Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Modelling and Policy Evaluation

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) provide an enhanced environment for spatial data processing. The ability of geographic information systems to handle and analyse spatially referenced data may be seen as a major characteristic which distinguishes GIS from information systems developed to serve the needs of business data processing as well as from CAD systems or other systems whose primary objective is map production. This book, which contains contributions from a wide-ranging group of international scholars, demonstrates the progress which has been achieved so far at the interface of GIS technology and spatial analysis and planning. The various contributions bring together theoretical and conceptual, technical and applied issues. Topics covered include the design and use of GIS and spatial models, AI tools for spatial modelling in GIS, spatial statistical analysis and GIS, GIS and dynamic modelling, GIS in urban planning and policy making, information systems for policy evaluation, and spatial decision support systems.

Design and use of geographic information systems and spatial models.- A Theoretical and conceptual issues.- Some suggestions concerning the development of artificial intelligence tools for spatial modelling and analysis in GIS.- Spatial statistical analysis and geographic information systems.- Using geographic information systems in urban planning and policy-making.- B Technical issues.- Development in areal interpolation methods and GIS.- Using information based rules for sliver polygon removal in GISs.- Which spatial statistics techniques should be converted to GIS functions?.- The accuracy of digital representations of 2D and 3D geographical objects: a study by simulation.- Towards the development of an intelligent spatial decision support system.- Modelling spatial interaction using a neural net.- C Applications.- Geographical information systems and dynamic modelling — Potentials of a new approach.- Computer-aided regional planning — Applications for the Perth and Helsinki regions.- Residential quality assessment — Alternative approaches using GIS.- Information systems for policy evaluation: a prototype GIS for Urban Programme impact appraisal in St. Helens, North West England.- Dynamic GIS models for regional sustainable development.- Modelling catchment areas — Towards the development of spatial decision support systems for facility location problems.