Visualization of spatial data is vital both during intermediate analysis steps (to examine preliminary results and make sure we are on the right track) and as the final product (to present our results to colleagues or in a publication). In this chapter, we are going to visualize various datasets we created in the previous chapters, bringing closure to the previously presented case studies. While doing this, you will learn how to produce an elaborate and customized graphical output in R.

Most of this chapter is going to concentrate on the popular graphical package ggplot2. We will begin by presenting the logic behind the special syntax this package follows. Afterwards, we will review, through examples, the way spatial and nonspatial plots can be produced and customized using this package. The ggmap package, which automates downloading static maps from the Web and can be used to complement plots produced with ggplot2, will then be presented...