Introduction

Vector data analysis is used in many, many application areas, starting from measuring the distance from point A to point B all the way through to complex routing algorithms. The first GIS systems were built on vector data and vector analysis, and then later expanded into the raster domain. In this chapter, we will start with simple vector operations, then work our way into a more complex model, chaining the various vector methods together to deliver new data that answers our spatial questions.

This process of data analysis is broken down into a couple of steps starting with an input dataset, performing a spatial operation on the data such as a buffer analysis, and, finally, we'll have some output in the form of a new dataset. The following diagram shows the flow of analysis in the simplest model form:

Converting simple questions into spatial operation methods and models takes experience and is not a simple task. For example, you may come across a simple task such as, "Identify...