Geography 291: Geospatial Analysis with Desktop GIS

Hello! I’m Kheya Datta, I’m a 3rd year B.S in Biology with a minor in ENVS. Here’s a silly little drawing of me that I drew because I dont have any good photos of myself:

I did the Syllabus Quiz and read the reading.

This introductory chapter starts by talking about the recent boom of GIS; when in the past GIS was only particularly useful to a select group of Geographers, now its used worldwide by all sorts of people from Police to Starbucks. It then discusses GIS’ history from analog to digital. The discussion of the history reminds me of my Mother; she is a Geography Masters, and partially due to the times and partially due to studying in India, she only knows analog style GIS. Then it discusses various predecessors to the modern GIS systems we know today. GIS appears to have been based around Quanitative methods of previous years, and lead to a revolution within this form of methodology in ways I’m excited to learn more about in the upcoming semester. Next it discusses GIsystems vs GIscience. GIsystems seems to me to be more useful for the everyday person; I’m sure someone studying something with GIS doesn’t want to particularly worry about GIS being faulty, and GIscience seems more useful for people trying to input their own data within GIS for deep-delves into research, beyond what is already available. It then goes into spatial data and then who uses GIS and for what. They discuss a lot of city planning and road building in this section, which fascinates me. My limited experience with GIS is solely in the physical geography, specifically hydrology amongst rivers, so it’s interesting to learn how GIS is used in the urban side of things as well. The mention of how GIS gets its data does make me wonder how GIS has been used in a political light, especially in our day and age.

I’m really interested with Harmful Algae Blooms with my work, so I’ve found the NOAA Harmful Algae Blooms website for perusing. HABSOS can be used to predict upcoming Harmful Algae Blooms in the Gulf of Mexico (if it blooms last year it’ll probably bloom this year) and for the tech savvy consumer it could be a very good source for if there’s currently a harmful algae bloom. One of the things it tracks is Microcystins, a really bad toxin, so if a beach-goer sees thats high they can make the safe decision to not go.

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (2014). Physical and biological data collected along the Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida coasts in the Gulf of America as part of the Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System from 1953-08-19 to 2024-03-25 (NCEI Accession 0120767). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0120767. Accessed 8/21/2025.

Hello, my name is Jocelyn Inderhees and I am a sophomore. I am majoring in zoology, pre-med, and environmental science with a minor in chemistry.

Through reading chapter one of the textbook, I realized the influence and how big GIS is compared to what I originally thought. Prior to this text I believed that GIS was more of a type of mapping software and now I am aware of the fact that it is more of a flexible spatial awareness software. GIS has many uses and that change depending on how it is used. The software can be used to help a business such as Starbucks to decide where to build the new locations for the best profit and what helps the business prosper based on location. It can also be used to help a city to figure out zoning ordnances or data for properties and many other uses. What took me by surprise the most was that GIS is not one fixed identity but many. It is more than a software it is a form of analysis and a science. GIS is very versatile for its uses. The history of GIS dates back to the 1960s. I found the story with the tracing paper and the highways to be very intriguing. How he used it to find the best route by layering the data and information to better make the decisions long before the technology of today came along. Eventually it was converted to be able to be done on computers like how we do so today which gave many more the ability to do spatial analysis and the advanced forms of GIS. Another thing that stood out was the difference between mapping and spatial analysis. Mapping is showing data in a visual way while spatial analysis or GIS goes deeper into analyzing the data and discovering the relationships. This shows why GIS is so useful in many different fields such as agriculture to developing a city and more. This chapter helped me to better understand GIS and that is far more than just a simple piece of software. 

I find agriculture very interesting therefore I decided to research the distribution of cattle across the US. The map below shows there the cattle population is higher and lower. As shown the east coast and northern Midwest states have the lowest percentage while Great Plains regions have the highest concentration of population along with there being a decent amount in parts Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. You can tell where the agricultural parts of the country are, and the cattle populations reflect that. Overtime this map will change as more land becomes developed and less families have farms as the bigger companies are buying up the land and taking control of the agricultural businesses. The eastern states will overtime also lose more of their cattle while the Greater plains states will gain a higher percentage. The cattle production is clustered into certain parts. This helps with knowing what Agricultural policies to implement in different areas to help the cattle thrive and protect those in certain areas. Managing resources is also easier with this information. 

