Five step to process for GIS Analysis

Fall has arrived, but data from last summer's ESRI Training survey is still being analyzed. One survey question asked respondents to tell us what GIS topics they would need training on in the next 12 months. The information gleaned from this question helps us focus our resources on developing training products that best meet our users' needs.

This year, it was gratifying to learn that the most requested training topic was "GIS analysis techniques and methods." More than 55 percent of respondents selected this topic. It just so happened that we got the report on the survey results around the same time we released our new instructor-led course, Performing Analysis with ArcGIS Desktop.

We took our time designing and developing this course (more than a year!) because we wanted to offer our users a signature course on analysis. After all, the power of a GIS to inform decision making derives from the robust analysis tools and capabilities it offers.

Performing Analysis with ArcGIS Desktop takes a holistic approach to teaching GIS analysis techniques and methods. The course is built around a five-step process you can apply to any project to generate reliable results for decision makers.

1. Frame the question
2. Explore and prepare data
3. Choose analysis methods and tools
4. Perform the analysis
5. Examine and refine results

Course exercises provide opportunities to practice with many ArcGIS analysis tools, including those used for site selection, surface analysis, weighted suitability modeling, and regression analysis, as well as spatial statistics tools used to examine data patterns and find hot spots. Some complex spatial modeling techniques like conditional branching using Python scripts and iteration are also covered.

If you're someone who needs training on GIS analysis, this signature course is the one to sign up for.