Guest Speaker: Steven Romalewski, Director, CUNY Mapping Service
Data linked to specific points on the earth’s service — enables analysis based on
proximity, where info is in relation to other characteristics
—
Concept of layers – organizing data with like features together – can query across layers –
how many subway stations are located within census tracts that meet certain specifications.
Portable GIS – GIS on a stick
when you open GIS package, it’s a blank slate — you have to bring data to it
up to you to know how to symbolize data
have to know how to get data to integrate into map
need info on projection and coordinate systems — need to make sure that things line up – how to project 3d object onto 2d service – thousands of mathematical concepts –
GIS grad course at Pratt — 15 week course – lot of drudgery to get to point where you can make maps that aren’t misleading
geographic data
attribute data
BIN – building identification number — from Bloomberg effort to make data more accessible
— but you stil
gdb geo database format
arcgis
shp – shape file format
Google – bought Keyhole
— google earth — keyhole project
now trivial to access aerial info and display on maps
Web services
geo-rectified
— will line up with other data systems
vector data vs. raster data
Maker — map data easily
— rely on web services and user reports
Open Street Map — another application — http://openstreetmap.org
Haiti relief efforts – people using GIS
Vintage – will data be updated as roads change, new buildings are built?
Open Geo – business model – take open-source
Ridethecity.org
Mapping off of the grid
one power of GIS is that it is based in physical geography — can abstract that to some extent . . . problems –
Modifiable Aerial Unit Problem – MAUP
How to Lie With Maps
— all maps lie; you have to make them lie as little as possible
Steve R’s
Absolute rule – never use default color schemes, etc. – always customize
Choropleth map — using gradations of color to represent gradations in your data
Need not only to understand data but how to represent data
— Need to understand your metadata –
find out what agency has regulatory authority over your subject and they will probably have data
http://mysite.pratt.edu/~sromalew/resources/resources.html
Cynthia Brewer
Designing With Maps
http://colorbrewer2.org/
Manahatta Project
http://themannahattaproject.org/
NYPL Map Rectifier
http://maps.nypl.org/warper/
OasisNYC.net
http://oasisnyc.net/
CUNY Mapping Service
http://www.urbanresearch.org/about/cur-components/cuny-mapping-service
Census Hard to Count 2010
http://www.censushardtocountmaps.org
Socialexplorer.com
You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination
http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1568984308/maproom-20
CUNY Mapping Service
CUNY Data Service
NYC Labor Market Information Service