Fig 1. shows the population of beef cattle density across the US. 

Work Cited:

USDA’s Census of Agriculture, accessible via Ag Census Web Maps and downloadable county-level Excel files (NASS).

County-level figures for livestock inventory are updated every five years via the Census, with inter-census updates through “raking” to match state-level totals from agricultural surveys (NASS).

In 2022, total U.S. cattle inventory stood at ~88 million head (a 6.1% drop from 2017), with top beef cow inventory counties found in Nebraska, Nevada, and South Dakota; top cattle-on-feed counties in Texas, Kansas, California, and Nebraska (USDA NASS)

Hi, I’m Aestelle Dondero and I am a junior. I am an Astrophysics and Computer Science double major. I am really excited to learn more about GIS because I have a interest in the outdoors and history, and from what I have heard, GIS can be a really powerful tool in relation to both those subjects.

I started off with doing the quiz, and after completing that, began to read the assigned chapter. The chapter begins by discussing the recent growth in use of GIS, both inside and outside academia. From there, the author explores how GIS is a much more complex and fuzzily defined field than it may appear from an outside perspective, and gives examples of how different disciplines may use GIS differently. Following this, the author explains the origins of GIS, beginning with Ian McHarg’s use of layers of tracing paper and a light table to find the optimal path for a new highway. Despite the widespread usage of GIS and Spatial Analysis today, there was significant resistance to the use of technology for these purposes when compared to traditional cartography, especially in the early years, due to the limitations imposed by computers of the time. As the technology continued to develop, two subfields of GIS emerged, those being GIScience and GISystems. The author explains how GISystems is focused on the applications of GIS software to solve real world problems, while GIScience takes a more technical approach that is concerned with the underlying methods and models that allow that problem solving to take place. In reading this chapter, I thought that this analysis of the overlap and differences between GIScience and GISystems was really interesting, especially since I don’t think I had ever really considered that the GIScience side of the discipline would be a semi separate entity from the GISystems side. Finally, the chapter ends with a discussion of the many uses of GIS technologies, and how it effects many facets of our lives, including tax and governmental systems, along with farming and ecommerce. Ecommerce really surprised me as a GIS use case, although after reading the description of how it is used, it makes a lot of sense.

One of the ways that I have interacted with GIS before taking this class has been in researching the local history of my hometown. Where I’m from is fairly rural, with a lot of pre 1900 farms scattered across the county. The research paper I found discusses the subject of farmland abandonment, which is a common sight throughout most of Ohio.  There analysis includes a comparison of different factors in correlation to farmland abandonment, which I think could be an incredibly useful tool for understanding long term land use.

A map from the paper showing the area focused on in their research.

Another use case for GIS that I found was in a spatial analysis of round barn distribution throughout the United States. Old, timber framed barns are a really interesting subject to me, and since the round barn is such a unique and generally uncommon form of barn, this seems like a great utilization of GIS for better understanding trends regarding why and when they were built. Unfortunately, the article was behind a paywall, so I was unable to access it, but the abstract certainly was interesting!

B. Zaragozí, A. Rabasa, J.J. Rodríguez-Sala, J.T. Navarro, A. Belda, A. Ramón, Modelling farmland abandonment: A study combining GIS and data mining techniques,
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Volume 155, 2012, Pages 124-132, ISSN 0167-8809, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2012.03.019.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880912001375)

Cornelis J. van der Veen “Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Locations of Round Barns in the United States,” Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 128(1-2), 13-38, (26 May 2025). https://bioone.org/journals/transactions-of-the-kansas-academy-of-science/volume-128/issue-1-2/062.128.0102/Spatial-and-Temporal-Distribution-of-Locations-of-Round-Barns-in/10.1660/062.128.0102.short

My name is Megan Tooill and I am a junior. I am majoring in zoology, environmental science, and environmental studies, and I play softball here at OWU.

