Error and Uncertainty

Oct-05 : In this lesson, we will develop conceptual tools for describing and managing error and uncertainty.

Reading

Recall that the NASEM (2019) report chapter 3 included some discussion of error, precision, and uncertainty.

• Longley, P. A., M. F. Goodchild, D. J. Maguire, and D. W. Rhind. 2008. Geographical information systems and science 2nd ed. Chichester: Wiley.
  • Chapter 6: Uncertainty, (pages 127-153)

Discussion

I am particularly interested in your interpretation and reaction to figure 6.1 in Longley et al (2008) with regards to the three questions/prompts below:

1. Do you have first-hand knowledge or experience with uncertainty in spatial/geographic research?
2. What responsibilities do geographers have with regards to uncertainty in research?
3. What strategies might geographers use to fulfill those responsibilities?

References

These are not required reading.

• Aerts, J. C. J. H., M. F. Goodchild, and G. B. M. Heuvelink. 2003. Accounting for Spatial Uncertainty in Optimization with Spatial Decision Support Systems. Transactions in GIS 7 (2):211–230. DOI:10.1111/1467-9671.00141
• Delaney, J., and K. Van Niel. 2007. Error evaluation and tracking. In Geographical information systems: an introduction, 167–177. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Duckham, M., and J. Sharpe. 2005. Uncertainty and Geographic Information: Computational and Critical Convergence. In Re-presenting GIS, eds. P. Fisher and D. Unwin, 113–124. Chichester: J. Wiley.

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