LBGCBP will be hosting a two day training course, Introduction to GIS for Social Science Applications’ by Dr Enrico Vanino, University of Sheffield.

Course Description:

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) refers to tools and techniques for handling, analysing, and presenting spatial data. GIS has become a powerful tool for social sciences applications over the past decades, in particular for economics and business studies on the distribution of economic activities, spillovers, transport networks, environment and urban development.

This course provides an introduction to GIS with a focus on how it may be applied to common needs in the social sciences. Students will learn basic GIS concepts as applied to specific research questions through short introductory lectures and supported and guided practical “hands-on” sessions.

The course runs over two days. On the first day we will work with vector data (points, lines, polygons) to apply a range of spatial analytic and visualisation techniques used for applied research within the social sciences. On day 2 we also introduce network analysis and focus on measures of proximity, travel time and market access.

Course Objectives:

  • To understand basic concepts in GIS, cartography, and spatial data;
  • To be able to use GIS to create maps and conduct basic spatial analyses, with a focus on ESRI ArcGIS and ArcMap;
  • To understand how GIS can be used to facilitate or enhance analytical tasks and projects in the social sciences.

Course Topics:

Session 1:     Introduction to spatial data, GIS, ArcMap and ArcCatalog.

Session 2:  Refresh knowledge of spatial data and ArcGIS – handling spatial and attribute data, work with different data sources including XY coordinate and postcode data, layering, select by attribute, select by location, creating thematic maps.

Session 3:    Spatial analysis – aggregation, joins and relates, overlay and proximity, hot spot analysis.

Session 4:  Network analysis – working with (road) networks in ArcGIS, calculating origin-destination matrices and measuring proximity.

Course Text:

There is no compulsory textbook. Additional readings suggested as possible reference: Ballas, D., Clarke, G.P., Franklin, R., and Newing, A., (2018). GIS and The Social Sciences: Theories and Applications. Routledge: Abingdon.