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1
Tanner, Christopher Barrat. "Effectiveness measures for geographical information systems (GIS)." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16088.
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Bibliography: pages 85-87.Geographical Information Systems (GIS) often do not meet the expectations of users and management, raising questions and doubts as to their overall success and effectiveness. To date the majority of GIS research has focused on technical issues, and management research has approached GIS effectiveness from a purely cost benefit perspective. This study adopts a holistic, multi-perspective approach to the issue of GIS effectiveness, identifying measures of effectiveness related to the fields of Information Systems (IS), Management Information Systems (MIS) and GIS. It applies these measures using the case study methodology in a small South African local authority, the Ceres Municipality.
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Soutar, Garron. "Target marketing : the geographical information systems approach." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53611.
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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Geodemographics has been used extensively as a decision-support tool in both the business sector and the market survey environment in the United States, the United Kingdom and numerous other countries. This has however not been the case in South Africa, partly because of the expense involved in capturing current and complete customer information. As an alternative to capturing all the required customer information, geodemographics has frequently made use of government census data to supplement the organisation-specific data. However, even the census data has its shortcomings. This research has explored a method for building an organisation-specific database using a combination of government census data and organisation-specific data. The organisation-specific data was captured using a questionnaire that was targeted to a specific group of people. The information obtained from the questionnaire and which overlapped with specific census data variables was then used to update the relevant census variables. Cluster analysis was subsequently conducted on the census data in order to identify enumerator areas within the Western Province that had demographic and economic characteristics similar to those of the surveyed areas. Once the appropriate enumerator areas had been identified, the organisation-specific information from the survey was extrapolated to these new areas outside of the surveyed areas. The methodology used in this research provides a process that allows organisations to build a unique geodatabase by making use of the good qualities of both the census data and user-specific data. The resulting geodatabase is one that contains current and pertinent information while also providing complete spatial coverage.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geodemografie word op groot skaal gebruik as n hulpmiddel vir die ondersteuning van besluitneming in die sakesektor en die markopname-omgewing in die Verenigde State, die Verenigde Koninkryk en talle ander lande. Dit is egter nie in Suid-Afrika die geval nie, deels as gevolg van die onkoste verbonde aan vaslegging van die jongste en volledige kliente-inligting. As n altematief vir die vaslegging van al die vereiste kliente-inligting maak geodemografie dikwels gebruik van sensusdata om data eie aan n organisasie aan te vul. Selfs sensusdata het egter tekortkominge. Hierdie navorsing het n metode ondersoek vir die opbou van n databasis eie aan n organisasie deur gebruik te maak van n kombinasie van sensusdata en data eie aan n organisasie. Die data eie aan ri organisasie is vasgele deur gebruik te maak van ri vraelys vir n spesifieke teikengroep. Die inligting wat uit die vraelys verkry is en wat met die spesifieke sensusdataveranderlikes ooreengestem het, is toe gebruik om die relevante sensusveranderlikes by te werk. Skakelingsanalise is daama op die sensusdata uitgevoer ten einde opnemerareas in die Westelike Provinsie te identifiseer wat soortgelyke demografiese en ekonomiese kenmerke gehad het as die areas waarin die vraelysopname gemaak is. Nadat die geskikte opnemerareas gei'dentifiseer is, is die inligting eie aan die organisasie uit die opname geekstrapoleer na hierdie nuwe areas buite die areas waar die opname gemaak is. Die metodologie wat in hierdie navorsing gebruik is, verskaf n metodologie wat organisasies in staat stel om n unieke geodatabasis op te bou deur gebruik te maak van die goeie eienskappe van beide die sensusdata en die data eie aan die gebruiker. Die geodatabasis wat hieruit voortspruit, is een wat die jongste en verbandhoudende inligting bevat en volledige ruimtelike dekking bied.
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Kidd, David Michael. "Applications of geographical information systems to phylogeography." Thesis, University of St Andrews, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.675412.
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Harris, Colin Malcolm. "Environmental management in Antarctica using Geographical Information Systems." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1993. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/268041.
