GIS and Spatial Analysis: Keeping It Simple

Abstract

n the opening chapters, GIS was broken into four general components, one of which was the spatial analysis of data. This is probably the least utilized of all GIS functions outside of an academic environment. A point that is often missed when discussing GIS is that the technology often exceeds the capabilities of the user. This is especially true if the user has not received any academic training in spatial data and GIS use. In Chapter VI a more sophisticated overview will be presented of the latest spatial analysis techniques along with examples of their implementation. Although the number of “spatially” trained scientists continues to grow, there is still a gap between the number of available skilled GIS modelers and the community programs needing GIS analysis. This chapter is designed to provide a stopgap approach, using more simple spatial statistical approaches that can be applied to gain a reasonable first insight into a birth outcome surface.