Spatial Decision Support Systems

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Spatial Decision Support Systems: Principles and Practices

Published:

November 15, 2010 by CRC Press - 507 Pages

Author(s):

Ramanathan Sugumaran, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, USA; John Degroote

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$125.95

ISBN 9781420062090

Cat# 62093

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ISBN 9781420062120

Cat# E62093

Features

Provides thorough coverage of the roots of SDSS
Integrates SDSS research from a variety of disciplines, including the geosciences
Includes case studies and a vast array of example applications covering the core principles of SDSS
Explains how to tailor SDSS to the reader’s own environment
Integrates sample code segments throughout

Summary

Although interest in Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS) continues to grow rapidly in a wide range of disciplines, students, planners, managers, and the research community have lacked a book that covers the fundamentals of SDSS along with the advanced design concepts required for building SDSS.

Filling this need, Spatial Decision Support Systems: Principles and Practices provides a comprehensive examination of the various aspects of SDSS evolution, components, architecture, and implementation. It integrates research from a variety of disciplines, including the geosciences, to supply a complete overview of SDSS technologies and their application from an interdisciplinary perspective.

This groundbreaking reference provides thorough coverage of the roots of SDSS. It explains the core principles of SDSS, how to use them in various decision making contexts, and how to design and develop them using readily available enabling technologies and commercial tools. The book consists of four major parts, each addressing different topic areas in SDSS:

Presents an introduction to SDSS and the evolution of SDSS
Covers the essential and optional components of SDSS
Focuses on the design and implementation of SDSS
Reviews SDSS applications from various domains and disciplines—investigating current challenges and future directions

The text includes numerous detailed case studies, example applications, and methods for tailoring SDSS to your work environment. It also integrates sample code segments throughout. Addressing the technical and organizational challenges that affect the success or failure of SDSS, the book concludes by considering future directions of this rapidly emerging field of study.

Introduction
Spatial Decision Making
     What Are Spatial Decisions?
     Types of Spatial Decisions
     Spatial Decision-Making Problems
Spatial Decision-Making Process
Need for Decision Support Systems
Definition of SDSS
SDSS Characteristics
Types or Flavors of SDSS

Evolution and Trends in SDSS
Origins of SDSS
Core Drivers for the Development of Spatial Decision Support Technology
     Information and Communication Technology
     Spatial Data Availability
     Applications
     Users, Developers, and User Interfaces
     Spatially Explicit Modeling
     Expert Domain Knowledge
DSS-Based Evolution
     DSS to SDSS
GIS-Based Evolution
     GIS to SDSS
SDSS Progression
     Introduction Phase (1976–1989)
     Integration Phase (1990–2000)
     Implementation Phase (2000s)
Related and Important Literature
Important Contributors to SDSS Development
Suggested Readings
DSS
GIS
SDSS

Components of SDSS I: Geographic Information Systems
Components of Traditional DSS and GIS
Components of SDSS
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Overview
     History of Spatial Information and Data Use
     Definitions of GIS
     Coordinate Systems
     Data Models
          Vector Data Model
          Raster Data Model
          Raster versus Vector
     Spatial Data Collection
     Database Management
     Data Considerations
     Spatial Data Exploration, Processing, and Analysis
     Map Data Exploration
     Data Identification, Examination, and Query
     Vector Processing and Analysis
          Buffering
          Spatial Overlay
          Pattern Analysis and Spatial Statistics
          Routing and Network Analysis
     Raster Data Analysis
          Local Operations
          Neighborhood Operations
          Zonal Operations
     Data Visualization and Cartography
     GIS Software
Appendix A: Spatial Data Sources for the United States
Appendix B: Global Spatial Data Sources
Appendix C: Links for Lists of Commercial and Open Source GIS Software

Components of SDSS II
Model Management Component
Modeling Techniques in SDSS
     Generic Models
          Boolean Overlays
          Weighted Linear Combination
          Analytical Hierarchy Process
          Ordered Weighted Approach
          Artificial Neural Networks
          Cellular Automata
          Genetic Algorithms
          Agent-Based Models
          Fuzzy Modeling Techniques
     Application-Specific Models
Dialog Management Component
Stakeholders Component (SC)
Knowledge Management Component

SDSS Software
Existing SDSS Software
     GIS Software Used in SDSS
     Problem-Specific SDSS
     Domain-Level SDSS
     Generic SDSS
          IDRISI Macro Modeler
          ArcGIS ModelBuilder
          ERDAS IMAGINE
          Open Source Software
          Open-SDSS

