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GIS and Spatial Data Science

PUB AFF X 405

Understand the foundations of spatial data science using Python. Examine the components of data’s journey—acquisition, exploration, modeling, and communication through visualization—to advance policy analysis.

Typically Available
Summer

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What you can learn.

Demonstrate the value of data through discovery, exploration, and analysis
Visualize data spatially to communicate the importance of place-based informatics
Critically evaluate data and create frameworks to prepare data for research
Use legal resources to formulate arguments trading technology
Apply data science programming techniques to transform data into useful information
Produce publication-ready materials in the form of tables, charts, and maps

About This Course

This course teaches the foundations of spatial data science, the analysis of patterns tied to physical locations such as neighborhoods, Census tracts, or transit routes.  How can these data be transformed to human expressions and narratives that are utilized in planning?  The course begins with an introduction to various data science tools and reviews the basics of programming with Python.  Then, specific Python libraries for spatial analysis and advanced geoprocessing are introduced.  All lessons utilize real data with analytical methods, visualizing relevant and contemporary urban phenomena such as equitable access to public transit, land use and population density, walkability scores, crime mapping, and policy solutions according to demographic and socio-economic vulnerabilities and needs, among other. At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to critically describe, analyze, and visualize spatial data for planning practices and research.  

 

No prior programming experience is required.  The live courses, asynchronous recordings, and myriad resources on the course site will assist you in ensuring you have a successful, fun experience learning geospatial analyses with various Python libraries.

This course applies toward the following programs

certificate Learn how to analyze, visualize and communicate data insights to internal and external stakeholders to assist in public policy decision-making.

Learn how to analyze, visualize and communicate data insights to internal and external stakeholders to assist in public policy decision-making.