Improving Spatial Analysis in GIS Environments

Current GIS technology tends to impede problem-solving for many of its users and is difficult for vendors to develop and support. Why this may be the case and what might be done about it is explored in this paper. Three problems shared by most commercial GIS' are identified and examined: inadequate data models; inferior application development tools; insufficient on-line expertise. It is argued that each factor inhibits robust spatial analysis, and limits the usability of analytic and cartographic GIS outputs. Suggestions based on recent research directions and emerging software engineering practices are given for addressing deficiencies in these three realms. Certain properties of and synergies among data models, application toolkits and expert systems are explored as keys to improving data and knowledge management, user interaction and spatial analysis in geographic information systems.