Geographic information systems, spatial data analysis and spatial modelling: an introduction

This chapter describes the special characteristics of spatial data and some features of the field of spatial analysis. The origins of spatial analysis lie in the development in the early 1960s of quantitative geography and regional science. Despite the recognition that spatial analysis is central to the purpose of many geographic information systems (GIS), the lack of integration of the technology and spatial data analysis, and the relative simplicity of many GIS, are seen as a major impediment to their full utilisation. The ability of GIS to handle and analyse spatial data is usually seen as the characteristic that most distinguishes them from other information, computer-aided design, and map production, systems. Spatial analysis goes beyond sampling, manipulation, exploratory and confirmatory analysis of data into spatial modelling which encompasses a large and diverse set of models. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.