This is the second workshop in a series of workshops we are offering this semester on the fundamentals of GIS. Each workshop covers one or two key elements of GIS and is self-contained. The focus is on conceptual details that can provide sufficient preparation for applications, but we will also touch upon the technical aspects. Most workshops will have at least one hands-on exercise. The first one hour of the workshop is a lecture-style presentation, followed by the next half-hour for the hands-on exercises. Unless mentioned otherwise, we will use R.

How data is recorded in a digital system has significant implications for accuracy, algorithms, and the type of analyses that can be undertaken.  In this workshop we will cover data structure for vector and network data in the context of a 2-D GIS system. The focus is on developing a basic understanding of elements such as essential primitives, how more complex objects are derived from the primitives, and different formats and file systems.