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This dissertation examines terrestrial and near-shore marine environmental management problems in Antarctica, emphasising the potential application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Rules for environmental management in Antarctica have been agreed within the Antarctic Treaty system (ATS) and in the 1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. However, barriers exist to the implementation of environmental policies: King George Island, South Shetland Islands, where currently 8 countries operate permanent scientific stations, exhibits practical examples of the resulting problems. Designation of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) and Antarctic Specially Managed Areas (ASMAs) under the Protocol would improve management in this complex multinational context, but it is concluded these currently lack a standardised set of zones that can be applied to meet management needs. Five types of management zone are therefore proposed to define those areas with special qualities or management needs: Sensitive Areas, Scientific Areas, Tourist Areas, Facilities Areas and Historic Areas. Applying these zones within ASPAs and ASMAs could provide a local and regional planning framework to manage human activities, thus minimising potential environmental impacts and conflicts of interest. Geographical information is vital to ensuring measures are effective. Information required for management of ASP As and ASMAs could be collected, stored and coordinated at national and regional data centres, using GIS where appropriate to handle the spatial data. At an international level, an Antarctic Treaty Data Centre (ATDC) is proposed to receive and coordinate data and directories from participating national and regional centres, to establish a scientific and environmental data system, and to manage the information needed for the operation of the Treaty and its Protocol. This approach would allow environmental information to be held at the local, regional or international level at which it is most needed, and also assist the flow of information among programmes, nations and disciplines. GIS could be employed to assist development of common spatial frameworks, which facilitate the organisation and integration of spatial databases. The GIS-based Antarctic Digital Database appears to provide the coordinated framework needed at scales of 1:250,000 and smaller, but is of insufficient resolution, and does not contain the data required, to meet environmental management (and science) needs at local- regional levels - especially for -environmental assessments and monitoring. More detailed databases need to be constructed, but geographical data needs must be prioritised. The organisational aspects of GIS need to be addressed, such as international standards for spatial data quality and exchange. The ATDC, National and Regional Data Centres proposed could help meet these needs. Conflicting goals and uses in Antarctica need to be managed more deliberately than in the past, and in spite of the improvements in the Protocol, tools for practical implementation of policies at the local and regional levels, and in relation to environmental information management, are still lacking. The model reforms suggested - using GIS to handle environmental information - are designed to address these weaknesses and closely link environmental management and environmental information management and place them at the core of the ATS.
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Fischer, Manfred M. "From Conventional to Knowledge Based Geographical Information Systems." WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, 1994. http://epub.wu.ac.at/4196/1/WSG_DP_3594.pdf.
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Artificial intelligence (Al) has received an explosion of interest during the last five years in
various fields. There is no longer any question that expert systems and neural networks will
be of central importance for developing the next generation of more intelligent geographic
information systems. Such knowledge based geographic information systems will especially
play a key role in spatial decision and policy analysis related to issues such as environmental
monitoring and management, land use planning, motor vehicle navigation and distribution
logistics. This paper sketches briefly the major characteristics of conventional geographic
information systems, and then looks at some of the potentials of Al principles and techniques
in a GIS environment where emphasis is laid on expert systems and artificial neural networks
technologies and techniques. (author's abstract)Series: Discussion Papers of the Institute for Economic Geography and GIScience
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Van, Buren Thomas Sly. "Rural town geographical information systems : issues in integration." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/70648.
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Schaan, Andréa Brandelli. "Small Hydropower Resource Assessment using Geographical Information Systems." Master's thesis, Faculdade de Economia da Universidade do Porto, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10216/44716.
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Schaan, Andréa Brandelli. "Small Hydropower Resource Assessment using Geographical Information Systems." Dissertação, Faculdade de Economia da Universidade do Porto, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10216/44716.
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Germain, Richard James. "Drought management using a geographical information system." Ohio : Ohio University, 1996. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1178651687.
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Yang, Jun Carleton University Dissertation Geography. "TMDS thematic map design advisory system; for geographical information systems and electronic mapping systems." Ottawa, 1993.
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Gumos, Aleksander Karol. "Modelling the Cross-Country Trafficability with Geographical Information Systems." Thesis, Linköping University, Department of Computer and Information Science, 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-313.
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The main objectives of this work were to investigate Geographical Information Systems techniques for modelling a cross-country trafficability. To accomplished stated tasks, reciprocal relationships between the soil deposits, local hydrology, geology and geomorphology were studied in relation to the study area in South-Eastern Sweden.
Growing awareness of nowadays users of GIS in general is being concentrated on understanding an importance of soil conditions changed after cross-country trafficability. Therefore, in this thesis, constructing of the Soil Knowledge Database introduced to the genuine geological soil textural classes a new, modified geotechnical division with desirable for off-road ground reasoning measurable factors, like soil permeability, capillarity or Atterberg’s consistency limits.