After taking the GEOG 291 quiz, I read Chapter 1. This chapter focused on introducing what GIS is by differentiating between GIScience and GISystems. It defines GISystems as an answer to “what” and “where” with practical applications, like mapping, spatial analysis, and data management. In contrast, GIScience is defined as an answer to “how,” specifically how do we know what we know and how to validate the information that has been displayed. With this differentiation, the chapter describes how GIS developed as an outcome of both social and technological developments, arising as the need for better data and visualization methods increased. Schuurman discusses how GIS initially emerged from military, government, and scientific needs, but it has since evolved into a versatile tool used widely in fields such as urban planning, environmental management, and public health. Its rise coincides with broader cultural trends toward visual data, digital decision-making, and the increasing reliance on technology to solve complex problems.

GIS increases accessibility to people and better communicates information because, according to recent studies, people tend to “reason” more effectively using imagery rather than numbers and texts alone. This highlights how maps not only display information but also actively influence decisions and shape perception. Schuurman challenges the common assumption that maps are neutral representations of space and claims that GIS is inherently ideological. Depending on how models are created, they can emphasize different aspects of a specific space. The creator of the model decides what information they want to portray and how to present it, a process known as ontology, which inevitably removes complete objectivity. This makes GIS a powerful tool, but also one that requires critical awareness of its limitations and biases.

One application of GIS that I found was for determining heterogeneity in disease distribution. In other words, how diseases vary and appear throughout a population. Using GIS can link disease processes and explanatory spatial variables to find ways to combat the spread of disease. A second application of GIS that I found designated critical habitats for endangered and threatened species. Using GIS helps create an image of what regions are in need of the most help and emphasizes the severity of problems associated with loss of biodiversity.

Fig. 1. Critical habitat areas for endangered and threatened species. Red depicts the most important areas to conserve, while green depicts areas that are of less concern. 

Work cited: 

FLETCHER-LARTEY, S. M., & CAPRARELLI, G. (2016). Application of GIS technology in Public Health: Successes and challenges. Parasitology, 143(4), 401–415. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182015001869 

Sabesan, A. (2018, March 4). Aarthy Sabesan publishes article on spatially designating endangered and Threatened Species – BSC Group. BSC Group – Shaping New England’s future together. https://www.bscgroup.com/news/aarthy-sabesan-publishes-article-spatially-designating-endangered-threatened-species/ 

Bzdafka – week 1 

Hi everyone, my name is Alex Bzdafka. I am a biology and environmental science double major here at OWU. I’m a junior and I’m on the track and field team, my main event is pole vault. I’m excited to be learning GIS because being able to utilize spatial data is something I am unable to do currently and it will be very helpful for my future research and career. I focus my course work on plant ecology, and my research is on plant-pollinator interactions. 

The week started out by reading the syllabus and the schedule, followed by taking the quiz and acing it. After that work I did the reading, which explained some history behind GIS and how it was essentially developed a number of different times and by different individuals and groups. I found it interesting how the book listed a number of uses for GIS and how versatile of a software it truly is. The book also interestingly discussed the differences between GIScience and GISystems. GIScience is more of the computer science and mechanistic study of GIS itself and how the program functions. GIScience also looks into the validity of the program and how it defines polygons when tasked with isolating or grouping spaces. GISystems is more of what we (the students) are, and what we are being trained in; as GISystems is the actual use of GIS in assisting with projects. 

After completing the reading I looked into some of the uses for GIS. The possibilities are seemingly endless as the software is very broad and can be used in many different capacities as long as you are willing to be creative with it. The most basic use case of GIS is to visualize space, however it is also a powerful tool for visualizing data similarly to a graph. The main uses I see for GIS are in agricultural consulting (which I plan to do in the future), as I can display soil conditions on various properties, and track it over time. I can also use it to visualize water movement which can be used as a proxy for soil infiltration rate. I also would likely use GIS to map percent plant coverage (not grass) to show plant diversity, and soil coverage which prevents splash erosion and soil compaction by rain. I have mainly seen GIS used  in literature for categorizing land use types, such as urban/developed, natural, semi-natural, and agricultural (Geslin, et al. 2013). 

