Geographic Analysis

DR. MANSOOR AHMAD HASHMI, FAST-NUCES, LAHORE,

E-MAIL: MANSOOR.AHMED@NU.EDU.PK
 Geographic Analysis- An Introduction
The heart of GIS is the analytical capabilities of the system. 

• What distinguishes the GIS system from other information systems are its Spatial Analysis functions.

• The analysis function uses the spatial and non-spatial attributes in the database to answer question
about the real world. 

• Geographic analysis facilitates the study of real-world processes by developing and applying models.

• Results of geographic analysis can be communicated with the help of maps, reports or both. 

• The organization of the database into map layers is not simply for reasons of organizational clarity,
rather it is to provide rapid access to the data elements required for the geographic analysis.
 Geographic Analysis- An Introduction
The objective of geographic analysis is to transform data into useful information to satisfy the
requirements or objectives of decision makers at all level of detail.

An important use of the analysis is the possibility of predicting events in another location or at
another point in time. This ability gives one the opportunity to select the best possible
alternative.

The range of geographical analysis procedures can be subdivided into the following categories.
 
1. Database Query
2. Overlay
3. Proximity Analysis
4. Network Analysis
5. Digital Terrain Model
6. Statistical and Tabular Analysis
 Spatial Analysis
It helps you

• Identify trends in the data

• Create new relationships from

the data

• View complex relationships

between data sets and

• Make better decisions

What is GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
Where should we build a road from point A to point B?
How do we minimize the impacts of building this road?
Relationship of Modelling to Analysis

• Decision models search through potential alternatives to arrive at a

recommendation

• Decision support models process raw data into form that are
directly relevant to decision- making.

• Data characterization models are used to develop a better

understanding of a system to help characterize a problem or
potential solutions
Now, instead of trying to find a corridor, we now have only two alternative routes from
which to choose. The problem becomes easier in one respect (we don’t have to think of
alternatives), but harder in another. IS route 2 all tat much better because it does not
go through the ‘High Impact Area’ ?
Which House Should I buy?
Spatial Analysis – A Process
 Objectives of Flood Plain Mapping

 Toprovide uptodate digital maps of flood prone areas of

River Indus and its tributaries

 Toultimately link these with Flood Forecasting Models to

provide early warning for various flood scenarios

 Toultimately provide flood damage assessment in post

flood situations
 8P
3 / 9
8P
3 / 5

INDUS RIVER
8P
3 / 6 8P
3 / 1
0

8P
3 / 3

8P
3 / 7

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9 I/1 3
3

9M
3 / 1

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3

9 I/1 1
3 9 I/1 5
3

9 I/1 2
3
9 I/1 6
3

9 J/9
3

9 J/1 3
3

9 J/1 4
3

9 J/1 0
3

9 J/1 5
3

9 J/1 1
3

9 J/1 6
3
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3

9K
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JHELUM
RIVER
CHENAB
RIVER
 RAVI
RIVER
SUTLEJ
RIVER
 N.W.F. PROVINCE
Mianwali, D.I. Khan & Bannu District Survey Date: 1984-85 PUNJAB No. 38 P/6

T o Da ud Khel
SULTANWALA
KALUANWALA KALUR

945500 MUHAMMAD SHARIFW ALI

KALUANWALA

NAURANGA

940500

ISA KHEL

ISA KHEL

INDUS
RIVER
935500

M I A N W A L I D I S T T.
KHAGLANWALA

930500

BANNU M I A N W A L I D I S T T.
KHAGLANWALA D I S T T.

KUNDAL

925500

920500 D.I K H A N D I S T T.
ALIW ALI
KAFIR KOT
3070000
3065000
3060000
3055000
3050000
Grid Refernce is in meters

GENERAL LOCATION
Landuse Road 8 P
3 / 5 8P
3/ 9

MAP INDEX
Abandoned River Bed Metalled Road
Barren Area Un-metalled Road INDUS RIVER
FLOOD PROTECTION SECTOR PROJECT
8 P
3 / 6 8P
3/ 1
0

Bund Cart Track 1:3500000

Cultivated Area Railway Line
FLOOD PLAIN MAPPING
8P
3/ 3

Canal
8P
3 / 7

Dry Nallah Canal

8P
3 / 8
8P
3/ 4

Drain Canal Client:

Channel Branch
9 I/13
3

Flood Plain Distributary

9 M
3 / 1

FEDERAL FLOOD COMMISSION

Minor
9 I/14
3

Grass Ministry of Water & Power

INDUS RI VER

Graveyard Nallah 9 I/11

3 9 I/1 5
3

Hill Wah
Low Barren Area Escape
Consultants:
9 I/12
3
9 I/16
3

Mud
Nallah (active) District Boundary 9 J/9
3
9 J/13
3

NATIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES PAKISTAN ( PVT) LIMITED