Digital Elevation Model, the driving force for landscape studies in the thesis, was carefully examined together with the complementary datasets of the investigated area. Testing of the elevation data was done in association to the hydrological modelling, which resulted with the Wetness Index map. The three distinguishable soil wetness conditions: dry, moist and wet, were obtained, and used consequently for creation of the static ground conditions map, a visible medium of soils susceptibility to for example machine compaction.
The work resulted with a conceptual scheme for cross-country trafficability modelling, which was put into effect while modeling in GIS. As a final outcome, by combining all processed data together, derivatives were incorporated and draped over the rendered 3D animating scene. A visually aided simulation enabled to concretized theoretical, hypothetical and experimental outcomes into one coherent model of apprised under Multicriterial Evaluation techniques standardized factor maps for ground vehicle maneuverability. Also further steps of research were proposed.
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Murad, Abdulkader. "Applications of geographical information systems for educational facilities planning." Thesis, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.341490.
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Lidouh, Karim. "Integration of multi-criteria tools in geographical information systems." Doctoral thesis, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/209356.
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For a little over twenty years, researchers have worked on integrating multi-criteria aggregation procedures (MCAP) to GIS. Several notable contributions have brought this field to what it is today. After studying the course of MCDA-GIS integration through several works, we question the future of such an attempt. Indeed most works that aim for an integration do not survive long after their direct purpose has been fulfilled. We end up understanding through a critical review of the existing systems that technical integration means nothing if it is not visible to the user on an operational level.We therefore propose several contributions to improve the usability of MCDA methods in a geographic context. One of our works consists in adapting the PROMETHEE-GAIA methodology to be used on maps for spatially referenced problems. To do so, we define symbols/glyphs that display select parts of the results obtained through the PROMETHEE and GAIA methods. This allows for the comparison of alternatives' profiles and characteristics based on their geographic location which wasn't possible before. This adaptation helps us combine multicriteria and geographic aspects in an entirely new way.
We also propose some extensions of the GAIA method to improve the quality of the results and reduce the risk of wrong interpretations to be made due to losses of data.
Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur
info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished
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Craglia, Massimo. "Geographical Information Systems in Italian municipalities : a comparative analysis." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.337605.
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Skarlatidou, A. "Trust in web geographical information systems for public participation." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2012. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1348205/.
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Maps have a long history in the communication of spatial information, yet Web Geographical Information Systems (Web GIS) expanded map use to a wide variety of contexts and to include people who do not have knowledge of spatial and GIS issues (non- experts). This non-expert interaction with Web GIS generates Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) implications. While such HCI elements as usability attracted the attention of GIS research, additional HCI aspects, such as trust, were overlooked. The significance of trust in non-expert interaction with Web GIS becomes more apparent as these tools are used to engage the public at different levels of public participation. The public participation literature suggests that when Information and Communication Technology (ICT) mediums such as Web GIS are used to engage the public, it is essential that they improve public knowledge and trust. This thesis researches how this can be achieved, using the case of the site selection of a nuclear waste repository in the UK. Firstly, the thesis presents an HCI-based investigation of existing Web GIS applications to understand the functional and perceptual attributes that influence non-experts' trust perceptions and introduces a set of trust guidelines. These guidelines inform the development and design of the PE-Nuclear tool, a Web GIS to inform lay people about the site selection process of a nuclear waste repository in the UK. Secondly, the Mental Models approach is used to support the development of the PE-Nuclear tool's information content based on lay people's mental models, needs and expectations. Finally, the tool is evaluated to investigate separately whether the trust guidelines and the information content improve public trust and knowledge. The research findings and methodological framework provide a holistic approach for the development of Web GIS applications, which have the potential to enhance public knowledge and help non-experts develop rational trust perceptions, protecting them from unethical and inappropriate use of the technology. It is essential to further note that this research thesis supported the identification of critical gaps and methodological implications that should inform future GIS research, especially of an HCI character. Last but not least due to the multidisciplinary nature of this research, the scientific knowledge gained contributes to other fields such as Risk Communication, Public Participation, but also provides important lessons to inform the current Nuclear Waste Management Programme in the UK.
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Adamu, Abdul T. "Object modelling of temporal changes in Geographical Information Systems." Thesis, Kingston University, 2003. http://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/20707/.
