Basic GIS Analysis: Recode

Dr. Rohit Goyal

Reader, Civil Engineering
Malaviya National Institute of Technology
Jaipur
Topics Covered
 Data Classification
 Basics of Recoding
 Purpose of Recoding
 How many categories to use?
 Using standards limits/indices
 Raster recoding
 Vector recoding
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Data Classification
 A particular attribute may have 100’s of values
 Example, when mapping population of different
district in a state, we may find each district has
different value.
 Thematic Mapping or other presentations are
typically by class rather than individual record
values.
 When mapping population you may like to assign a
scale of 1-5, or 1-10 or levels of “high”, “medium” or
“low” etc. to each district based on criteria as defined
by some standard or by you.
 Such division in classes is called data
classification

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Recoding
 Classification of data is one of important
and usually first step in GIS
applications.
 Classification is achieved by recoding
data into groups or classes.
 Typically integer values are used to
identify different classes, especially if
mathematical processing is required in
later steps.
 However it could also be character code
or string or a interval/range of value
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Purpose of Recoding
 A theme with many features and classes of
data may have a good database but it’s pattern
may not be apparent.
 By reducing the large number of classes into a
manageable list and arranging into a logical
sequence can give us better understanding of
data
 Generalization of data is known as data
reduction
 It is important to note that original data must
not be modified
 we may need to reclassify it in different manner for
some other application

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 Purpose of reclassification
 Different purpose of reclassification could be
 Binary masking. Usually a 0 or 1 is assigned to
different features to keep them or remove them
from further study.
 Classification reduction. Reducing categories or
grouping features together for some application
 Classification ranking. Assigning ranks to different
categories based on standard/indices etc.
 Changing measurement scales. We may classify
categories suitable/unsuitable

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How many categories?
 Most people can distinguish up to seven
colors or patterns on a map.
 Displaying more categories makes it difficult
to see.
 Distribution of features and the scale of the
map also affect the number of categories
you can display.
• In maps containing small scattered features, less
number of categories must be used
• If feature sizes are small comparing to mapping
area, less numbers of categories must be used.

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Scattered features, less categories

The left
half of this vegetation
map has many small
areas, compared to the
right half; so it's hard to
distinguish the Various
categories, and thus the
patterns in the map.

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 Large area,
less categories

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 Smaller area,
more categories
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Standard Limits
 If less categories are used, some
important information may not be
present in final map
 However makes understanding easier for a
broader audience
 In case a standard is available that may
be used
 Pollution level in River Yamuna has
been mapped for different years as a
part of JBIC project by me.
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BOD Levels in River Yamuna

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Vector/Raster Recoding
 Reclassification can be carried on both
vector or raster data.
 In raster data, usually a new layer is
created with modified categories
 In vector data, reclassification may be
carried out using database operations
and a new column (attribute) may be
generated for each feature.

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Raster Recoding

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Raster Recoding

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Vector Recoding

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Vector Recoding

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