Lecture 01.03.18
In this lecture, Dr. Klinkenberg introduced the course and outlined its three primary subject areas: conservation biology, healthy geography, and crime. It was emphasized that, being a geography course, it would take a geographic perspective. This is because geography matters. In any field of study, where things happen matters. In this way, GIS functions to integrate disciplines.
To outline what it means to have a geographic perspective, we learned about the 5 “P’s.” These are processes, places, patterns, people and perspectives.
A geographic perspective considers where things happen. Are there patterns in the locations of a particular phenomena? Are there hot spots or disparities? Is there clustering? This particular question was explored in Lab 1.
A geographic perspective must also consider why things happen where they happen. This is usually what we are trying to uncover in an analysis. Which processes and places are at play, and what kind of relationship exists between them?
Then, too, we must consider how [temporal, spatial, environmental, social, political, economic etc.] context affects what happens. How does context interact with processes and patterns?
Finally, people and perspectives influence how processes and patterns are understood and examined. While GIS can sometimes seem very technical and removed from the ‘real’ world, it is important to recognize that it is inherently linked to social aspects. Social theory suggests that differing perspectives can influence patterns and processes at different places. For instance, a more environmentally-conscious perspective might encourage selective logging over clear-cutting, and would likely avoid ecologically sensitive areas. The pattern emerging from this type of approach would differ from the geographical pattern from a different actor – say, one who’s mandate is to make short-term economic gains. Even analyses in GIS itself are altered due to changing perspectives as the ways in which analyses are conducted change through time and amongst different fields of study.
A geographic perspective is often used to consider these 5 “P’s” and then determine where things (ex. new business or facility) should be located. For instance, in the introductory GIS course GEOB 270, my final project involved using geographic information science to determine which neighbourhoods in Vancouver are best suited for senior citizens. This type of analysis might have been useful in choosing a site for senior-targeted services and amenities.