VISUALIZING GEOSPATIAL DATA IN STATA: SPATIAL MAPS IN STATA

The creation of spatial maps has become a valuable tool for researchers interested in both the spatial data visualization and the identification of geographical patterns in the data. This course therefore, offers an introduction to the mapping techniques currently available in Stata 18 for visualization of geospatial data. The workshop opens with an overview of the peculiar characteristics of geospatial data, the implications of such for the analysis of such data and an overview of the special terminology used in this field, before moving on to discuss the concept of spatial proximity and its relevance to the visualization of spatial data analysis.

The remainder of the workshop is dedicated to the principle mapping techniques, using a combination of both official Stata 18 commands and a series of user written commands, currently adopted to visualize geospatial data in Stata. Participants will learn how to import geospatial data shapefiles in Stata and merge them with their existing Stata databases in order to create, compare and customize different mapping techniques.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to autonomously implement (with the help of the Stata routine templates specifically developed for the workshop) the appropriate mapping methods, given both the nature of their spatial data and the analysis in hand, within their own research.

This course is of particular interest for criminologists, social psychologists, sociologists, economists, epidemiologists and political scientists seeking to acquire the requisite tools required for the exploration and visualisation of spatial data in Stata.

A knowledge of basic statistics (distributions of variables, position indices, dispersion indices) and the statistical software Stata is recommended.

SESSION I: SPATIAL DATA

1. General characteristics of spatial data
2. Types of spatial objects
3. Spatial coordinate systems
4. Maps and shapefi les
5. The transformation of spatial databases

SESSION II: SPATIAL PROXIMITY

1. Spatial distance
2. Spatial proximity matrices
3. Spatial lags
4. Spatial autocorrelation

SESSION III: VISUAL ANALYSIS OF SPATIAL DATA

1. Visual analytics and data science
2. Thematic maps
3. Dot maps
4. Graduated symbol maps
5. Diagram maps
6. Choropleth Maps
7. Isarithmic Maps
8. Multivariate Maps

SUGGESTED READING

• Anthamatten, P. (2021). How to Make Maps: An Introduction to Theory and Practice of Cartography. Abingdon: Routledge.
• Lambert, N. & Zanin, C. (2020). Practical Handbook of Thematic Cartography: Principles, Methods, and Applications. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

The 2025 edition of this training course will be offered online on a part-time basis on the 28th of April from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm Central European Summer Time (CEST).

Professor Maurizio Pisati, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Sociology and Social Research, Milan (IT).

Full-time Students*: € 260.00
Ph.D. Students: € 335.00
Academic: € 370.00
Commercial: € 495.00

*To be eligible for student prices, participants must provide proof of their full-time student status for the current academic year. Our standard policy is to provide all full-time students, be they Undergraduates or Masters students, access to student participation rates. Part-time master and doctoral students who are also currently employed will however, be allocated academic status.

Fees are subject to VAT (applied at the current Italian rate of 22%). Under current EU fiscal regulations, VAT will not however applied to companies, Institutions or Universities providing a valid tax registration number.

The number of participants is limited to 8. Places will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. The course will be officially confirmed, when at least 5 individuals are enrolled.

Course fees cover: I) teaching materials – copies of lecture slides, databases and Stata programs specifically developed for the course; ii) a temporary licence of StataNow™ valid for 30 days from the day before the course commences.

Individuals interested in attending this course, must return their completed registration forms by email (training@tstat.eu) to TStat by the 18th April 2025.