March 17, 2012 AAS 2012, Toronto Spatial Explorer of Religions and Society - Data, Methodology and Technology Shuming Bao China Data Center University of Michigan
New Development of Religions in China New Clusters New Fashion New Trends
Demands for Spatial Studies What are the spatial patterns of religious distribution? How the spatial trends over the time? What are spatial interactions between different religions and between religions and other aspects of the society over the time and space (such as demographic and socioeconomic development)? How to evaluate the policy impacts on local religious development? What is the religious impacts on future development of local societies?
Topics I. Challenges and Opportunities II. Methodology III. Technology IV. Applications V. Research Agenda VI. Plans
I. Challenges and Opportunities for Religious Studies in China Challenges: Data Gaps between humanity and social sciences Policies and regulations Limited funding support Opportunities: Data New development of technology and methodology Growing demands for religious studies by gov t, research, education and business applications Expanding funding resources
Spatial Study of Religion and Society Supported by the Henry Luce Foundation The project aims: promoting research, teaching, learning, and training on the spatial studies of religions and society in China. Plans: 1. Research References Collection 2. Research System Development 3. Research Training Features: 1. Accessibility 2. Usability 3. Expandability 4. Free for those who are willing to share
II. Data Religious Sites: - Original data source from 2004 Economic Census - Atlas of Religions in China (UMCDC): - Buddhism - Taoism - Christianity - Muslim - others Population: - Original data source from population Census (1953, 1964, 1982, 1990, 2000) - China Population Census Data with GIS Maps (province, city, county and townships) Business: - Original data source from business Census (1995, 2001, 2004) - China Economic Census Data with GIS Maps (province, city, county and ZIP) - Digital Atlas by Industries of China Others: - Socioeconomic Statistics, Geography, Environment,
II. Methodology GIS ESDA Spatial Analysis Statistical Analysis Report Analysis Site Analysis Location Analysis Trend Analysis Statistical Analysis Graphic Analysis Map Visualization
IV. Technology An Integration of Information, Methodology and Knowledge supported by Spatial Intelligence Technology Information + Methodology + knowledge Technology GIS DATA RS I( d) n i n j w ( S 2 ij ( x n i i x)( xj n j w ij ) x)
Spatial Explorer of Religion Spatial Intelligence for Space-Time Data Integration and Analysis Statistics Charts Tables Reports Census GIS Maps
Spatial Explorer of Religion
Report Analysis Select by map Select by administrative units
Religious Site Analysis
Religious Site Analysis
Location Analysis Select by X & Y coordinates Select by locations on map
Location Analysis
Trend Analysis
Trend Analysis
Graphic Analysis
Statistical Analysis
Data Export
Map Export
V. Applications Spatial Patterns of Regions Spatial Trends of Religious Development Spatial Religion and Population Spatial Religion and Economy Spatial Religion and Environment Spatial Religion and Social Development Policy Impacts on Religious Development Location Selection of Religious Sites Household/Field Surveys
VI. Spatial Religion: Research Agenda - A New Discipline for Religions in Space and Time - A bridge for humanities and social sciences - Spatial theory: demand and supply (macro and micro, national, regional and local levels) - Spatial analysis (ESDA) of religions - Identifying the spatial structure of religions - Identifying the spatial patterns of religious distribution - Identifying outliers, spatial trends and spatial regimes - Spatial modeling for the complex system - Identifying interactions among different religions - Identifying interactions between religion, population, economy, culture and environment,. - Location analysis of religious sites - Local functions of religious service - Spatial range of religious service - Spatial policies of religious management - The internal governance of religions - The local governance of religions
Building A Global Network for Spatial Study of Religion and Society http://religioninchina.org Involvement interaction - international