Rural Land Administration

Level-II

Module Title: Spatial and Non-Spatial Data

By: Abay M.
(MSc. In Water Resources Engineering and Management)
Email: Abayfx2007@gmail.com

1 02/23/2024
 Main Contents of LO#1
Spatial

Types of spatial data

Non-Spatial Data

Types of non-spatial data

2 02/23/2024
What data is mean?

Data refers to a collection of facts, statistics,

measurements, or information that is represented in

a structured or unstructured format.
It can be in the form of;
o numbers
o text
o images
o graphs, or symbols
o audio
o video, or any other type of digital representation.
Data is typically used as the foundation for;

analysis

decision-making, and

generation of insights.

For example, data might include individual prices,

weights, addresses, ages, names, temperatures,
dates, or distances.
1.1 Spatial data

is information about a physical object that can be

represented by numerical values in a geographic

coordinates system (latitudes and longitudes).
are also known as geospatial data.

represents the location, size and shape of an

object on earth surface such as mountain, plain,

township etc.
 Spatial data also provides all the attributes of
an entity that is being represented.
Any data which are directly or indirectly

referenced to a location on the surface of the

earth are spatial data.
Satellite maps and scanned images help to

obtain spatial data.

1.1.1 Features of Spatial data;
Geometry: Spatial data represents the shapes and

locations of objects in space.

 It includes points (single coordinates), lines

(sequences of connected points), and polygons

(closed shapes with multiple points).
The geometry of spatial data allows for
precise/accurate representation and analysis of
geographic features.
Coordinates: Spatial data is associated with specific

coordinates on the Earth's surface.

These coordinates can be represented using latitude

and longitude (geographic coordinates).

 Coordinates enable precise positioning and spatial

referencing of objects.
Attributes: are characteristics or properties that

describe an object, entity, or concept.

In addition to geometric information, spatial data

often includes attribute data that provides additional

descriptive or quantitative information about spatial
entities.
Attributes can include names, classifications,
measurements, timestamps, and other relevant data
associated with spatial features.
Topology: Topology describes the spatial
relationships and connectivity between spatial
entities.
It defines how objects are connected, adjacent, or

nested within a spatial dataset.

Topological relationships enable spatial analysis

operations such as overlays, proximity analysis,

and network analysis
Scale and Resolution: Spatial data can vary in

scale and resolution, representing different levels of

detail.
Scale refers to the relative size of geographic

features represented in the data, while

Resolution refers to the level of detail captured.

Different scales and resolutions are used

depending on the purpose and application of the
Spatial Reference Systems: Spatial data is
typically associated with a specific spatial
reference system (SRS) that defines the coordinate
system, map projections, and units of measurement
used to represent and analyze spatial data
accurately.
SRS ensures spatial data interoperability and

proper alignment with other datasets

Spatial Analysis: Spatial data analysis involves

applying various analytical techniques to extract

insights, patterns, and relationships from spatial data.
Spatial analysis enables tasks such as;

 spatial querying
 spatial statistics
 geospatial modelling
 network analysis and
 spatial visualization.
Data Models: Spatial data can be represented using

different data models, such as vector data models

and raster data models.
Vector data models represent spatial features as

discrete geometric objects with associated

attributes.
Raster data models represent spatial data as a grid

of cells, where each cell represents a specific value

or attribute.
Integration with Non-Spatial Data: Spatial data

can be integrated with non-spatial data to gain a

comprehensive understanding of phenomena.
By linking spatial data with other data types, such

as demographic data, environmental data, or

business data, spatial relationships and patterns
can be analyzed in conjunction with non-spatial
attributes.
Data Visualization: Spatial data is often visualized

using maps, charts, and graphical representations.

Data visualization techniques help in exploring,

interpreting, and communicating spatial patterns

and relationships effectively
1.1.2 Sources of Spatial Data
• There are various sources of spatial data that

provide information about the Earth's features, such

as maps, satellite imagery, and geospatial databases.
• The following are some common sources of spatial

data:
National Mapping Agencies: Many countries

have national mapping agencies that collect,

maintain, and distribute spatial data.
These agencies create and update topographic

maps, cadastral data, elevation models, and other

geospatial datasets that cover the entire country or
specific regions.
Satellite Imagery: Satellites capture high-resolution images

of the Earth's surface, which can be used to derive spatial

data.

Providers such as Google Earth, Digital Globe, and NASA

offer satellite imagery and aerial photographs that can be

used for various applications, including mapping, urban

planning, and environmental monitoring.

Open Data Portals: Governments and
organizations often make spatial data available
through open data portals.
These platforms provide access to a wide range of

geospatial datasets, including demographic data,

transportation networks, land use information, and
environmental data.
Examples of open data portals include Data.gov,

Open Street Map, and the European Data Portal.

