Thinking Spatially

 

Instructor: Wanglin Yan

Faculty of Environment and Information Studies

 

 

1.     Course Scope and Purpose:

 

Spatial thinking is based on a constructive amalgam of three elements: concepts of space, tools of representation, and processes of reasoning. It depends on understanding the meaning of space and using the properties of space as a vehicle for structuring problems, for finding answers, and for expressing solutions. To think spatially entails knowing about (1) space, (2) representation, (3) reasoning; and (4) making decisions with spatial understandings. The goal of this course is to teach various principles of spatial thinking for students to (1) think in the habit of mind of thinking spatially, (2) act in a spatially informed way, and (3) adopt a critical stance to spatial thinking for their own study and research projects.

 

2.     Learning Objectives:

 

Upon completing this course students should be able to:

 

 

·      Understand the nature and characteristic of spatial thinking (what is it, why do we need to know about it, and what do we need to know about it?)

 

·      Specify the various elements of spatial thinking that can enable us to identify, describe, analyze and visualize spatial phenomena

 

·      Define the fundamental spatial concepts and terms such as distance, elevation, angle, time, coordinate system, area, density, arrangement, orientation, diffusion, dispersion, pattern, spatial similarity and cluster

 

·      Measure the geographical coordinate and map the geographical features by simple surveying methods in the real world

 

·      Explain and understand the purpose and classification of maps as well as the key components and concepts of the map such as (scale, cardinal directions, legend and symbol)

 

·      Design the basic digital maps for representation of spatio-temporal a geographical phenomenon in the real world and read, extract, interpret, evaluate of the spatio-temporal information in the maps

 

·      Understand the concepts of Location Theory, Central Place Theory and Spatial Equity and Inequity and use the spatial tools for measurement of the relevant indicators

 

·      Explain what a GIS is and what it can do, create a simple spatial database and perform simple GIS Analysis

 

3.     Software Requirements:

 

The following software is required for this course: Google Earth Pro, ArcGIS online, and ESRI ArcGIS 10.1. The computer laboratory offers access to the required software.

 

4.     Teaching Materials:

Lecture notes, handouts and geo-data will be distributed by the lecturer.

5.     Textbooks and references:

The following books and academic report are the conceptual background in the course design. References will be assigned every week.

Ø  National Research Council, 2006. Learning to Think Spatially. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11019).

 

Ø  http://serc.carleton.edu/spatialworkbook/index.html

 

 

6.     Course Requirement and Evaluation:

Attendance of class, submission of the three exercises, presentation and active participation in class discussions.

7.     Course Schedule:

This course will be proposed in one semester (15 Weeks). Topics are as follows:

 

 

Week 1: Introduction and Course Overview

An overview on the scopes of the course the role of spatial thinking in understanding and solving of various Social, Environmental and Economical issues and problems.

Demonstration and discussion about Google Earth and Google Maps.

 

Week 2: Understanding Our Living Space

We use Google Earth as a tool in this introduction for understanding geographic space and its important elements. Google Earth is also considered as a platform to organize information and medium of communication.

Discussion: The ways to place spatial information in Google Earth.

 

Week 3: Representation of Space and Place

We will learn the basic concept in designing maps and use Google Earth to digitize space and place with geometric primitives of point, line, network, and polygon.

Discussion: How to define primitives?

 

Week 4: Positioning Your Position

There are many ways to locate onefs location. How many ways you can think about and which is the fastest, the cheapest, and the most popular? How to convert them each other? Please find your ideas and think about the mechanism and opportunities of the positioning technology.

Discussion: How to survive if you were placed in a completely new environment.

 

Week 5: Exercise.1 Measuring Positions

Measuring positions by GPS and online tools. Comparing your measurement with Google Earth and think about the difference.

 

Week 6: Distance and Accessibility

Distance is the most popular metrics of space, and accessibility is the other side of the coin. We will learn the way to measure distance in geometric space and the method to attach the measurement to geometric features. What does distance mean for you? How does it impact on your decisions?

References

Victoria Bloomfield and Richard Harris. 1997.  gThe Journey to Workh Historical Methods 30:97-110.

Samuel Cohn and Mark Fossett.  1996. gWhat Spatial Mismatch? The Proximity of Blacks to Employment in Boston and Houstonh Social Forces,  75, 2, Dec, 557-572.

 

Week 7: Spatial Similarity and Cluster

"Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things." This is the first law of geography according to Waldo Tobler. How do you think about it and what is the mechanism of this law?

References

Tobler W., (1970) "A computer movie simulating urban growth in the Detroit region". Economic Geography, 46(2): 234-240.

Qing Shen.  gUpdating Spatial Perspectives and Analytical Frameworks in Urban Researchh SISS, Chapter 13.

 

Week 8: Location Theory of Economic Activities

Where are you living? How far is it from the nearest station? How far from the central o the city? Have you ever think to move closer to the campus? Why? This is explained by Von Thünenfs Isolated State, the theory of spatial economics.

References

Stuart Sweeney and Edward Feser.  gBusiness Location and Spatial Externalities: Tying Concepts to Measuresh  SISS, Chapter 12.

 

Week 9: Exercise.2 Mapping the Spaces and Facilities of Your Surrounding

Mapping your surroundings and finding the spatial characteristics.

 

Week 10: Area and Density

Area is a measurement of the primitive of polygon. How to measure area simply or mathematically? We will learn the simplest way and the accurate way by different digital data model.

 

Week 11: Structure of Area: Central Place Theory

What does area means? A territory? German geographer Walter Christaller, who asserted that settlements simply functioned as 'central places' providing services to surrounding areas.

 

Week 12: Spatial Equity and Inequity

Ecological Footprint provides an accounting tool to measure the resources we need to support our daily life by area. It is useful to drive informed policy decisions in a resource-constrained world. We will learn how it works and how to interpret the indicator.

 

Week 13: Exercise.3 Calculate Your Ecological Footprint

Calculate your own and your familyfs ecological footprint, and discuss the massage of the indicator for sustainable development.

 

Week 14: Operating Spatial Information by GIS

The geometric primitives of point, line, and polygon are organized into layers in GIS for data analysis. We will learn the power of the advanced information technology and discuss the potential of the tool for multi-disciplinary studies in SFC.

 

Week 15: The Way Forward

Future Earth, Our Common World and its Planet Bouddary