About the Book
Geographical Information Handling - Research and Applications Edited by Paul M. Mather University of Nottingham, UK Geographical Information Handling - Research and Applications presents the results of the ESRC/NERC Joint Programme on Geographical Information Handling. The book provides an excellent summary of the state-of-the-art' in GIS research, as well as providing examples of applications of GIS in economic, social and environmental areas. The contents fall into three sections: Basic Research; Environmental Applications of GIS; and Economic and Planning Applications of GIS. Research issues include computer architectures, generalization effects, error diffusion, data structures, database design, GPS, and the human - computer interface. Case studies show how information on land cover/land use change, ecological and hydrological modelling, and geomorphological analysis of digital elevation models can be used within an environmental GIS, while economic and planning applications include aspects of natural hazard assessment, rural planning, property management, regional planning, and local authority use of GIS.
The authors are all leading researchers in GIS, and introductory contributions are provided by the Chairmen of NERC and ESRC, the Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey and the Managing Director of LaserScan Limited. This book represents a significant statement of GIS research and applications, and will be of value to a wide range of researchers and users of GIS.
Table of Contents:
BASIC RESEARCH: Meeting Expectations: A Review of GIS Performance Issues, B.M. Gittings, T.M. Sloan, R.G. Healey, S. Dowers and T.C. Waugh; Simulating the Effects of Error in GIS, C. Brunsdon and S. Openshaw; Towards a Generalization Machine to Minimize Generalization Effects within a GIS, E. Joao, G. Herbert, D.W. Rhind, S. Openshaw, and J. Raper Datum; Transformations and Data Integration in a GIS Environment, A.H. Dodson and R.H. Haines-Young; The Object-Based Paradigm for a Geographical Database System: Modelling, Design and Implementation Issues; M.F. Worboys, K.T. Mason and B.R.P. Dawson; Spatio-Temporal GIS Techniques for Environmental Modelling, M.A. O'Conaill, D.C. Mason and S.M.B. Bell; Development of a Generic Spatial Language Interface for GIS, J. Raper and M. Bundock. ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS OF GIS: Analytical Tools for Monitoring Urban Areas, M.J. Barnsley, S.L. Barr, A. Hamid, J.P.A.L. Muller, G.J. Sadler and J.W. Shepherd; The Application of Geographical Information Systems to the Monitoring and Modelling of Land Cover and Use in the United Kingdom, R.W. Gooding, D.C. Mason, J.J. Settle, N. Veitch and B.K. Wyatt; GIS and Distributed Hydrological Models, R. Romanowicz, K. Beven and R. Moore; Automated Derivation of Stream-Channel Networks and Selected Catchment Characteristics from Digital Elevation Models. J. Hogg, J.E. McCormack, S.A. Roberts, M.N. Gahegan and B.S. Hoyle. ECONOMIC AND PLANNING APPLICATIONS OF GIS: Mapping Natural Hazards with Spatial Modelling Systems, G. Wadge, A. Wislocki, E.J. Pearson and J.B. Whittow; An Evaluation of GIS as an Aid to the Planning of Proposed Developments in Rural Areas, D.A. Davidson, P.H. Selman and A.I. Watson; Property Based GIS: Data Supply and Conflict, D.J. Fairbairn; The Impact of GIS on Local Government in Great Britain, I. Masser and H. Campbell; A Land and Economic Development Information System for the East Thames Corridor, A. Church, M. Frost, S. John, A. Macmillan and J.W. Shepherd; Intelligent, Interactive and Analysis-Based GIS: Principles and Applications, M. Clarke, J. Chesworth, J. Harmer, S. Macgill, A. McDonald, Y.L. Sui and A. Wilson.
