Name
Abstract | ||
|---|---|---|
. This paper discusses the design of formal theories of geographic space for the application in Geographic Information Systems.
GIS software is an implementation of formal theories of geographic space. The notions of formal theories are introduced and
discussed in the context of examples from the GIS field.
Our approach is an application of the general framework of formal theories to the special class of theories of geographic
space, in particular to the geometry of geographic space. A framework is introduced for characterizing and evaluating formal
theories of geographic space and the process of their design. This is used to provide (1) a classification of formal theories
of geographic space, (2) criteria of their adequacy, and (3) an evaluation of design decisions in the process of formalization.
The paper demonstrates the choices in the design of GIS and the dependencies between these choices. Considering the design
space for theories underlying a GIS, we can see that current GIS are based on one choice: analytical geometry. Other designs
are possible and a systematic exploration of alternative types of GIS, for example, based on constraints or based on stored
spatial relations, becomes necessary. |
Year | DOI | Venue |
|---|---|---|
1999 | 10.1007/s101090050014 | Journal of Geographical Systems |
Keywords | Field | DocType |
Key words: Abstraction,formal systems,GIS,spatial reasoning,JEL classification: C60,C63,C88 | Econometrics,Data science,Geospatial analysis,Geographic information system,Formal system,Spatial intelligence,Theoretical computer science,Enterprise GIS,Geography,GIS and public health | Journal |
Volume | Issue | Citations |
1 | 3 | 3 |
PageRank | References | Authors |
0.43 | 19 | 2 |
Name | Order | Citations | PageRank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Bittner | 1 | 123 | 11.29 |
| Andrew U. Frank | 2 | 835 | 332.71 |