The Power of Spatial Analysis: Patterns in

Geography

The Power of Spatial Analysis: Patterns in Geography

Spatial analysis solves location problems basically using math in maps. It
blends geography with modern technology to measure, quantify, and
understand our world.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) uses spatial analysis. What GIS does
is connect geography with the real world. It puts points on a map to see how
everything is related.
How do you use spatial analysis?
Whether John Snow realized it or not, his findings marked a major milestone
for spatial analysis.

It was just a basic overlay

procedure, but it resonated by
saving the lives of thousands.

To this day, we use the products of

spatial analysis. You may not even
know, but we harness the power of
spatial analysis in our daily routines. For example, GPS in our phones pinpoints
where we need to go. And weather forecasts deliver real-time predictions.

Some of the biggest challenges we have to tackle today are spatial in nature
– climate change, natural disasters, and population dynamics.

For centuries, maps have stood the test of time. Viewing our world on a map
impacts how we see it. But spatial analysis gives us the power to quantify and
act.
Tools in the spatial analysis tool belt
In GIS, there’s nothing more important than having the right geo-processing
tools available for you. Here are the top ten geo-processing tools that are like our
bread and butter:

1. Buffer tool – Generates a polygon around features at a set distance.

2. Clip tool – Cuts out an input layer to a defined feature boundary.
3. Merge tool – Combines data from multiple sources, then adds them into a new
data set.
4. Dissolve tool – Unifies adjacent boundaries based on common attribute values.
5. Intersect tool – Performs a geometric overlap with all overlapping features
becoming part of the output feature class.
6. Union tool – Combines input data layers into a single composite layer,
preserving the boundaries and attributes from all input features.
7. Erase tool – Removes the area that is overlapping with the erasing features.
8. Append tool – Adds data from one or more sources and puts it into an existing
target data set.
9. Spatial join – Inserts the columns from one feature table to another based on
location or proximity.
10.Relate/Join – Matches unique IDs in two tables, and creates a table by relating
or joining.

Geo-processing Tools

1. The Buffer Tool

 Buffers are proximity
functions. When you
use this geo-
processing tool, it
creates a polygon at a
set distance
surrounding the
features.

For example, a buffer is a polygon or collection of cells that are within a

specified proximity of a set of features.

The buffer tool can have fixed and variable distances. Also, they can be set to
geodesic which accounts for the curvature of the Earth.

Buffer Tool Example: Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Chernobyl is the worst nuclear disaster in human history. In a short period of
time, it released hundreds of times more radiation than Hiroshima. Also, it is
one of only two classified as a level 7 event (the maximum classification).
Surrounding vegetation absorbed radioactive isotopes and died within a week
of the blast.

As a result of the deadly toxins released into the atmosphere, the safety crew
declared a 2600 square kilometer buffer around the nuclear power plant. To
this day, this buffer zone is still in effect and it’s called the Chernobyl exclusion
zone. 30 years later, the trees remain reddish-brown. There are an estimated
9000 to 93,000 deaths across Europe. And the exclusion zone is still in effect.

The point of the story is that if ArcGIS was around at the time, they could’ve
run the buffer geoprocessing tool. Since the blast, satellites like SPOT have
been monitoring the Chernobyl exclusion zone because of its restrictions.
2. The Clip Tool

The clip tool is an overlay function

that cuts out an input layer to the
extent of a defined feature boundary.
The result of this tool is a new clipped
output layer.

If you can picture a cookie cutter, this

is like using the clip tool. And carving out vectors and rasters is one of the
most common operations in GIS.

To clip data, you need points, lines, or polygons as input and a polygon as the
clipping extent. The preserved data is the result of a clip.

Clip Tool Example: Carving out Florida

Florida’s nickname is the “Sunshine State”. You can even find the Sunshine
State on their license plate. But how much sunshine does Florida really
receive?

It turns out that global horizontal irradiance (GHI) is a good measure of

incoming solar radiation. So if you wanted to install a solar panel, GHI is the
recommended data set.

If you clip GHI to the Florida state boundary, you can really find how much
sunshine Florida really gets. When we clip GHI, we can add it to a map and
even summarize the average GHI values.

3. The Merge Tool

The merge tool combines data
sets that are the same data type
(points, lines, or polygons). When you run the merge tool, the resulting data
will be merged into one.

Similar to the clip tool, we use the merge tool regularly. For merging, data sets
have to be the same type. For example, you can’t merge points and polygons
into one data set.

Merge Tool Example: The Supermarket Merger

For example, if two grocery store giants like Ahold NV and Delhaize Group
want to combine their 6,500 stores, we can use the merge tool.

In this case, we have two existing data sets from both companies. The merger
between the two grocery stores into one company – Ahold Delhaize – means
all grocery stores will be combined into a single data set. When you combine
grocery stores (points) from both companies, they all end up in a final data
set.

