ABSTRACT
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used to support a wide range of applications. This chapter discusses data sources, analytical approaches, and examples of applications in both biophysical and human-social areas. The sophistication of GIS use in the application areas has been increasing over the past decade. Early on, GIS were used primarily for mapping distributions, such as the location of car thefts, or of toxic waste sites. Now, however, GIS are utilized for advanced types of both analysis and display, such as modeling transportation fl ows and in selecting idealized “routes” for deliver trucks, or locations for police and fi re stations. This chapter is divided into two sections-biophysical applications and human-social applications. Although this division might seem somewhat arbitrary, as explained
34.1 Applications of GIS .....................................................................................669 34.2 Biophysical Applications ............................................................................. 670 34.2.1 Data ............................................................................................... 671 34.2.2 Spatial Analysis and Modeling ..................................................... 671 34.2.3 Examples of Biophysical Applications of GIS .............................. 672 34.2.3.1 GIS and Forest Resources Management ....................... 672 34.2.3.2 Conservation GIS and Gap Analysis ............................ 674 34.3 Human-Social Applications ........................................................................ 675 34.3.1 Data ............................................................................................... 676 34.3.2 Spatial Analysis and Modeling ..................................................... 676 34.3.3 Examples of Human-Social Applications of GIS ......................... 677 34.3.3.1 Racial Segregation Studies ........................................... 677 34.3.3.2 Environmental Justice Research................................... 677 34.3.3.3 Crime Analysis ............................................................. 677 34.3.3.4 Public Health and Epidemiological Studies ................. 678 34.4 Conclusions ................................................................................................. 682 References .............................................................................................................. 682
in Chapter 28, spatial data is either “fi eld” or “object.” Natural resource data, such as forest stands, drainage basins, or vegetation covers, tend to be continuous (fi eld). Urban-social data, such as population, industry, and transportation, tend to be discrete (object). One must be careful, however, as many applications might very well require both types of data-transportation and terrain. An excellent review of applications may be found in a recently published year 2000 issue of the Journal of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (Vol. 12, No. 2). In this issue, there are comprehensive reviews of GIS and crime, emergency preparedness and response, public health, transportation planning and management, water resources, and urban and regional planning.
