{"id":50083,"date":"2021-09-07T06:27:20","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T11:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/?p=50083"},"modified":"2025-04-05T21:37:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-06T02:37:35","slug":"spatial-analysis-periodic-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/spatial-analysis-periodic-table\/","title":{"rendered":"The Periodic Table for Spatial Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Spatial<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Introducing: The Periodic Table for Spatial Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each element in the Periodic Table for Spatial Analysis<\/strong> contains a set of spatial analysis tools. We’ve grouped common tools by color with vector analysis tools on the left and raster analysis on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vector Analysis\/Conversion<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"Spatial<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

1. Vector Conversion [VC]<\/strong> – Converts file formats for points, lines, and polygons and alters data models from vector to raster or vice versa. (Feature to raster, rasterization vs vectorization<\/a>)
2. Extract [EX]<\/strong> – Creates a subset of features by clipping, selecting, and splitting vector features. (Clip<\/a>, select, and split)
3. Overlay [OV]<\/strong> – Overlays 2 or more vector layers and outputs layers based on overlapping features. (Intersect<\/a>, union<\/a>, erase tool<\/a>)
4. Proximity [PX]<\/strong> – Generates output based on distances or proximity functions. (Buffer<\/a>, Voronoi diagrams<\/a>, and near functions)
5. Spatial Join [SJ]<\/strong> – Joins attributes from a separate layer based on distance or spatial relationship. (1-M Spatial join<\/a> “Contains”, 1-1 Touches)
6. Plot Diagrams [PD]<\/strong> – Builds a graph or diagram based on a set of attributes and geographical locations. (Scatter plot, histograms, bar plots)
7. Geometry Shape [GS]<\/strong> – Computes the geometric shape of an object. (Compactness, perimeter\/area ratio, rectangular fit).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tables<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"Locations<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

8. Table Tools [TB]<\/strong> – Performs table functions for storing attribute data (Add field, create domains, reorder fields<\/a>)
9. Add XY Coordinates [XY]<\/strong> – Converts a table of XY coordinates (latitude\/longitude) into a layer with a defined coordinate system. (Add lat\/long coordinates<\/a>)
10. Calculate Geometry [CG]<\/strong> – Computes the length of the geometric measurements in the attribute table of vector features. (Calculate length\/area)
11. Join Table [JT]<\/strong> – Appends the attribute columns from one table into another table based on matching record keys. (1:1, 1:M, M:N)
12. Relate [RL]<\/strong> – Generates a temporary table that displays matching records that associate with one or more matching records. (Relate vs Join<\/a>)
13. Statistics [ST]<\/strong> – Calculates statistics based on a numerical field in a table. (RMSE<\/a>, MAE<\/a>, sum, mean, count, standard deviation).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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