Tabular Data
Introduction to Geospatial Data
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Competency 1. Tabular Data
Competency 1. Tabular Data
Collect, transform, and visualize tabular data using best practices.
Begin this competency by expanding a Topic section to view its contents. For each topic, you will complete the following:
Learn about the topic by listening to and watching the lecture video.
Apply your knowledge and skills by completing the demos, exercises, and project summary tasks.
Assess your comprehension by completing the quiz.
Scroll to the bottom of this page and expand the competency-level project to access the project statement of work (SOW) with summary tasks, tasks, and step-by-step instructions along with accompanying project videos.
Topic 1.1. What is Data?
Topic 1.1. What is Data?
Explain how data is collected, stored in the tabular model, and analyzed to create information and knowledge.
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1.1.1. Explain the relationship between data, information, and knowledge
1.1.2. Define data
1.1.3. Differentiate between primary and secondary data
1.1.4. Explain nominal, ordered, interval, and ratio data types
1.1.5. Describe how tables are structured
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Lecture Videos: C1T1PC1-3 (Competency 1, Topic 1, Performance Criteria 1-3), C1T1PC4, C1T1PC5
Demonstration Videos: C1T1D1a (Competency 1, Topic 1, Demo 1 part a), C1T1D1b
Exercise: Google Sheets Course by Google Cloud Skills Boost
Module 1: Introduction to Google Sheets
Module 2: Manage Data Using Google Sheets
Module 3: Format a Google Sheets Spreadsheet
Quiz: What is Data?
Project: Election Dashboard Summary Task 1 (see Project 1. below)
References
References
SEMIOTIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. gapingvoid. 2025.
Pound, Mike. Data Analysis 1: What is Data? Computerphile. 9 Jul. 2019.
Data. Wikipedia. 14 Aug. 2025.
What is Data? Math is Fun. 2017.
Topic 1.2. Transforming Data
Topic 1.2. Transforming Data
Use spreadsheet functions to transform text, numeric, and geospatial data.
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
1.2.1. Describe how data functions are used to transform data
1.2.2. Differentiate between concatenate and parse text functions
1.2.3. Describe the order of operations for mathematical functions
1.2.4. Explain how logical functions can test value expressions
1.2.5. Use spreadsheets to transform data
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Demonstration Videos & Data: C1T2D2a, C1T2D2b, C1T2D2c & Demo_1-2_Google Sheet
Exercise: Google Sheets Course by Google Cloud Skills Boost
Module 4: Basic Formulas, Functions, and Charts
Module 5: Share Your Google Sheets Spreadsheets
Quiz: Transforming Data
Project: Election Dashboard Summary Task 2
References:
References:
Data transformation. Wikipedia. 19 Oct. 2024.
ETL Transform. ETL Database. 3 Sep. 2019.
Function (mathematics). Wikipedia. 2 Dec. 2024.
What is a Function? Math is Fun. 2017.
Relative and Absolute References in Google Sheets and Excel. Teton Science Schools Helpdesk. 10 Jun. 2021.
Google Sheets function list. Docs Editors Help. 2025.
Geary, Will. Geocoding With Google Sheets. 4 Nov. 2016.
Topic 1.3. Visualizing Data
Topic 1.3. Visualizing Data
Visualize data in tables, charts, maps, and dashboards using best practices.
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
1.3.1. Apply Ed Tufte’s Guidelines for Visualizing Data
1.3.2. List best practices in creating tables
1.3.3. List best practices in creating charts
1.3.4. List best practices in creating maps
1.3.5. List best practices in creating dashboards
1.3.6. Create and publish a dashboard with tables, charts, and maps
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Lecture Videos: C1T3PC1a, C1T3PC1b, C1T3PC1c, C1T3PC2, C1T3PC3, C1T3PC4, C1T3PC5
Demonstration Videos & Data: C1T3D3a, C1T3D3b, C1T3D3c & Demo_1-3 Wikipedia Report
Exercise: ESRI Web Course - ArcGIS Online Basics
Quiz: Visualizing Data
Project: Election Dashboard Summary Task 3
References:
References:
Yaffa, Joshua. The Information Sage. Washington Monthly. 26 Apr. 2011.
Guidelines for Good Visual Information Representations. Interaction Design Foundation. 9 Sep. 2019.
Gordon. Data Tables - Best Practices. 7 Mar. 2019.
Gulbis, Janis. Data Visualization - How to Pick the Right Chart Type? 1 Mar. 2016.
Abela, Andrew. Chart Chooser. The Extreme Presentation(tm) Method. 15 Sep. 2020
Collins, Ben. Everything you ever wanted to know about Sparklines in Google Sheets. 12 Feb. 2016.
Bradnam, Ricky. 5 Basic Principles of Dashboard Design. Dundas Data Visualization, Inc. 4 Dec. 2013.
Acunto, Jennifer. Dashboards That Pop: Bar Charts. ArcGIS Dashboards Blog. 6 Jul. 2023.
Project 1. Election Dashboard
Project 1. Election Dashboard
Students will download historical election data into a spreadsheet, transform the data using pivot tables and formulas, and visualize your data via a dashboard website.
A dashboard is an executive summary of your data. They often include charts, graphs, tables, and other visual indicators that highlight summary metrics important to your organization. As a political junkie, you want to develop a dashboard that allows the public to explore and analyze US presidential election data.
Step through the SOW, download the data, watch the videos, and complete the project deliverables:
Step through the SOW, download the data, watch the videos, and complete the project deliverables:
Statement of Work: Election_Dashboard_Project_SOW.pdf
Source Data: Election_Records.csv
Project Videos: C1P1ST1 (Competency 1, Project 1, Summary Task 1), C1P1ST2, C1P1ST3a, C1P1ST3b, C1P1ST3c, C1P1ST4a, C1P1ST4b
ACC GISC 1479 Introduction to Geospatial Data © 2026 by Sean Moran, GISP is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International. You are free to share (i.e. copy and redistribute) the material in any medium or format with attribution to Sean Moran, GISP and Austin Community College.
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