How is merging different to append? The append tool means you’re adding
data to an existing data set. But merging means you’re taking two existing
data sets and combining them to create a new merged data set.

4. The Dissolve Tool

The dissolve tool unifies boundaries
based on common attribute values. In
other words, dissolve merges neighboring boundaries if the neighbors have
the same attributes.

For example, if you want to remove the borders of countries to form a

continent, the dissolve tool is the tool to use. But you would need an attribute
for each country and the continent it belongs to.

Dissolve Tool Example: Unifying Countries

What do Germany, Yemen, Tanzania, and Vietnam all share in common?
They are all examples of two countries dissolving their borders and unifying to
form one. Country unification is a rare event. But dissolving boundaries in GIS
is not.

West Germany + East Germany = Germany

North Vietnam + South Vietnam = Vietnam

The dissolve geoprocessing tool erases borders and unifies them into one.
When each country has its continent name in the attribute table, you can run
the dissolve tool to unify borders into continents.

Over 25 years ago, the Berlin Wall was wiped away which divided East and
West. The East and West dissolved their walls into a single country.

5. the Intersect Tool

The intersect tool is very similar
to the clip tool because the
extents of input features define
the output. The only exception is
that it preserves attributes from all the data sets that overlap each other in the
output.

The intersect tool performs a geometric overlap. All features that overlap in all
layers will be part of the output feature class – attributes preserved.

Add multiple inputs. The tool accepts different data types (points, lines, and
polygons). When features overlap each other, they will be in the output. The
intersect tool preserves the attribute values in both input layers.

Intersect Tool Example: Generating Pivot Tables

The city councilor asked the GIS analyst: “How many apartments, condos, and
houses do we have in precincts A, B and C? Create a pivot table for me.”

Instead of running a clip, it would be helpful to run an intersect. Why? Because

we preserve attributes from both input data sets. You need the building type
from the dwelling layer. You need the precinct ID from the residential layer.

When you run the Intersect Tool with the dwellings and residential layers, the
output will have all the points that overlap for each precinct. Most importantly,
it will keep the dwelling type AND precinct ID.

What’s the difference between the clip tool and the intersect tool?” The main
difference is the resulting attributes. When you run the clip tool, only the input
features attributes will be in the output. When you use the intersect tool, the
attributes from all features will be in the output.

6. The Union Tool

Some say the union tool should come with a bottle of antacid. The union tool
gets a bad reputation
because it creates a lot of
features. The union tool
maintains all input feature boundaries and attributes in the output feature
class.

After running this geo-processing tool, it does get a bit messy especially when
there are more overlaps. But it’s really not so bad. The Union tool spatially
combines two data layers. It preserves features from both layers to the same
extent.

Union Tool Example: Basic Shapes

In this example, we have an overlapping circle and square. The circle is a single
record and the square is a single record.

When you run a union on these two features, it produces 3 records – the
original circle, the original square, and the overlapping portion.

Unions have been especially useful in suitability applications because you can
understand where different habitat types overlap.

7. The Erase (Difference) Tool

I like the erase tool because it’s always helpful to erase things! The input layer
is what will be erased. The erase feature determines what to erase.

The Erase Tool removes features

that overlap the erase features.
This geo-processing tool
maintains portions of input
features falling outside the erase features extent. The result is a new feature
with the erase feature extent removed.

Erase Tool Example: Erasing Forest Burns

Humans start 90% of wildfires. Lightning strikes the Earth 100,000 times a day.
10 to 20% of these lightning strikes can cause forest fires.

No matter how you slice it, forest fires are happening at all times somewhere
on Earth. Ecologists need to understand how much suitable habitat exists on
the landscape.

When a forest fire tears through a forest, you can run the erase tool because
these forest stands no longer exist. They are no longer suitable habitats for
certain species. Erase those areas with the wildfire polygons and BOOM, you
have an updated habitat extent

GIS Digitizing and Editing Tips in ArcGIS

Pro

1. Split Features
Splitting features allows
you to interactively divide a
single feature into multiple parts. You may have a single polygon representing
a large area, and you want to cut it into smaller polygons based on specific
boundaries or attributes.

For example, imagine splitting a state polygon into individual county

polygons. That would be when you’d want to use the “split feature” editing
tool.

2. Merge Features

The merge tool is the

opposite of the split
tool. It allows you to
combine multiple
adjacent polygons into
a single fused polygon.
But it doesn’t only
include the features;
you also have to select
the attributes that you
want to retain.

Using this editing tool is common when you’re working with cadastral and
administrative boundaries. It can also be valuable when you want to clean
your data for cartographic purposes.

3. Trace
Tracing is the process of
accurately following or
replicating existing geographic
features to create new ones. It
involves using an existing
feature, such as a line or polygon, as a reference to create a new feature that
aligns with or is connected to the original.