Building SDSS Software
SDSS Software Components
     Common Software for Utilization in SDSS Development
          Spatial Data Collection, Management, Analysis, and Visualization Software
     Relational Database Management Software
          Modeling Software
          Knowledge Management Software
    SDSS Development by Software Integration
         Integration Technologies
         Integration Strategies
     Integration Issues
Design and Development of SDSS from Scratch
Enabling Technologies for the Development of Desktop SDSS
     Programming Languages
     Application Development Environments
     Spatial Libraries
     SDSS Generator—Geonamica
Web-Based SDSS Development and Architecture
     Cloud Computing

Building Desktop SDSS
SDSS Development Considerations
SDSS Development Process
SDSS Development Examples
     Spreadsheet-Based AHP SDSS (Microsoft Excel)
     SpreadsheetSDSS Plug-in
     Customizing Existing Desktop GIS (ArcGIS)
     Creation of a New Generic SDSS Program

Building Web-Based SDSS
Web-Based SDSS Developed with ArcGIS Server
     Web-Based SDSS for Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Web-Based SDSS Development with Open Source Software
     Software Installation
     Software Used
     Architecture Used and Implementation
     Open Source SDSS Download and Execution
     Detailed Explanation and Code
          Python Modules
          View Templates

SDSS Applications
Reference Collection, Database Creation, and Web-Portal Development
     Literature Compilation
     SDSS Database Development
     Web Portal Development
Publication Sources
SDSS Application Domains
     Natural Resources Management
     Environmental
     Urban
     Agriculture
     Utility/Communication/Energy and Transportation
     Business
     Other Major Application Domains

SDSS Challenges and Future Directions
Technical Challenges
     Spatial Data Management Component Challenges
     Model Management Component
          Model Selection or Development
          Model Integration
          Model Usability and Interpretation of Results
          Dialog Management Component Challenges
          User Interfaces
          Output Presentation and Evaluation
Technological Challenges
Social, Policy, and Organizational Challenges
Educational Challenges
Future Trends and Directions

Each chapter starts with Learning Objectives and an Introduction, and concludes with a Summary and References

Author Bio(s)

Dr. Ramanathan Sugumaran is Professor of Geography and Director of GeoTREE Center at the University of Northern Iowa. He has over nineteen years of research experience in remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and spatial decision support systems (SDSS) with applications for natural resources and environmental planning and management.

Dr. Sugumaran has served as PI or Co-PI on over $5 million worth of research grants funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Raytheon Corp., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He has also published numerous journal articles and presented more than one hundred papers at national and international conferences. Dr. Sugumaran has two PhDs—a PhD in geography from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom and one from the University of Baroda, India. For the past ten years, he has developed and taught several courses and advised more than twenty students on their masters theses. Dr. Sugumaran has also been a recipient of several academic awards that include the outstanding graduate faculty teaching award, Outstanding Scholar award, and Veridian Community Engagement Award.

John DeGroote is a GeoInformatics Scientist at the GeoTREE Center at the University of Northern Iowa. He has been actively applying geospatial technologies for environmental and natural resource applications for nine years. He has experience working on a wide range of issues with a diverse set of investigators including hydrologists, soil scientists, ecologists, and economists. He has extensive experience in developing custom GIS and SDSS applications, using programming and database development, for use by researchers and environmental managers. John has authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles concerning the use of geospatial technologies for a variety of application domains. He has also presented research at numerous national and international conferences.

Editorial Reviews

This timely book begins with coverage of basic geospatial data handling concepts, methods, and materials. … places the development of SDSS concepts within a historical framework of development and treats important system components with a level of detail that is appropriate for students who may have different backgrounds or be at different stages of intellectual development. Coverage then moves on to demonstrate how these components can be assembled into flexible collections that are used to address particular types of applications. It is here, with the illustration of different component assemblages, that the book coheres by demonstrating how an SDSS can be implemented in the form of a traditional desktop system or using distributed, web-based services. This is done in a way that should prove instructive to both students and their teachers. I sincerely hope that you enjoy reading and learning from this book and that it will lead you to contribute new insights. I came away from it wishing that the book had been available to me many years ago when I was beginning to struggle with the SDSS concepts that now seem rather straightforward after having read these chapters.
—Marc P. Armstrong, Professor and Chair, Department of Geography, University of Iowa

Sugumaran (geography) and DeGroote (geo-informatics, both U. of Northern Iowa) explain systems that are designed to help decision makers solve complex spatially related problems and provide a framework for integrating analytical and spatial modeling capabilities, spatial and non-spatial data management, domain knowledge, spatial display capabilities, and reporting capabilities. They cover evolution and trends in spatial decision support systems, geographical information systems and other components, software and building it, building a desktop system and a web-based system, applications, and challenges and future directions.
—In Research Book News, booknews.com, February 2011