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Spatial Analysis Methods

Spatial Analysis Methods, including the growing sub-field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), is an area in which Geography at Ohio State excels. Since the early 1960s, the Department of Geography has been a leader and center of excellence for theoretical and empirical research using quantitative methodologies.

Curriculum

Follow this link to view the undergraduate curriculum for Spatial Analysis Methods (SAM)

Follow this link to view the graduate curriculum for Spatial Analysis Methods (SAM)

Program Description
Spatial Analysis Methods (SAM), including the growing sub-field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has been a source of excellence and pride at Ohio State for over 35 years. The primary focus of the faculty in this core group is on issues of methods and their appropriate application in theoretical and substantive research questions. Among important results of geographical research in this domain have been an increased use of GIS in all aspects of the discipline, and more abstract concerns such as statistical corrections related to spatial patterning in real data. Since the beginning of Ohio State's current era, in 1962, the Department of Geography has been a leader and center of excellence for theoretical and empirical research using quantitative methodologies; symbolic of this is the journal Geographical Analysis, which was founded and is currently housed at Ohio State. Some years ago, spatial analytical methods were comprised primarily of statistical and mathematical modeling, but today include a wide range of techniques, including geographic information systems, use of advanced computer technology, such as graphics workstations and supercomputers, and qualitative approaches such as exploratory data analysis.
	Total population by state and major interregional movement of coal originating in Kentucky. The height of the state surface indicates population, the height and size of the arrows indicate the amount of coal transported. Source: 1993 Commodity Flow Survey, BTS. Image created by M. Granados, Dept. of Geography, OSU.

Faculty

The following faculty members are associated with the Spatial Analysis Methods area:

Regular Faculty:

Ahlqvist, Ola (geo-visualization)

Box, Jason (boundary layers of polar ice caps)

Bromwich, David (polar meteorology and climatology, numerical modeling)

Hobgood, Jay (quantitative methods)

Kwan, Mei-Po (GIS, quantitative methods, geovisualization, geocomputation)

Medvedkov, Yuri (quantitative methods)

Munroe, Darla (economic, land use change)

Murray, Alan (GIS, quantitative methods)

O'Kelly, Morton (GIS, quantitative methods)

Xiao, Ningchuan (GIS, quantitative methods)

Adjunct & Affiliate Faculty:

Epstein, Earl (School of Natural Resources, OSU; GIS)

White, Dale (Division of Surface Water, Ohio EPA; GIS, quantitative methods)

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