The ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis Volume 1: Geographic Patterns & Relationships

by Andy Mitchell

The ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, Volume 1 shows how geographic analysis with GIS can identify patterns, relationships, and trends that lead to better decision making. Using examples from various industries, this book focuses on six of the most common geographic analysis tasks: mapping where things are, mapping the most and least, mapping density, finding what is inside, finding what is nearby, and mapping what has changed. Written for both new and experienced GIS users, this book builds a foundation of the basic tasks needed to handle a wide range of analysis applications. 

Genres: Geography, Science, Software, Nonfiction

186 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

Reviews

[Mommalibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot more content here than I absorbed on the first reading. I kept wanting them to define layer in terms of database tables like they did data tables. Lots of examples to illustrate all the basic uses of GIS and methods of presentation of data.

[RAD · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, Volume 1, is the first volume in a three-volume series. At 186 pages, it is a short book, and its brevity is consistent with its elementary (yet ironically repetitive) treatment of the subject: for the topics that are covered, the book could have been shorter. Those with experience in data analysis and visualization, even if GIS neophytes, won't find much to sink their teeth into: most chapters deal with quite elementary concepts ("Mapping the Most and Least", "Mapping Change", etc.) packaged in a geospatial framework. There's no theory or data science; just lots (and lots) of similar examples. This is my first GIS book, so I have no alternate recommendations or suggestions, other than to say that the book is very basic. There is a fledgling bibliography ("Where to Get More Information") that contains what I can only imagine to be somewhat dated material, given the 1999 publishing date. As I've already purchased the other two volumes in the series as well, my hope is that they will be more insightful.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (relatively thin compared to many ESRI books) presents a birds' eye view of geospatial analysis (patterns and relationships) but doesn't provide any technical on how to actually create these maps. If you have data swimming around your head or are new to geospatial analysis and simply want to expose yourself to an array of geospatial concepts, this is a good book to use for brainstorming ideas. If you're at the point in your thought process of actually creating your map, it won't be of much help in teaching you how to execute the mapping tasks using your mapping software.

It's a good resource, I think, for people who have had some exposure / experience with geospatial analysis but want to refine their understanding of concepts like selecting an appropriate cell size and radius for mapping density.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine for an introduction to GIS Analysis, but completely useless without the tutorial and the software. Make sure you have all three.

[Faissal Bozi]

very good book