Chapter 1. Learning Geospatial Analysis with Python

This chapter is an overview of geospatial analysis. We will see how geospatial technology is currently impacting our world with a case study of one of the worst disease epidemics that the world has ever seen and how geospatial analysis helped stop the deadly virus in its tracks. Next, we'll step through the history of geospatial analysis, which predates computers and even paper maps! Then, we'll examine why you might want to learn a programming language as a geospatial analyst as opposed to just using geographic information system (GIS) applications. We'll realize the importance of making geospatial analysis as accessible as possible to the broadest number of people. Then, we'll step through basic GIS and remote sensing concepts and terminology that will stay with you through the rest of the book. Finally, we'll use Python for geospatial analysis right in the first chapter by building the simplest possible GIS from scratch!

This book assumes some basic knowledge of Python, IT literacy, and at least an awareness of geospatial analysis. This chapter provides a foundation in geospatial analysis, which is needed to attack any subject in the areas of remote sensing and GIS, including the material in all the other chapters of the book.