GS-20 - Aggregation of spatial entities

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Learning Objectives: 
  • Demonstrate the relationship between district size (resolution/support) and patterns in aggregate data
  • Demonstrate how changing the geometry of regions changes the data values (e.g., voting patterns before and after redistricting)
  • Discuss the potential pitfalls of using regions to aggregate geographic information (e.g., census data)
  • Explain the nature and causes of the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP)
  • Attempt to design aggregation regions that overcome MAUP
  • Discuss the conditions that require individual spatial entities to be aggregated (e.g., privacy, security, proprietary interests, data simplification)
  • Summarize the attributes of individuals within regions using spatial joins