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Host institution
Center for Spatially Integrated Social Science (CSISS)
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA
Instructors
Arthur Getis - Workshop Coordinator,
John R. Weeks, and John Kaiser (all of San Diego State
University),
and Michael F. Goodchild (University of California,
Santa Barbara)
The Workshop
 This
workshop focuses on applications of pattern analysis
in a Geographic Information Systems environment. It
features:
- a series of illustrated lectures on both GIS and
spatial pattern analysis
- exercises demonstrating the principles outlined
in the lectures
- data exploration based on current projects concerned
with spatial patterns relating to various social,
behavioral, and economic phenomena.
The workshop lectures will emphasize the fundamental
principles and examples of the use of spatial pattern
analysis for the help it gives toward the solution of
important societal questions. Demonstrating concepts
covered in the lectures, exercises will utilize a variety
of software tools including ArcView, Point
Pattern Analysis, and clustering software. The data
exploration portion of the workshop will consist of
GIS-based analyses of spatial data related to
- the incidences of various crimes within an urban
environment
- the spread of infectious diseases in the tropics
- the diffusion of fertility decline in a third world
setting
- variables selected by the participants prior to
the workshop.
Participants will prepare a final report of their GIS-based
analyses.
Workshop Leaders
 Arthur
Getis, Michael Goodchild, John Weeks, and John Kaiser
will conduct the workshop.
Professor Getis, San Diego State University, has had
a long association with spatial statistics, especially
in the area of point pattern analysis. Perhaps his best
known work is the collaborative effort in which he has
been engaged with Professor J. Keith Ord (Georgetown
University) on the development of a series of mainly
locally based spatial association statistics.
Professor Goodchild is best known for his work in geographic
information systems and digital libraries. He is Professor
of Geography at UC Santa Barbara, Director of CSISS,
and Associate Director of the Alexandria Digital Library.
Professor Weeks, San Diego State University, is a well-known
demographer and author of the standard textbook in the
field, now in its 7th edition. Currently he is chair
of the Association of American Geographers specialty
group on population geography. Professor Weeks has broad
experience in the social sciences, having taught in
both the Departments of Geography and Sociology at SDSU.
Mr. Kaiser coordinates the remote sensing research activities
of the NASA-sponsored Affiliated Research Center program
at SDSU and teaches geographic information systems.
He has had considerable experience in managing complex
environmental programs in the Federal and private sectors.
Pedagogical Goals
 The
workshop will be geared toward PhD candidates and young
faculty members in the social sciences and health related
disciplines. The purposes are not only to inform those
new to spatial pattern analysis about its uses, but
also to instill in them a fundamental understanding
of the importance of spatial thinking and spatial concern.
In the spirit of CSISS, we hope to "facilitate
intensive cross-fertilization of research ideas…"
among a diverse group from fields such as political
science, criminal justice, epidemiology, sociology,
and anthropology. The workshop will attempt to extend
the analytical power of spatial analysis
to social science. Participants will be encouraged to
bring with them a georeferenced data set in which they
have a particular interest. They
will be informed beforehand of possible web sites where
such data are available. Data will be made available
to those without personal data sets. Participants will
take part in the development and discussion of a report
that they create on the use of spatial pattern analysis.
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