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Understanding Geospatial Data in Geography

The document provides revision notes for A Level Geography, focusing on the use of geospatial data and its importance in understanding spatial patterns and relationships between people, environment, and place. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative data sources like the census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), highlighting their role in analyzing place characteristics. Additionally, it offers tips for data analysis and emphasizes the need for comparing different data sources for reliability.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
10 views1 page

Understanding Geospatial Data in Geography

The document provides revision notes for A Level Geography, focusing on the use of geospatial data and its importance in understanding spatial patterns and relationships between people, environment, and place. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative data sources like the census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), highlighting their role in analyzing place characteristics. Additionally, it offers tips for data analysis and emphasizes the need for comparing different data sources for reliability.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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The Nature &…

Importance of Places Value of Big Data


Relationships &… Geospatial data is data information that has a location
Connections Much of this data come from big data sets
The census is an example of a big data set as it surveys the entire country and
Meaning &…
needs computational analysis to start making sense of the patterns
Representation The census asks a number of questions which creates lots of complexity in the
Quantitative &… data, another feature of big data sets

Qualitative skills Understanding geospatial data and its di#erent forms allows geographers to infer
Using Geospatial Data spatial patterns and see the relationship between people, environment and place
A spatial pattern simply means that there is a pattern in the data based on the
place
For example, many data indicators in the indicators reveal a north-south divide
which is a spatial pattern

Geospatial data can be qualitative or quantitative


When analysing geospatial data it is important to compare one source with another to
check for reliability
Maps are an excellent example of geospatial data but when using their consideration
must be given to:
Whether the map is choropleth or proportional
How this will a#ect the visual representation of the spread

A choropleth map showing the proportion of people born in the UK from the 2021
census

The choropleth map from the UK 2021 census shows the proportion of people born in
the UK. A map like this has abrupt boundaries that suggest a significant change as
soon as a country boundary is crossed which is not likely to be the case in reality

Proportional Symbols map showing the results of the 2017 general election

The proportional symbols map plots the results of the 2017 general election, this type
of geospatial data illustrates the di#erence between many places very well and
shows data associated with a more specific location than a choropleth map can
However, the proportional symbols make it very di$cult to calculate the actual value,
even if there was a key, and the size of the symbols can obstruct the map underneath,
making the positioning less accurate

Examiner Tips and Tricks


When approaching your data analysis six markers you have to look to see if you find a
relationship between the variable or figures you are shown. It is not just about describing
what you see in the figure but analysing if a relationship exists, if it is a strong relationship
and if there are any outliers or anomalies to the relationship.

Things to look for:

The general pattern, is a headline that could describe the figure in one statement
The most and least, are they the same in both figures?
If there is a relationship between the two figures is it a positive or negative one?
How strong the relationship is
The outliers or anomalies that do not fit the pattern or relationship

Quantitative Sources of Data


Quantitative sources of data are numerical
They are objectively measured and can therefore be compared across space and
often across time as well
Much of the quantitative data we have in the UK comes from local councils and the
census
The census is a nationwide survey that is taken every ten years to collect information
that creates a picture of all the households and people in England and Wales
Scotland has a separate census
The first modern census was taken in 1841

Advantages of the Disadvantages of the Census


Census

Data is open Di#erent questions are asked every decade so not


source so can be everything can be compared across time
used by People complete the survey about themselves so much of
everyone the data is self-identified, this can be misleading when it
Very large sample comes to data on health
so statistically Completing the survey requires reading and writing skills
reliable Some people do not fill it out
All variables can
be compared
across space
Some variables
can be compared
across time

Another very popular quantitative data source to understand place characteristics is


the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)
To create the IMD seven components of deprivation are considered and put together
to create a single score of deprivation
These are: income, employment, education, health, crime, barriers to housing and
services and living environment

A composite measure like this captures a full range of variables that contribute to
deprivation in an area and recognises that one measure is not enough to truly
represent a place

the index of multiple deprivation for the Leeds area in 2019

It is easy to see which areas are in the most deprived 10% of the country and then in
the other deciles
IMD maps are choropleth maps using small areas called Lower Super Output Areas

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Author Reviewer

Author: Alex Lippa


Expertise: Geography Content Creator

Alex graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2013 with an MA in


Geography. She took part in the TeachFirst teacher training programme and
has worked in inner city London for her whole career. As a Head of Geography
and has helped many students get through their exams. Not only has she
helped students to pass but she has supported multiple students towards their
own places at the University of Cambridge to study geography. Alex has also
been a private tutor and written resources for online platforms during her
career.

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