Definition: Spatial analysis
UN - Geographic Information Systems
The set of techniques for extracting useful information from geographically referenced data. Spatial analysis includes the integration of geographic data sets, qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating the data, and modelling, interpretation and prediction. In GIS, spatial analysis often refers to the methods of GIS data integration, such as polygon overlay or neighbourhood analysis. In a wider sense, it includes, for instance, spatial process models (e.g., migration dynamics) and spatial statistics (e.g., regression models that account for the spatial arrangements and relationships among observations).
Source:
United Nations, "Handbook on Geospatial Infrastructure in Support of Census Activities", Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division, Studies in Methods, Series F No. 103, New York, 2009
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