This book embodies a fundamental change in thinking about decision support and planning. Rather than focusing solely on the instruments, or means, of decision support, the book moves toward a more mature emphasis on the support function of the instruments. The whole trajectory of planning, programming, and project implementation is considered from an integrative perspective. The level of detail is valuable in showing how GIS can assist in this process.--Stan Geertman, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
The book is remarkably thorough and systematic in its coverage of GIS-based techniques as decision support tools in spatial planning and management. Some of the material is quite advanced, but it is presented in an accessible manner and written with an emphasis on applications. This makes it suitable for both upper-division undergraduates and for graduate students and researchers in related areas. Well-chosen review questions at the end of each chapter address the key points and encourage critical thinking.--Helen Couclelis, Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara
This is not another 'how to use GIS' book. It goes far beyond traditional descriptions of GIS concepts and techniques to demonstrate clearly and concretely the role that GIS can--and should--play in informing and improving public decision making. It provides case studies and fully worked-out examples illustrating the use of GIS in supporting sustainability planning, capital improvements programming, and project implementation in a wide range of policy areas. I recommend this book highly for anyone interested in using GIS as a decision support tool, and as a text in advanced GIS courses.--Richard E. Klosterman, President, What if?, Inc.; Department of Geography and Planning (Emeritus Professor), University of Akron
This book fills a void. It weaves theory and practice together, presenting an integrated view of the concepts, tools, and techniques involved in using GIS for public decision support within an urban-regional context. Including strong pedagogical features, the value of the content is very high for students, academics, and practitioners. The text takes complex subject areas and puts them into a form that students can understand, grasp, and master. No course in applied GISor participatory planning should be without this book.--Jacek Malczewski, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, Canada-Nyerges and Kankowski drew on their considerable research and field experience in land, water, and transportation issues to present practical approaches for using GIS in urban sustainability planning and decision making. These practical approaches add context to the core decision situation assessment framework named Enhanced Adaptive Structuration Theory (EAST2) previously developed by the authors....Represents a new milestone in the use of GIS for urban sustainability planning and decision making. The work is highly practical and embedded in a robust theoretical framework. Given the notorious conflicting nature of sustainability issues, this book would serve as an invaluable guide to those seeking practical ways to use GIS for effective planning and decision making.--Canadian Geographer, 10/10/2009ffProvides a comprehensive, clearly written, and well-organized reference guide on the role and use of GIS to inform and improve public decision making in spatial planning and management. More specifically, the authors provide a detailed description and information on the use of GIS concepts and techniques in specific decision-making situations (planning, improvement programming, and implementation) for addressing land, transportation, and water resource management. In this way, Nyerges and Jankowski contribute to the literature on spatial decision support, intricately weaving together theory and practice and providing readers with the theoretical, methodological, technological, and substantive issues in using GIS in complex decision situations....A welcome and timely contribution to the literature on GIS as an information support system for spatial planning and environment decision making....This book is written in an engaging and accessible manner with appropriate applications of images, tables, and charts to reinforce basic concepts. All chapters are clearly organized and referenced and the continuity between chapters is excellent. However, the 'chief' value of this text resides in the framework of the book, around which the chapters are organized....Superbly written, comprehensive, useful, and accessible. This text will appeal to a wide range of individuals from decision makers, academics, and researchers using GIS technologies and techniques to upper-division undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in GIS and spatial decision support system courses. As such, this book is recommended as a valuable addition to any library and certainly a copy of this text should be in the library of every department that trains GIS and decision analysts.--Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 10/10/2009
