Population Density Calculation - ArcView 3.x and Spatial Analyst

Download the "areagrid" of the world.

Open your ArcView 3.x.

Verify that the spatial analyst extension is on [Go to "File" then select "Extensions." Scroll down until you see the "Spatial Analyst" externsion and check the box to turn it on]. Close the Extension dialog box.

Open (or create) an ArcView project.

Load the population grid of interest.

Load the areagrid file as a grid.

Set the Analysis Properties to match the grid of interest (Figure A).

• Turn on the grid of interest in the table of contents. Click "Analysis" on the tool bar and select "Properties."
• Click on the "Analysis Extent" drop down button and select "Same as filename," (i.e., if you are using LandScan 2005 and the filename is Lspop2005, select "Same as Lspop2005."
• Select the drop down button next to "Analysis Cell Size" and select "As Specified Below."
• In the "Cell Size" data entry box, enter 0.00833333333333333
• Click "OK"

Next click on the "Analysis" tab and select "Map Calculator."

Enter the following formula (Figure B):

• ([Lspop2005] / [Areagrd.Area])
• Where Lspop2005 = the population grid file and
  Areagrd.Area = the area grid file and the "Area" field name

Since the [Areagrd.Area] field is square kilometers, the resulting population density grid units are population per square kilometer.

Figure A: Analysis Extent and Cell Size Input

Figure B: Map Calculation Formula