Course Programs

2024

Looking at Regional Data and Developing Own Thought

Code:G2B55724 / Instructor:SUZUKI Jiro

Course Description

Many of the issues covered in this class involve the use of geographic information systems (GIS). Map apps like Google Maps, which many of us frequently use, are a type of GIS.

RESAS (Regional Economy and Society Analyzing System), a system that uses open data to contribute to regional development, was launched in 2005. RESAS allows the comparison of numerical data on regions (by prefecture or municipality) through various graphs and map displays. Following the below steps, students will repeatedly analyze regional data, individually or in groups. They will then share their findings on the regional characteristics they have discovered.

1. Through RESAS, students will discover the characteristics of various regions and share their findings among themselves. Although many discoveries can be made using RESAS, the system suffers from a weakness in that information can only be obtained through pre-prepared menus.

2. Students will directly analyze the data they obtained from RESAS using Looker Studio, an online data analysis environment. This service is provided by Google and was known as Google Data Portal until 2022.

3. Participants will share their opinions on a specific topic in groups to reveal the problems facing each region. Students will give a presentation at the end of the course.

Keywords

regional problem discovery, visualization of information, open data

Course Plan

1. Orientation (please refer to the materials provided online on eALPS. In-person participation is not required.)

2–5. Discovering regional issues with RESAS

6–9. Discovering regional issues with Looker Studio

10.–14. Examining regional issues in groups

15. Group presentation on regional issues