Evaluate and Discuss the Use of GIS to Develop Visual

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The Answer is Using GIS, evaluators can create maps that synthesize and convey information such as population health, sociodemographics, and program services data. This information can in turn help to engage stakeholders, focus or refine the evaluation design, track program changes, and triangulate findings across a variety of data sources to justify conclusions. To create GIS maps for evaluation purposes, evaluators need data sets with spatial (i.e., location) data, such as county codes, zip codes, and street addresses, and attribute data, which represent descriptions, measurements, or classifications of the location data (e.g., county names, population data from the census, and distance between addresses). Evaluators will also need GIS software, such as ESRI ArcGIS (desktop or online versions), Quantum GIS (QGIS), or MapInfo. Collecting location data to be linked to relevant program variables is often the first step to any GIS analysis. This is typically done by converting addresses, zip codes, census blocks, and other locational features to longitude and latitude coordinates. Once location data are geocoded, they can be plotted onto digital maps obtained from GIS software or online databases and analyzed according to their attribute features. In addition to knowing the location of resources in a community, evaluators are also often interested in understanding the sociodemographic composition of neighborhoods or city blocks where programs may be implemented. Linking project data to locational coordinates allows for nearly endless opportunities to access and display information about a project's setting, environment, and performance.

Evaluate and Discuss the Use of GIS to Develop Visual

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