Week 01
Geography and GIS
Week 01
Geographic information systems (GIS) allow us to ask geographic questions. They range from simple queries about spatial phenomena (“How close is thing A to thing B?”) and complex questions about spatial interdependency (“How do the proximity of things A and B affect one another?”) to hypotheses about potential futures and alternative worlds (“Could we model different kinds of spatial relationships between these two things—what if we introduced thing C, factor X, force Z…?”).
But GIS also has a history. This week, we will begin exploring the software and discuss some of the historical debates over GIS that have shaped its existence today. We’ll also do a little bit of poking around geospatial datasets—and, of course, the syllabus.
Monday, 8/24/26
Nothing to do in advance! Just show up.
Wednesday, 8/26/26
Before class, read the article by Stan Openshaw (1991). It’s a very peculiar piece! We will discuss it together. While you read, consider:
- What is Openshaw’s core argument?
- How does he make this argument; e.g., what’s his tone, what’s his evidence?
- What does it sound like he’s responding to?