An operation-based approach to the communication of spatial data quality in GIS

Spatial data used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are prone to uncertainties that can undermine their usability. Improving the GIS users' awareness of these uncertainties requires improvements in the management and communication of the quality information provided with spatial data. Current tools for communicating data quality information in commercial GIS are rudimentary, and alternative tools--mainly developed and applied in academia--remain to be implemented in commercial GIS. -- This work develops an alternative operation-based approach to the communication of quality information in GIS. Communicating quality information is studied in the context of GIS operations. A review of GIS operations, one of the main components in GIS applications is performed. Based on the study of GIS operations and quality information, a conceptual link is established between the two components. Using this link, a system is designed to retrieve and communicate applicable quality elements to GIS users. The designed system is then implemented as a prototype in a commercial GIS software, and its usefulness is tested among GIS users.