Using G.I.S. to Bridge the Gap Between Regional and Local Industrial Analyses

1. Using G.I.S. to Bridge the Gap Between Regional and Local Industrial Analyses Towards a cooperative framework within local communities in northeast Ohio March 12, 2003 J. Ritterbeck

2. Acknowledgements • University of California, Santa Barbara Geography Department • City of Stow, Ohio • Greater Akron Chamber • The Partnership • Summit County Department of Development • Northeast Ohio G.I.S. Users Group

3. Presentation Outline • Introduction to problem and study area • Overview of prior research • Summary of purpose and goals • Methodology • Expected results

4. Problem Statement • Clusters analysis technique problems • Relatively simple procedures not supported by extensive statistical reasoning • Evolution of methods imbred with cross-discipline biases • Different techniques generate different results from same data • Techniques are ‘structure-seeking’ although end up being ‘structure-imposing’ • Aldenderfer, M., Blashfield, R., 1984. Cluster Analysis Series: Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences, Sage Publications Inc., USA • Regional analyses use overly generalized and vague data

5. Study Area: RegionalLocal • Northeast Ohio • Cleveland/Akron CMSA • Akron/Canton PMSA • Greater Akron Region • Summit County • City of Stow

6. Prior Research Industrial Clusters: • A.R.D.B., Greater Akron in Focus. 1997, Akron Regional Development Board: Akron, OH. • Partnership, Clusters Project. 1998, Northeast Ohio Regional Economic Development Strategies Initiative. • N.O.A.C.A., Northeast Ohio Regional Retail Analysis Executive Summary. 2000, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission for the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency. Industrial Linkages: Backward and Forward • A.R.D.B., Greater Akron in Focus. 1997, Akron Regional Development Board: Akron, OH. • Sweeney, Stuart and Edward Feser. 1998. “Plant Size and Clustering of Manufacturing Activity” Geographical Analysis 30:1, 45-64. • Feser, Edward and Stuart Sweeney (2000) “A test for coincident economic and spatial clustering among business enterprises.” manuscript in Journal of Geographical Systems • Daniels, T., Keller, J., Lapping, M., The Small Town Planning Handbook. 1995, Chicago, IL/Washington, D.C.: American Planning Association.

7. Project Summary • Two General Purposes • Establishment of highly detailed G.I.S. at local level • Apply new detailed data back into regional initiatives • Overall Study Goals • Formulate structure of data collection, classification and analysis to enhance the accuracy of current initiatives • Create template for local level application

8. Methodology • Survey Stow Industry • Classification within G.I.S. • Industry name, N.A.I.C.S., production activity, type classification • Run first cluster analysis • old technique • Run second cluster analysis • new technique • Identify similarities or discrepancies in cluster classifications

9. Expect Results • Regional level • Illuminate discrepancies in industry data classifications within clusters technique • Develop new means of data collection and analysis • Local level • Produce advanced G.I.S. applications and analysis • Create a means for easily updating and integrating data from multiple levels of analysis