This Class
• This is a graduate level spatial modeling
class in natural resources
• This will be one of the most challenging
classes you’ll probably take
• You’ll leave with a background in
modeling and critical thinking that few
GIS professionals ever achieve
• And, while it’s based on a class from
OSU, it is being updated for HSU
Class Info
• We’ll use Canvas for assignments and
grades.
• A link to the web site for materials is on
the home page in Canvas
What is a model?
An abstraction of reality
- We cannot describe all the details
- They are never perfect
Help us to answer questions
for problems we cannot test
directly
spectorlab.cshl.edu
Why do we model?
Modeling is Huge!
• Modeling is a huge, rapidly growing, and
exciting field
• My background is in habitat suitability
modeling with large datasets, primarily
for plants
• There will be new topics we’ll work with
to learn together
– Welcome to research!
How the class works
• There are three components:
– Analysis and Modeling in R
– Presentations and discussions
– Your project
• By the end of class you will be able to:
– Build your own models in R
– Articulate the theory, capabilities, and
weaknesses of modeling
– Select appropriate modeling approaches
– Continue to learn about modeling in your
field
What do you need from me?
• Break into groups of 3
• Select the top 3 things you need me to
do to help you be successful
• Select someone to add them to the list
on the board
From Spring 2017:
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Make sure all information or material for projects and assignments are in one
location
Adequate, in person and email availability to troubleshoot modeling issues
Continue to be receptive to input
Communicate
Availability
Resources
Take your time with programming explanations
Keep environment open for questions
Focus on specific tools rather than big range of toolkit -> doing a few things very
well
Office hours availability
Two way communication understanding our knowledge gaps
More exposure to R and various statistical analyses
How to acquire high quality data (for free) like high resolution satellite imagery
Application skills: how to pick a modeling approach for research questions
How to incorporate uncertainty
Class Structure
• I’ve structured the class to prepare you
for the “real” world
• Out there, there are few classes, tests,
and quizzes
• Mostly there are:
– Communication (email & group)
– Coordination
– Budgets, reports
– Some data collection, evaluation, and
modeling…
To Be Successful
• Show up for class and lab (on time)
• Do the readings
• Spend time getting to know R (play
time!)
• Use your resources to get help!
– Me
– Other students
– Books, articles
– And the web
How to read the book
• I recommend:
– Read it once fairly quickly
– Go back and read key parts and think about
them
– Try the code examples
– Ask questions about key parts that are
unclear
• Play with the concepts in R until
comfortable with them
– PS: this has taken me years
Projects
• You are responsible to present and turn
in a completed project at the end of the
semester
• I will not be asking for incremental
deliverables (i.e. you need to manage
your project schedule)
Start Now!
• Define your project
– Find the data!
– Can be part of your research but must have
new content over existing deliverables
• Start your introduction
– Start looking for papers
– Create summaries (annotated bibliography)
– Add to citation manager (EndNote)