This is a training and capacity building event organised by the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC), an ESRC funded research project of which Jonathan Reynolds is Deputy Director and Co-Investigator.

The course will cover an introduction to R, how to load and manage spatial data and how to create maps using R and RStudio. We will show you appropriate ways of using classifications for choropleth maps, using loops in R to create multiple maps and some basic spatial analysis.

We will be using RStudio to work with the R environment. By the end of the course, you will be able to load data into R, represent it effectively and be able to prepare an output quality map.

This course is ideal for anyone who wishes to use spatial data in their role. This includes academics, commercial users, government and other public sector researchers who have data with some spatial information (e.g. address, postcode, etc.) which they wish to show on a map. This course is also suitable for those who wish to have an overview of what spatial data can be used for. No previous experience of spatial data is required.

No experience of spatial data, GIS or scripting required. Some basic experience of using Google Earth / Maps would be beneficial.

Course contents
The basic theories behind spatial data, such as projections and coordinate systems
Different types of spatial data, including vector, raster and point, line and polygon
How to create a choropleth map, and why colours and classifications are important
Working with spatial data in R and Rstudio
Reprojecting data in R
Some basic spatial analysis in R

Learning outcomes
Use R to read in CSV data
Use R to read in spatial data
Know how to plot spatial data using R
Join spatial data to attribute data
Customize colour and classification methods
Understand how to use loops to make multiple maps
Know how to reproject spatial data
Be able to perform point in polygon operations
Know how to write shape files
Know how to create a ‘heat-map’ style map using point data

Please note this course can be taken as a one-day course, or can also be taken in conjunction with another one-day course on 24th April 2018.