Usefulness of Data Presentation and Analysis Methods

Usefulness of Data Presentation and Analysis Methods

1. Cartographic Skills

   • Base / Sketch Maps
   • Proportional Symbols
     • Bars, Pies + Symbols used to show data values at given sites on maps e.g Energy Consumption
     • Good visual representation of data (+Ve)
     • Difficulty achieving correct scale to fit symbols on maps (-Ve)
   • Movement
     • Flow Lines
       • Lines of variable width showing volume of movement along a given route e.g Local Traffic flows
       • Focus on actual route gives good visual representation of volume of movement along route
       • Lack of precise interpretation unless statistical data is added to map
     • Desire Lines
       • Straight lines showing movement of people or goods from an origin to a destination e.g Migration, Catchment areas
       • Focus on source and destination gives clearer view of places where movement is occurring between
       • Thickness of lines may be varied to show volume of movement between source and destination
     • Trip Lines
       • Lines do not normally vary in width so do not show amount of movement, only show places where movement is occurring between
       • Desire lines of fixed thickness showing movements indicating catchment areas, shopping trips and spheres of influence
   • Isoline
   • Dot Maps
   • Chloropleth

2. Graphical Skills

   • Line Graphs
   • Bar Graphs
   • Scatter Graphs
   • Triangular Graphs
   • Radial Graphs
   • Logarithmic Graphs
   • Pie Charts

3. ICT Skills

   • GIS
   • Remote sensing

4. Statistical Skills

   • Central Tendency
     • Mean
     • Median
     • Mode
     • Range
   • Dispersion Measures
     • Interquartile Range
     • Standard Deviation
       • Measure of dispersion of all values in a data set from an arithmetic mean
       • More accurate indicator of dispersion than IQR, shows extent to which values vary from mean value
       • More complex calculation than IQR can be time consuming or difficult to understand