[AISWorld] Database problem set and geographical maps in decision support

[Dr Bill Tastle]

I want to put together an Access database problem set using 
inexpensively available (free is best) shape maps of local geographical 
areas and need some guidance as to where to find these maps such that 
they will "connect" to Access as a form or report.  I will share my 
results with you as the problem set develops.

Essentially, given data that is associated with a geographical area, 
i.e, sales by town, population by county, number of elderly by election 
district, and the like, display these numbers as a visual display on a 
map such that high numbers get one kind of color, low numbers another, 
or show some other kind of meaningful representation of the data.  The 
goal is to show how data visualization can assist in decision support.  
Ideally, one would want to get this data applied to the smallest 
geopolitical unit like a village, town, school district, or, even 
better, a local election district.  I believe the election district is 
the smallest recognizable unit and therefore has the finest granulation.

Bill Tastle, Prof is IS, Ithaca College, New York
tastle -at- Ithaca.edu