Tracing is useful when you have complex or detailed features that are difficult
to make accurately from scratch. By tracing existing features, you can ensure
that the new features align correctly with the underlying geographic features.

4. Extend Features

“Extending features” means

that you’re lengthening a line
feature by expanding a new
segment connected to its
endpoint. For example, let’s say
you have a road that is not
connected to an intersection.

You can use the “extend

features” editing tool to
increase its length and snap it
to another road feature. It’s a great way to ensure that you don’t have any
undershoots in your line feature dataset.

5. Autocomplete Polygon

An Autocompleting
polygon helps you speed up
the process of digitizing
polygons by filling in missing
segments or closing gaps in
adjacent boundaries. When
editing polygon features, the autocomplete polygon tool incorporates the
existing geometry in a dataset.

Next, it attempts to close the polygon based on the surrounding features. This
can be extremely useful to prevent overlaps and create a topologically correct
dataset.

6. Reshape Features

Reshaping features is a
common task in editing when
you adjust the shape or position
of existing features to reflect
changes on the ground. It means
that you’re modifying the
geometry or shape of existing
geographic features by making
changes to the boundaries.

First, you select the shape that you want to modify. Afterward, you can
reshape it according to anyway you digitize and add vertices on a map.

7. Divide

Dividing features while editing

will break down a large polygon into
separate features with user-specified
values. This tool allows you to divide
features in different ways.

First, you can divide features by

equal area. Secondly, you can split
features by equal width. Finally, you
can use proportional area. Typically, you use this tool by drawing a line to set
the direction you want to divide a polygon.

So the main purpose of this editing tool is to partition geographic data into
smaller components common with cadastral or administrative data

8. Align Features

Aligning features can help you

ensure features are accurately
positioned relative to each other. It
helps you manipulate the features to
achieve better alignment, either by
snapping them to desired positions
or using a traced line with a buffer
tolerance.

Aligning features is important to ensure the accuracy and consistency of

spatial data. It is often necessary when integrating data from multiple sources,
correcting misalignments, or conforming features to specific standards.

9. Editing Vertices
Editing vertices allows you to
modify the coordinates or positions
of the individual points that define
the shape of a geographic feature.

First, adding new vertices to a

line or polygon refines its accuracy
and adds more detail. Secondly,
deleting vertices simplifies the shape
by reducing the number of points
defining it.
Finally, moving vertices can help you relocate individual vertices to adjust the
position of points that make up a line or polygon.

10. Replace Geometry

Replacing geometry will
substitute the entire geometry of a
feature with a new one that you have
specified. So let’s say you completely
want to replace the shape of a feature,
this editing tool is the best way for you
to do that.

But what’s important to note is that it

will maintain the attributes of the geometry that you are replacing it with. So
before you use this editing tool, pay very close attention to the attributes of
the target geometry because this is what will be kept when you’re finished
using this tool.

11. Generalize

Generalization helps simplify

complex features while maintaining
their shape and characteristics.

First, you can simplify features

that remove unnecessary details but
still preserve the essential shape of a
feature. Secondly, you can smooth
features that convert straight edges
into curves.

Finally, you can densify features that add vertices to a shape at a specified
interval or offset distance.
12. Rotate

The “rotate” operation

refers to the action of
changing the orientation or
angle of a geographic feature.
It involves rotating the feature
around a specified point or
pivot. Based on this pivot
point, you can alter its angle
while maintaining its shape
and geometry.

It’s possible to either specify the rotation angle numerically by pressing the
letter “A” on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can interactively spin features
using the wheel that ArcGIS Pro provides for you.

13. Trim

Trimming features is an
editing tool that’s exclusive for
line geometry. The main purpose
of this tool is to shorten a line
feature by removing excess
portions of it. This tool is
essential for removing any
dangles that might have been
caused by digitizing features.

You can use the trim tool to interactively edit and refine line features and it’s
the opposite of using the extend tool for editing.
14. Freehand

The freehand editing tool

allows you to interactively draw or
sketch new lines or polygon
features directly on the map using
a hand-drawn approach. It
provides flexibility to create or
modify features without
constantly clicking your
mouse.Users can create or edit
features by simply dragging the
cursor or stylus across the map,
following the desired path or boundary.

As the user moves the cursor, the tool captures the position and creates a line
or polygon feature that closely matches the drawn path. This allows for more
fluid digitization with the use of curves.

15. Buffer

Similar to the buffer geo-

processing tool, there is an editing
tool that allows you to create a
buffer around features with a set
distance. When using this tool, you
can set the buffer distance and the
number of rings you want it to
create.
You can also choose whether you want the buffer on the right or left side, or
both. Finally, you can select how the endpoint is buffered with either a
rounded or square end.