Geospatial Databases: Various organizations and
research institutions maintain geospatial databases that
contain spatial data for specific purposes.
These databases may include information on natural

resources, climate data, population demographics, land

cover classifications, and more.
Examples include the World Clim database for climate

data and the Global Land Cover Facility for land cover
information.
Remote Sensing Data: Remote sensing

technologies, such as LiDAR (Light Detection and

Ranging) and radar, provide detailed information

about the Earth's surface and its features.

These technologies are used to generate elevation

models, detect changes in land cover, monitor

Crowd sourced Data: With the advent of mobile

devices and citizen science initiatives, crowd sourced

data has become a valuable source of spatial

information

Platforms like Open Street Map allow individuals to

contribute and update geographic data, enabling the

It's important to note that the availability and

accessibility of spatial data can vary depending on

the region, data provider, and licensing restrictions.

Therefore, it's recommended to verify the data

sources' reliability, accuracy, and terms of use

before incorporating spatial data into specific

1.1.3 Types of spatial data models

 There are several types of spatial data models used

to represent and organize spatial data.

 The choice of a particular spatial data model

depends on the nature of the data, the analysis

requirements, and the software or systems being

used.
Commonly used spatial data models are;
Vector Data Model

Raster Data Model

1. Vector
The vector data model represents spatial data using discrete geometric

objects such as points, lines, and polygons.

Each object has associated attributes that provide additional
information.
Vector data models are well-suited for representing features with

precise boundaries and topological relationships.

Examples of vector formats include Shapefile, GeoJSON, and
 2. Raster
The raster data model represents spatial data as a

grid of cells or pixels, where each cell represents a

value or attribute.
Raster data models are useful for continuous and

regularly distributed data, such as satellite imagery,

elevation data, maps, photographs, scanned images
and climate data.
Raster formats include GeoTIFF, JPEG, or PNG .
Scanned map
Aerial photography
Remotely sensed image
 1.2 Non-Spatial Data
Non-spatial data refers to data that is not inherently

tied to a specific geographic location.

Non-spatial data is data that contains "what" instead

"where" and is independent of geographic coordinates.

 ‘It is independent of geographic location or cannot be

related to a location on the earth surface.

Examples of Non Spatial data; parcel holder name,

age, sex, parcel area, date of acquisition…..etc.

 Examples of non-spatial data include:
Attribute Data: This type of data describes the

characteristics of spatial data.

 It can include information such as population, temperature,

land use, and soil type

Logical Data: Information that is in the form of logical

values, such as true or false, and is not related to a specific

location
 Examples of non-spatial data include:

Character Data: Data that consists of letters, symbols, or

numbers and is not inherently spatial, such as names,

descriptions, or codes

Quantitative Data: Numerical data that represents

quantities and is not tied to a specific geographic location,

For example, temperature, population, or elevation

1.2.1 Features of Non Spatial data
Lack of Geographical Coordinates: Non-spatial

data does not have explicit geographic coordinates

associated with it.
Unlike spatial data, which is inherently linked to

specific locations, non-spatial data focuses on

attributes, characteristics, and measurements that
are not directly tied to geographic coordinates.
Varied Data Types: Non-spatial data can come in

various formats and types, including numerical,

categorical, textual, time-series, multimedia, and
relational data.
 Each data type has its own structure,
representation, and analysis methods .
Contextual Information: Non-spatial data often

provides context and additional details about

spatial phenomena While
Spatial data captures the "where" aspect, non-

spatial data complements it by capturing the

"what," "when," "why," and "how" aspects of the
phenomena being studied.
Integration with Spatial Data: Non-spatial data

can be integrated with spatial data to gain a more

comprehensive understanding of the subject being
studied.
By combining spatial and non-spatial data,
researchers and analysts can explore the
relationships between attributes and their spatial
context, enabling more robust spatial analyses and
informed decision-making.
Data Representation: Non-spatial data is typically

represented in structured formats such as tables,

databases, spreadsheets, text files, or multimedia files.

These representations allow for efficient storage,

retrieval, and manipulation of non-spatial data using

various data management and processing techniques.

 Understanding the features of non-spatial data is

essential for appropriate data management,

analysis, and interpretation in various domains

such as business intelligence, healthcare, social

sciences, finance, and many others.

 1.2.2 Types of non-spatial data
No Type Description

1 Nominal Data Text data (e.g. name of parcel holder, means of

acquisition….)

2 Ordinal Data Shows class (first, second, third …lower, medium,

high…………) e.g. Fertility of parcel

3 Interval Data Limit (lower to upper) e.g. parcel area

4 Ratio Data Shows fraction e.g. scale

 Methods of Non-Spatial Data collection

 Non-spatial data can be collected through various

methods.
 These methods focus on gathering information that is not

inherently tied to a specific location.

 Surveys and Questionnaires

 Interviews and focus groups

 Existing databases and records and other