Chapter 2

Conceptual frameworks for spatial

analysis

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The geospatial perspective
 A distinct perspective on the world
 Domain of geospatial analysis
 Dealing with what happens where
 Human computer interface

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Basic primitives: Place
 Terrestrial scale - shape and size
 Naming of places
 Dynamics
 Need for rigour – coordinate systems and
datums
 2D vs 3D perspectives on geospatial
issues

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Basic primitives: Attributes
 Characteristics associated with place
 Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio and
Cyclical scales
 Spatial intensive measures
 Spatial extensive measures

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Basic primitives: Attributes
 Attribute tables

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Basic primitives: Objects
 Points
 Lines
 Areas

 Representative points
 Polylines
 Polygons

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Basic primitives: Maps
 Communicating with maps
 Traditional maps
 Digital mapping
 Alternative visualisations – 3D and
dynamic

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Basic primitives: Multiple properties
 Multiple properties of
place
 Concept of layers
 Combining layers
 Resolving modelling and
geocoding differences

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Basic primitives: Fields
 Discrete-object view
 Continuous-field view
 Data modelling as a
form of representation
 Conversion between
model views

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Basic primitives: Spatial weights
 Adjacency models
 Proximity –
distance based
 Spatial weights
matrices, W

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Basic primitives: Networks
 Basic components of a network
 Forms of network
 Concept of network topology
 Applications of network analysis

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Basic primitives: Density
 Density as object count (n) divided by area
(a), so d=n/a
 Density as link between discrete and
continuous model views
 Sensitivity to definition of both n and a

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Basic primitives: detail, resolution, scale

 Intrinsic complexity of the real world

 Spatial resolution
 Representative fraction
 Resolution and digital datasets
 Temporal resolution

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Basic primitives: Topology
 General concepts of topology
 Topological dimension
 Adjacency
 Connectivity
 Containment

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Spatial relationships: Overview
 Invariance and displacement
 Translation/displacement, rotation, reflection
 Relative positioning
 Co-location
 Overlay
 Intersection and Union
 Co-located or proximal?

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Spatial relationships: Distance & direction

 Location and distance/direction

calculations
 Representative points
 Direction and circular measure
 Spatial weights matrices
 Determination of weights: binary and real-
valued
 Reconstruction and MDS

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Spatial relationships: Context
 Spatial context and proximity
 Neighbourhoods
 Uniform distance
 Zonal

 Weighted

…

 Heterogeneity

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Spatial relationships: Dependence
 Spatial dependence and Tobler’s 1st Law
 Spatial autocorrelation
 Correlograms
 Geostatistics

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Spatial relationships: Sampling & interpolation

 Point sampling
 Systematic
 Random
 Stratified
 Zonal sampling and
statistics
 Fields and interpolation

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Spatial relationships: Smoothing & sharpening

 Convolution
 1st-order processes
 2nd-order processes
 Pattern and process
 Filtering

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Spatial statistics: Probability & uncertainty

 Probability in a spatial context

 Marginal vs Joint probability
 Probability fields
 Probability and uncertainty
 Probability density
 Uncertainty and error propagation
 Uncertainty and accuracy

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Spatial statistics: Inference
 Statistical inference and significance
 Confidence
 Controlled experiments
 Natural experiments
 Sampling & independence
 Samples vs populations

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Spatial data infrastructure
 Agencies and standards
 Geoportals
 Metadata
 Interoperability

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