SPRING Module 4: Spatial Data Analysis and Mapping

Spatial data are items of information related to a location on the Earth, e. g. topography, place names, height data, land cover, hydrology, cadastre, administrative boundaries, socio-economic and demographics information. Spatial data are critical to promote economic development, improve our responsibility of natural resources and to protect the environment. One has estimated that approximately 80 % of governmental data has a spatial basis. Examples range from local over regional to national and global scales and address issues such as land consumption, water quality, soil fertility, air pollution or biodiversity. There are two major forces driving the development of spatial data. The first is a growing need for governments and businesses to improve their decision-making and increase their efficiency with the help of proper spatial analysis. Many organisations, agencies and departments in all level of government, private and non-profit enterprises and research institutes throughout the world spend enormous time and effort each year producing and using spatial data. The second force is the advent of cheap, powerful information and communications technology which facilitate the more effective handling of large amounts of spatial data. The use of spatial data is now a central part of our daily life. One key to a sustainable future within the changing world is create and visualize of spatial data and access to spatial data and to reach information by data mining that leads to better decision-making.

Geographic information systems (GIS) are becoming more and more important also for rural development planning. First, the workshop gives a general introduction to ArcGIS Pro. It is designed to provide students with practical hands-on experience using ArcGIS, and an understanding of how GIS can be applied to planning practice and research. A map is used as a tool to show spatial phenomena in a realistic manner, to indicate spatial problems and help to prepare actions. Therefore, it is very important for any planner to know the principles of compiling and drawing a thematic map. The workshop will concentrate on the following topics: Thematic cartography and Geovisualization, Statistical and graphical foundation of cartography, Principles of cartography and Mapping techniques.