GIS Case Study

Part 1: Review a research article using GIS methods
Part II: Find a source for GIS data similar to that used in the study

Part 1: From the list of topics below, find an article in the periodical literature  (think Google Scholar or Scopus) that shows the advantage or benefit of using a GIS . Use a primary, peer-reviewed source, written by the person who completed the study, and taken from a peer-reviewed publication (such as “Science”, “Geology”, “Water Resources Research”, etc). Not a web page, not a “report.” It should contain the intro, methods, results, discussion…etc.  Please do not use a simple web page or a conference abstract.

Your article must contain the following

    • data used,
    • details of the analysis
    • final “information” produced.

You will prepare a <1/2 page outline of the paper as a post in a Canvas Discussion with the following  information fitting on one screen during your post (or most of it anyway), so you can present it.  Example pictures from the study could be included “below the fold (scroll down…)”

    • Give the citation for the paper in roughly the following format:
      AuthorLastName, FirstName, Author2LastName, Author2FirstName,etc, Year, ArticleTitle, Journal, Vol:pagex-pagey, DOI (doi is ok for Vol/pages, which don’t exist now for online only journals).
      (Include a web link to the article–but not the Scopus, Georef or Google Scholar search link. Use the URL of the journal page or DOI page. Assuming you read it online (just state it if you read the journal in print in the library.)
    • intent
    • spatial data used,
    • analytical methods
    • results
    • and
      brief a statement about how the GIS gave the authors the ability to complete their work, or made it more effective (Here is the list from the course notes of what a GIS can do for us).

Topics (only one person per topic ). To claim your before you start reading and reviewing your topic go to this Google Doc and add your name after the topic of your choosing. You must clear other topics with me.

Notice what’s missing from my list? Most business use cases. This class is focusing on environmental and geoscientific topics; if you want to do GIS analysis for business purposes, save that for a different class.

If you can’t find what you need with Google Scholar or Scopus, I can recommend some good starting points. Our librarians will also be able to point the way to refereed journals in the library (paper and electronic).

Part 2: now pretend you’re going to do a study similar to the one you reviewed, somewhere in or nearby to Virginia. Find a source for and info about one type of data available on the internet. It cannot be simple topographic data (“DEMs”) but it could be any other type of data used in your study. (You do not need to get the data, just locate the source of retrievable data.). Then write up a description in that includes:

  • The name of the dataset and what agency collects / distributes the data, including the electronic address.
  • brief description of the data (resolution, what is it, means of acquisition, etc)
  • how the data are obtained by the user
    • what format are they in (text, ESRI shapefile, asci, jpg/tiff, etc)
    • how do you grab em? download? pay for em? etc
  • if available, copy a sample data image (a small one, copied in .gif or .jpg format). Or snip a sample from the website. Do not get the GIS data itself.

The EPA, USGS, US Forest Service or USDA, have tons of data as well as many nifty GIS servers. Check out Data.gov too.  US data are found on the USGS National Map. Virginia GIS data are available from http://data.virginia.gov/. And there’s always Google or ArcGIS Online.

What to do with Parts I and II:

  1. Prepare a brief post for the Canvas discussion .
  2. For the Case Study section, include a link to the publication if it is electronic using the DOI preferably. Most of the information should fit on one screen for your presentation, with pictures, maps, algorithms, etc., posted below if you use them.
  3. For the data source, remember to cite and link to the source of it (but don’t download any data!).
  4. Include a snip of some sample data in your report if possible.
  5. You’ll present your case study in just 2 minutes in class. As others present, you’ll use a rubric to “score” the presentations of some of your peers. Make some notes on the rubric that I hand out in class and hold on to ’em.
  6. Enter your evaluations for each of the presenters on the Google form  after the Q&A session. That form will be linked in a Canvas announcement next week.

Edited by NDB Jan 21, 2025, DJH 1/7/26