Spatial Analysis for Urban Planning: Mapping School Segregation

How do geographic boundaries shape social inequality in our communities? Understanding how school district borders impact demographic segregation is a critical skill for modern urban planners, policy analysts, and social researchers. This text-based course introduces you to the fundamentals of spatial analysis and geographic information systems (GIS) to help you uncover and analyze these spatial patterns.\n\nBy reading through clear explanations and practical examples, you will transition from a beginner to a confident analyst capable of evaluating demographic data and geographic boundaries. You will learn how to structure spatial questions, interpret demographic disparities across borders, and use modern data-driven approaches to highlight systemic inequalities.\n\nWhat you'll learn:\n- Understand the core principles of spatial analysis and urban planning geography\n- Analyze school district boundaries and demographic data to identify segregation patterns\n- Apply basic GIS concepts and spatial data structures to social policy questions\n- Evaluate demographic disparities across administrative and geographic borders\n- Utilize modern open-source spatial data tools and public datasets for urban research\n- Design simple, clear spatial research questions to address community inequalities\n\nThis course begins with essential terminology, defining key concepts in spatial analysis, GIS, and demographic mapping before moving into step-by-step methodologies for analyzing border disparities. You will explore real-world scenarios and read through structured analysis workflows that demonstrate how data reveals the stories behind geographic lines.\n\nThis course is designed for beginners interested in urban planning, social justice, policy analysis, or GIS, with no prior experience in mapping software or spatial statistics required.\n\nStart reading today to unlock the power of spatial data in understanding and addressing community division.