Regional and Urban GIS: A Decision Support Approach

This unique text shows students and professionals how geographic information systems (GIS) can guide decision making about complex community and environmental problems. The authors’ step-by-step introduction to GIS-based decision analysis methods and techniques covers important urban and regional issues (land, transportation, and water resource management) and decision processes (planning, improvement programming, and implementation). Real-world case studies demonstrate how GIS-based decision support works in a variety of contexts, with a special focus on community and regional sustainability management. Ideal for course use, the book reinforces key concepts with end-of-chapter review questions; illustrations include 18 color plates.

Timothy L. Nyerges is Professor of Geography and Affiliate Professor of the Water Center at the University of Washington-Seattle. He teaches introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses to undergraduate and graduate students in GIS using ArcGIS software and systems design using open-source GIS software. His research focuses on public participation decision support using both workstation and online platforms for urban-regional land, transportation, and water resources activity.

Piotr Jankowski is Professor of Geography and Co-Director of the Center for Earth Systems Analysis Research at San Diego State University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in GIS and spatial decision analysis. His research focuses on spatial decision support systems, participatory GIS, spatial optimization, and modeling methods.