Map showing natural status of given areas. In green are natural areas, beige are semi-natural, and grey are urban/impervious areas. 

Geslin, B., Gauzens, B., Thébault, E., & Dajoz, I. (2013, May). Plant pollinator networks along a gradient of Urbanisation. Plant Pollinator Networks along a Gradient of Urbanisation. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0063421  

Evers, J., & Editing , E. (2025, June 5). GIS (Geographic Information System). Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/geographic-information-system-gis/

Chapter 1- This chapter introduced me to using ArcOnline, which was a different experience compared to what I had learned in Geog 291. At first, I was able to follow along easily, but as I got further into the chapter, I ran into challenges when working with data layers. One of the biggest issues was figuring out how to properly format my data so that it would display correctly on the map. I had to go back and double-check my work multiple times before it finally looked right.

Another part that I found difficult was understanding how to adjust the symbology settings to better represent the data. I wanted to make the map more visually clear, but I struggled to find the right colors and symbols that would best display the information. After experimenting with different options, I started to get the hang of it. I realized how important these small details are in making a map both informative and easy to read.

Chapter 2- Going into this chapter, I was feeling more confident, and overall, things went more smoothly. One of the first tasks was working with attribute tables, which I found really helpful in organizing and understanding the data. Being able to filter and sort information within the table made it much easier to see patterns in the dataset.

A challenge I faced in this chapter was trying to properly configure labels for the map. I wanted certain features to stand out, but some of the labels were either too small or overlapping in a way that made the map look cluttered. After adjusting the settings multiple times, I was finally able to make the labels clear and readable.

By the end of the chapter, I felt a lot more comfortable with these tools, and I started to see how all the different elements—layers, symbols, labels, and attribute tables—come together to create an effective map. I’m looking forward to applying what I learned to more complex projects in the future.

Chapter 4 is about mapping density, which is useful when analyzing areas of different sizes. Density maps help show patterns rather than individual points or connections. There are two main ways to create a density map. The first method is by using defined areas. This is a quick and easy way to display data that has already been summarized. However, it’s not the most detailed method since it doesn’t come directly from raw data. If extra detail isn’t necessary, this method is a great way to visualize patterns. The second method is by using a density surface. This approach is more detailed but requires a lot more data input since it doesn’t use pre-summarized data. It looks similar to raster models because it uses layers and cells. It’s also possible to switch between the two methods by assigning values to summarized maps. Factors like cell size, search radius, calculation methods, and units impact how the final map looks.

Chapter 5 focuses on taking a closer look at maps to understand how different features, values, and layers work together. It also revisits the idea of discrete versus continuous values. Discrete values are unique and identifiable, like locations or addresses. Continuous values can be numerical or categorical, but they vary across an area.

This chapter also explains different ways to study areas and features. One way is by looking at the overall areas and features, which gives a quick visual representation but doesn’t provide specific data points. Another way is by selecting inside an area, which gives precise information about that space but doesn’t help with anything outside of it. Lastly, overlaying methods combine multiple layers of data to create a more detailed view. This method is useful but requires a lot of data input.

There are also different ways to display maps. One option is using lines and locations, which uses thick lines and dots to mark specific places. Another option is discrete areas, which map distinct features like buildings or rivers using lines or shading.

Chapter 6 begins by discussing the difference between mapping by distance versus cost. Distance mapping is usually enough, but it’s not always the most detailed option. Cost mapping considers travel expenses and effort, making it more precise but also more complex. This fits with a common theme in the book: more detailed methods require more data and effort.

The chapter also introduces planar and geodesic mapping. Planar mapping assumes the Earth is flat, which works for small areas. However, for larger areas, geodesic mapping is needed to account for the Earth’s curvature.

Different methods can be used to analyze distance within a map. District bands help compare distance with other characteristics, while inclusive rings show how totals increase as distance grows

Creating buffers is another important concept. Buffers define boundaries around values, helping to highlight edges and centers. The rest of the chapter focuses on how to apply these methods in real-world mapping. I’m curious to see how all of this will come together when we start working through tutorials and applying what we’ve learned.