Intro to Proximity Analysis Flashcards
Explain how proximity analysis is used to analyze location data and use proximity analysis to answer questions.
What are the 7 steps of the spatial analysis approach?
Ask spatial questions
Explore and prepare data
Analyze and model
Interpret results
Repeat or modify
Present results
Make decisions
What are the three spatial questions one could ask?
What is nearby or coincident?
What is the closest?
What is visible from a given location?
What are the three proximity analysis methods?
Buffer, Near, and Spatial Query
Describe the buffer and multiple ring buffer tools.
They both create a polygon around a given point or area and create a new feature class.
Describe the Generate Near Table tool.
Calculates distances and other proximity information between features and creates a new table.
Describe the Near tool.
Calculates distance and additional proximity information between input features and closest features in a layer in one or more class. It modifies existing feature classes.
Describe the Generate Origin Destination Links tool.
Creates connecting lines from origin features to destination features. Creates a feature class of connecting lines.
Describe the Select Layer by Location tool.
Selects features based on a spatial relationship to features in another dataset. It applies a selection to the input feature class.
What are the two methods of measuring distance?
Euclidean and Geodesic
Describe Euclidean distances
They’re measured on a 2D Cartesian (x, y) plane and in a straight line as the shortest distance between two features on a flat surface. Think as the crow flies.
Use this when analyzing features in a small area and when data is in a PCS.
Describe Geodesic distances
They’re measured on a geoid and in a straight line as the shortest distance between two points on a curved surface.
Use this when analyzing features across large areas such as regions, countries, or the entire world and when the data is in GCS.
