Spatial Decision Making Using Fuzzy GIS

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial databases are inherently suited for fuzziness, because of the uncertainty inherent in the assimilation, storage, and representation of spatial data. One of the most fertile GIS development areas is integrating multiple criteria decision models into GIS querying mechanisms. The classic approach for this integration has been to use Boolean techniques of decision making with crisp representations of spatial objects to produce static maps as query answers. This paper examines a prototype system, FOOSBALL, which integrates both multiple attribute querying and a fuzzy object-oriented GIS. FOOSBALL addresses many of the inherent weaknesses of current systems by implementing: 1) fuzzy set membership as a method for representing the performance of decision alternatives on evaluation criteria, 2) fuzzy methods for both criteria weighting and capturing geographic preferences, and 3) a fuzzy object oriented spatial database for feature storage. This makes it possible to both store and represent query results more precisely. The end result of all of these enhancements is to provide spatial decision makers with more information so that their decisions will be more informed, and thus, more correct.