Urban Planning and Development Applications of GIS

Planning and Development Applications of not only provides the most current findings on GIS applications, but also conveys practical planning and development information. This book presents state-of-the-art applications of geographic information systems (GIS) to help both beginners and specialists better understand current and emerging developments in the field of urban planning and development. Sections on GIS methodologies and GIS applications comprise this well integrated book. The methodologies section presents GIS concepts and techniques, including GIS technology implementation, remote sensing, trends in spatial databases, and linear referencing systems. The applications section illustrates the capabilities of GIS and related technologies in urban planning and development. The applications cover a wide range of topics, including regional planning, transportation, public utilities, stormwater and waste management, cultural and resources management, environmental assessment, program evaluation and policy analysis, and education. Important advances in GIS that are featured include: Spatial decision-support systems; GIS integration with analytical models; Three-dimensional analysis; The Voronoi diagram; Incorporating real-time information into GIS for public utilities and stormwater/waste management. The inclusion of case studies, illustrating the enormous capabilities of GIS, as well as Appendices listing Internet resources and GIS related acronyms give Urban Planning and Development Applications of GIS great potential to assist practicing professionals with new ideas to solve the continually challenging problems in planning and development.