Bringing it All Together: Using GIS to Analyze and Model Spatial Phenomena

It was once thought that all GIS technology was good for was to store data but now it has been realized that there is another use…using GIS to isolate and analyze spatial relationships.

  • GIS is able to transform map data into customizable information (ex. Population change over a period of time)
  • Measurment of spatial areas
  • Overlay analysis

Environmental Modeling

  • Combining GIS and environmental modeling tools (ex. noise quality modeling developed by environmental modelers are linked to GIS based locational data on noise emitters as well as informationion estimating noise levels)
  • Like the Mapping Environmental Justice Projects

Building Intuitive Models

  • Decision making for spatial locations
  • Uses Multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) – allows the user to weight numerous criteria in order to fine-tune the model…so conflicting criteria can be used to incorporate more than one point of view in order to provide results. (ex. finding the best route for a new road or finding the best site to place a landfill.