Development of customized tools for GIS modelling to incorporate flexible decision making

Abstract

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and associated modeling enables rational management" of spatially distributed resources. GIS models once assembled with a base data set often require many repeated computations either to seek modifications to the methods or assumptions made during computations. The common GIS software needs customization to cater to such changes with minimum requirement of time. These repeated tasks range from computing an area to reclassification of overlaid layers.

This paper presents the development of two simple tools. The tool for computation of area, centroid or length, enables the on-screen operation to save computed values in particular shape file. Tool developed for the classification of spatial information after overlay, demonstrates the tool's capability to easily change the classification criteria to suit a change of values or grouping based on a subsequent decision maker requirement.

Both tools are developed using the Microsoft Visual Basic and linked to the GIS software - ArcGIS 9.2, incorporating the systematic planning, design and evaluation methodology. A special consideration was paid to 100% accuracy of the outputs, usefulness and user friendliness of the tools. Hence the work follows the standard requirement assessment systematic software evaluation with appropriate user group selection. The tools demonstrate the capability through applications on actual datasets.