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Approaches GIS. Geographic Approach.

  1. The Geographic Approach is a new way of thinking and problem solving that integrates geographic information into how we understand and manage our planet.

  2. It allows us to create geographic knowledge, analyze and model various processes and relationships, and apply this knowledge to how we design, plan, and change our world.

  3. The Geographic Approach is not a new idea, but it has been promoted by Jack Dangermond, ESRI, and other geographers as a useful framework for communicating the value of using GIS in problem-solving and decision-making.

  4. The Geographic Approach methodology consists of a five-step inquiry process: Ask, Acquire, Examine, Analyze, and Act.

  5. The Ask step involves framing the question from a location-based perspective to help with later stages of The Geographic Approach.

  6. The Acquire step involves determining the data needed to complete the analysis and ascertaining where that data can be found.

  7. The Examine step involves examining the data to ensure that it is appropriate for the study.

  8. The Analyze step involves processing and analyzing the data based on the method of examination or analysis chosen to achieve the desired results.

  9. The Act step involves presenting the results through reports, maps, tables, charts, or the web and comparing the results from different analyses to decide the best method to present the analysis.

  10. Using a methodology such as The Geographic Approach formalizes the analytic process with GIS, promotes a supportable response, and helps us make better decisions, conserve resources, and improve the way we work.






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