Definition of spatial planning and decision support systems
Planning and decision support methods assist in the different steps
of the framework of the planning and decision making process. It is
when spatial information need is framed in the context of complex
planning and decision problems that we discover that availability of
spatial data as such is insufficient support in spatial planning and
decision making processes. In large volumes and with high degree of
uncertainty such data may even frustrate these processes.
Then we see a need for:
- systems that assist us to identify where we perceive problems, how we can understand these problems, how to find solutions and how to evaluate these solutions to identify a preferred solution,
- systems that assist us in expressing subjectivity,
- systems that allow us to interpret and value spatial data against our norms and values,
- systems that assist us in finding matches between demand and supply of spatial distributed land, water, labor, transportation and many other resources,
- systems that help us understand the spatial dynamics to develop scenarios,
- systems that show us the spatially distributed trade-offs between our actions,
- and systems that help us communicate our subjectivity and perceptions about these trade-offs in negotiations with other parties and in discussion with our constituencies.
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