Mapping Pennsylvania Communities Workshop: Intro to GIS and Community Analysis Workshop Announcement

[Gina Clemmer, New Urban Research]

Mapping Pennsylvania Communities: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis Workshop - One Day Workshop

Workshop participants will learn the fundamentals of using ArcGIS (ArcView 9.1), as well as how to extract and use current data from the Census of Population and Housing for community analysis.

Participants will also learn to map addresses and conduct spatial analysis. This workshop is intended for government and non-profit employees, or any one that would like to learn to map demographic data for their local community. Mapping techniques transferable to all other communities.

When:  October 25th and 26th, 2005 (8:30 am - 4:30 pm) Note: This is a one day workshop. Please choose which date is most convenient for you.
Where: New Horizons Computer Learning Center Five Parkway Center, Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Fee:     $399 Checks, Credit Cards and Purchase Orders Accepted

For more info or to register online, visit www.urban-research.info or telephone at 877.241.6576.

Audience
This fast paced, hands-on workshop teaches the fundamentals of how to use a Geographic Information System (GIS) in a way that is particularly relevant to social service providers, planners and researchers. Participants will learn three core components of GIS: thematic mapping, geocoding (address mapping) and spatial querying. Mapping techniques transferable to all other communities. Exercises are designed for beginners. Intermediate Excel skills required.

Materials
Comprehensive workbook (75 pages), which includes the presentation, exercises and reference worksheets, ArcGIS (ArcView 9.1) software 60-day trial CD set, access to new 2004 Tiger/Line geography files (already converted to shapefiles) which include streets, zip codes, school districts, voting districts, census tracts and many other useful geographies.

Objectives
The Mapping Pennsylvania Communities workshop will teach participants:

-The fundamentals of using ArcGIS (ArcView 9.1) the leading GIS software,

-How to thematically map and analyze a wide variety of Census data such as income, race, language and housing data (including how to download data from the Census),

-How to map addresses such as those of clients, volunteers, campaign donations and social service facilities as well as to identify gaps in coverage areas by zip code and other geographies,

-Best practices of creating informative and well designed maps for public dissemination. Class participants will review and critique several maps in an attempt to learn good map design,

-Where to get a wide selection of free geography files including new 2004 Tiger/Lines including streets, zip codes and all Census geography.

Workshop Agenda

Lesson 1
Learn the basic functions of ArcGIS
Setting up ArcMap
Adding data and geography layers
Working with Layouts

Lesson 2
Introduction to American Factfinder
Downloading Census and American Community Survey data to map
Downloading free geography files including tracts, zip codes, blocks and several others
Preparing Census tract data in Excel to import into ArcGIS

Lesson 3
Joining data and geography files
Creating thematic (color shaded) maps to display data
Working with legends and interval breaks

Lesson 4
How to do common spatial queries

Lesson 5
Where to download free business addresses
Geocoding (address mapping)

Lesson 6
Elements of good maps including colors, fonts and map must haves
Critique of several maps

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Praise for the Introduction to GIS & Community Analysis Workshop

Pennsylvania Dept of Public Welfare (2005)
"The class was very informative and the instructor was great."

Higginbotham Jackson Foundation-Philadelphia (2005)
"Very educational and practical. I will be applying this knowledge immediately. Great Class!"

University of Texas Health Science Center - San Antonio (2005)
"This course was very interesting and opened my eyes to the uses of mapping. The exercises were very useful and interesting."

University of California, San Francisco - San Francisco  (2005)
"The class met all my expectations--very informative, hands on experience, informative instructor."

New Urban Research, Inc. is a social research company located in Portland, Oregon.  For more information about the workshop, who we are and what we do, check out our website at www.urban-research.info.  New Urban Research, Inc. 3323 NE 33rd Ave Portland, OR 97212 877.241.6576

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