Lab 3 ArcMap Tutorial

This situation has changed substantially in recent years. It is now generally recognized that error, inaccuracy, and imprecision can "make or break" many types of GIS project. That is, errors left unchecked can make the results of a GIS analysis almost worthless. The irony is that the problem of error is devolves from one of greatest strengths of GIS. GIS gain much of their power from being able to collate and cross-reference many types of data by location. They are particularly useful because they can integrate many discrete datasets within a single system. Unfortunately, every time a new dataset is imported, the GIS also inherits its errors. These may combine and mix with the errors already in the database in unpredictable ways. 

The success of GIS has in some ways proved to be a mixed blessing to academic geography. While quantitative geography has developed as a disciplinary specialism over a long period of time, the infusion of GIS has been more rapid and applications-led. Geography has been a consumer, not producer, of mainstream GIS software, and as such GIS may even contribute towards accelerated de-skilling of the discipline. The technology nevertheless provides a crucial means of dealing with the current proliferation of digital data, and has important implications for the future development of geography.


Making good maps can be challenging, time consuming, and expensive, but recently, a new set of cheap and free mapping tools has enabled almost anyone with a computer to easily make a map—but good maps are not usually the result.  They have the computer and software, but the new mapmakers lack the mapping concepts, principles, and methodologies.  Their maps are often improperly designed and do not communicate easily nor effectively.


Creating good maps and analyzing spatial data is a time consuming and challenging practice, but recently, a new set of powerful mapping tools has enabled almost anyone with a computer to make maps easily and to perform at least some low-level analyses.  The results, however, are not encouraging.  Most of the new mapmakers do not have adequate training in mapping concepts and spatial analysis principles, and their maps are often improperly designed and do not communicate easily nor effectively.  This e-text—GIS Commons—seeks to help you analyze spatial data and communicate more effectively.  In short, GIS education is our goal.