River
Range Forest 9 J/1 0
3
9 J/14
3

1-C, Block-N, Model Town Extension,

Sand Dunes Lahore - Pakistan
Spur
9J/1 5
3

9J/1 1
3

Village in association with

9J/1 6
3

Water Body
9J/1 2
3

Outside Area 9K
3 / 1
3
Mianwali HARZA ENGINEERING COMPANY
District
9K
3 / 9

9 K
3 /1
0
9 K
3 /1
4
ZAFAR & ASSOCIATES

1:50000 9 K
3 / 1 9K
3/ 1
5

9 K
3 /1
2 9K
3/ 1
6
9 K
3 /8

1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kilometers
Source of Information: Survey of Pakistan Maps, Satellite Imageries & GPS Survey by NESPAK
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Difficulties of Geographic Analysis
Database Query

• Query by Attribute

• Query by Geometry

-Query by Point
-Query by Rectangle
-Query by Circle
-Query by Line
-Query by Polygon
 Database Query
• The selective display and retrieval of information from a database are among the
fundamental requirements of GIS. The ability to selectively retrieve information from GIS is
an important facility. Database query simply asks to see already stored information.

• Basically, there are two types of query most general GIS allow; viz, query by attribute and
query by geometry.

• GIS can carry out a number of geometric queries. The simplest application, for example is to
show the attributes of displayed objects by identifying them with a graphical cursor.

• A more complex query still is one that uses both geometric and attribute search criteria
together. Many GIS force the separation of the two different type of query.
Polygon-on-Polygon Overlay
 Overlay Operations

The hallmark of GIS is overlay operations. Using these operations, new spatial elements
are created by the overlaying maps.
 
There are basically two different types of overlay operations depending upon data
structure: raster and vector overlay.

The raster overlay is a relatively straightforward operation and often many datasets can be
combined and displayed at once.

The vector overlay, however, is far more difficult and complex and involves more
processing.
 Logical Operators
 
The concept of map logic can be applied during overlay. The logical operators are
Boolean functions. There are basically four types of Boolean operator: viz., OR,
AND, NOT and XOR.
 
With the use of logical or Boolean operators spatial elements/ or attributes are
selected that fulfill a certain condition, depending on two or more spatial elements
or attributes.
What’s the difference Between a Topologic
Overlay and a Graphic Overlay
Vector Overlay Examples
 Vector Overlay
During Vector Overlay, map features and the associated attributes are integrated to
produce new composite maps.

• Logical rules can be applied to how the maps are combined. Vector overly can be
performed on different types of map features: viz., polygon-on-polygon overlay, line -
in-polygon overlay and point-on-polygon overlay.

• During the process of overlay, the attribute data associated with each feature type is
merged. The resulting table will contain both the attribute data.

• The process of overlay will depend upon the modelling approach the user needs. One
might need to carry out a series of overlay procedures to arrive at the conclusion,
which depends upon the criterion.
Raster Overlay
 Raster Overlay
In raster overlay, the pixel or grid cell values in each map are combined using
arithmetic and Boolean operators to produce a new value in the composite map.
 
The maps can be treated as arithmetical variables and perform complex algebraic
functions. The method is often described as map algebra.
 
The raster GIS provides the ability to perform map layer mathematically. This is
particularly important for the modelling in which various maps are combined using
various mathematical functions.
 
Conditional operators are the basic mathematical functions that are supported in GIS
 
 Raster Overlay

Conditional Operator 
Using Buffer
 Buffer Operation
 
Using these operations, the characteristics of an area surrounding a specified
location are evaluated. This kind of analysis is called proximity analysis and is used
whenever analysis is required to identify surrounding geographic features.

The buffer operation will generate polygon feature types irrespective of geographic
features and delineates spatial proximity.
 
For example, what are the effects on urban areas if the road is expanded by a
hundred meters to delineate a five kilometer buffer zone around the national park
to protect it from grazing.
NETWORK ANALYSIS
 NETWORK ANALYSIS
Network Models are based on interconnecting logical components, of which the most
important are ‘Nodes” define start, end and intersections; ‘Chains’ are line features
joining node; and ‘Links’ join together point making up a chain.
 
This network can be analyzed using GIS. A simple and most apparent network analysis
applications are street network analysis, traffic flow modelling, telephone cable
networking, pipelines and so on.
 
The vector mode is more suited to network analysis than the raster model.

The other obvious applications would be service center location based on travel distance.
 
Basic forms of network analysis simply extract information from a network. More
complex analysis processes information in the network model to derive new information.
One example of this is the classic shortest path between two points problem.
 
Tabular Statistical Analysis
Using Frequency
THANK-YOU