidate others because of the thought of it being solely high-tech. This is a common misconception when it comes to GIS analysis, it is actually less about the software and more about the way you think through a problem. Something that I related was the concept of framing a question and thinking through the process before touching any tools. I compared this to the common saying of “thinking before you speak”, something I try to do whenever I talk. I am someone who doesn’t talk unless needed to, which lets me choose my words carefully and observe the situation around me before I speak. There is also the other half of society who does not think before they speak. These people are similar to those who jump into GIS and map something that they aren’t entirely knowledgeable about, leading to results that mean little to nothing. As I previously mentioned before in my Week 1 post, GIS appears to have a lot of ‘invisible power’ because it is simply everywhere and is constantly influencing our decisions. Through this chapter, I noticed that this power is apparent in the users of GIS, especially when results are shared publicly. Geographic information system analysis can be used in courtrooms and even for policy decisions. This made me realize that the smallest of choices (data sources and parameters) can create serious consequences. With the mention of the realness of GIS analysis, it comes to show how much responsibility and leverage the users of it have. The excerpt not only introduced GIS analysis but also explained that good analysis is dependent on judgment and intentionality rather than technical skill alone.
Chapter 2
This chapter focused on the importance of mapping where things are before attempting to analyze why they are there. When picking out a book, you look at the cover and almost create a story in your head as to what the story is about. You don’t actually know what the story is about until you read it. Similar to mapping, you can’t know why things are where they are until you put it on a map first and analyze the map. At first, this idea seemed almost too simple and was something I thought to be common sense. However, further into the reading I realized how often people overlook this step. Mapping locations alone can already reveal patterns such as clustering, spacing, or absence, which can raise questions that might not be obvious through data tables alone. This reminded me of how observing a situation quietly can sometimes tell you more than immediately asking questions. It is all in the name – GIS analysis: analyze the situation you are going to use GIS for! One idea that stood out to me was how scale can completely change what a map appears to show. Patterns that look significant when viewed from far away can disappear when zoomed in, and vice versa. This made me think about how easy it is to misinterpret information when only one perspective is shown. It also made me more aware of how maps can unintentionally mislead if the scale is not carefully considered or explained. The chapter also made it clear that mapping is not as objective as it may appear. Choices such as what data to include and how much detail to show influence how the map is understood and perceived. The idea that maps simply present facts is challenged in saying this because it simply isn’t just facts. Instead, they tell a story, and the mapper has control over how that story is told. Overall, this chapter reinforced the idea that even basic maps require thought and intention, and that understanding “where” something is located is often the first step toward understanding much larger patterns.
Chapter 3
The last reading emphasized how mapping quantities adds another layer of meaning beyond simply showing locations. One of the most important key concepts this chapter made was discussing the difference between mapping raw totals in comparison to using ratios or densities. In the beginning, mapping totals may seem straightforward; though, the chapter explained how this can be misleading. This scenario is especially common when areas vary in size. Larger areas can appear more important simply because they contain more, not because they are more concentrated. Given this context, it made me realize just how easily patterns can be exaggerated or minimized depending on how data is presented. Moving along the reading, I found the discussion on classification particularly interesting. The fact that the same data can look completely different depending on how classes are created made me think about how much influence the mapper has over interpretation (once again). Choosing natural breaks, equal intervals, or quantiles is not just a technical decision. This decision is interpretive and made from that of a human individual. Once more, these decisions reinforce the idea that GIS analysis involves judgment, not just calculation. Another aspect that stood out to me was how outliers can distort a map if they are not handled carefully. One unusually high or low value can change how all other data appears, which again highlights the importance of understanding the data before mapping it. Reading through this chapter made me more aware that maps showing “the most and least” are powerful, yet also risky if created without careful thought. In other words, the users of GIS are responsible for creating maps with intention and meticulous work. It reinforced that GIS is not about producing visually appealing maps, but about presenting information in a way that is accurate and intentional.