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Changes in current temporally enabled GIS systems, thàt have been successfully implemented, are based on the snapshot approach which consist of sequences of discrete images. This approach does not allow either the pattern of changes to be shown or the complexities within the changes to be examined. Also the existing GIS database models cannot represent effectively the history of geographical phenomena. The aim of this research is to develop an object-oriented GIS model (OOGIS) that will represent detailed changes of geographical objects and track the evolution of objects. The detailed changes include spatial, thematic, temporal, events and processes that are involved in the changes. Those have been addressed, but not implemented, by a number of previous GIS projects. Object tracking and evolution includes not only attributes changes to homogenous objects, but also major changes that lead to transforming/destroying existing objects and creating new ones. This will allow the pattern of changes of - geographical phenomena to be examined by tracking the evolution of geographical objects. The OOGIS model was designed using an object-oriented visual modelling tool and was implemented using an object-oriented programming environment (OOPE), an object-oriented database system (OODBS). The visual modelling tool for designing the OOGIS model was Unified Modelling Language (UML), OOPE for implementing the OOGIS model was Microsoft Visual C++ and the OODBS was Objectivity/DB. The prototype of the investigation has been successfully implemented using a Case Study of Royal Borough of Kingston-Upon-Thames, in the United Kingdom. This research is addressing in particular the deficiencies in two existing GIS models that are related to this work. The fust model, the triad model, represents the spatial, thematic and temporal but fails to represent events and processes connected to the changes. The second model, the event-oriented model, though it represents the events (or processes) related to the changes, it stores the changes as attributes of the object. This model is.limited to temporal stable (static) changes and can not be applied to the evolution of geographical phenomena or changes that involve several objects sharing common . .propertíes and temporal relationships. Moreover, the model does not take into account the evolution (e.g. splitting, transformation etc) of a specific object which can involve more than changes to its attributes. Both models are not able to tackle, for instance, in situation when an object such as a park is disappearing to make way for new objects (i.e. roads and new buildings) or in situation where an agriculture piece of land becomes an industrial lot or village becomes a city. In this work the construction of a new approach which overcomes these deficiencies is presented. Also the approach take into account associations and relationships between objects such as inheritance which would be reflected in the object oriented database. For example a road can be regarded a base class from which other classes can be derived such as motorways, streets, dual roads etc which might reflect the evolution of objects ,in non-homogenous ways. The object versioning technique in this work will allow the versions of a geographical object to be related, thereby creating temporal relationships between them. It requires less data storage, since only the changes are recorded. The association between the versions allows continuous forward and backward movement within the versions, and promotes optimum query mechanisms.
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Dhingra, Nilesh. "Incident response and application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS)." Master's thesis, This resource online, 1996. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-02162010-020253/.
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Bae, Sanghoon. "Development of a real-time and geographical information system-based transit management information system." Thesis, This resource online, 1993. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11242009-020226/.
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Duckham, Matt. "Developing error handling software for object-oriented geographical information." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.301952.
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Kelly, P. D. "Environmental analysis thorugh integration of geographical information systems and machine vision systems." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.419439.
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Ma, Yuen-yan. "An evaluation of geocoding practices." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2005. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B32016049.
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Gardner, Lesley Ann. "Hypermedia for prototyping and system integration in information systems development." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 1991. http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/1126/.
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This thesis investigates information systems development with special regard to the area of Geographical Information Systems. It addresses the area through the investigation of the software life-cycle development model and its augmentation by the use of prototyping. Observations are made on empirical experiments conducted to assess the usefulness of the new techniques of hypertext and hypermedia and their suitability within this field of study. This investigation is complemented by a case study, the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Authority. The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads are designated by statute with similar status to the National Parks of Great Britain, and are managed by the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Authority. Through cooperation with the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Authority, a prototype information system was created. This system makes use of geographical data from the Broads Authority. The development stages of this system were used to conduct experiments for this thesis. The tools and techniques used for the development of this system are described. These include a hypertext tool called FIELD (Fully Integrated Environment for Layered Development) which has been especially designed for the complete storage of all information for each stage throughout this development. The use of this tool and hypertext for the development of the geographically based information system for the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Authority are discussed.
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Kuiters, Brenda. "Geographical information systems (GIS) as a tool to provide information to disadvantaged communities." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2000. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07132006-112710/.
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Rajguru, Chaitanya Shreeniwas. "Application of GIS in propagation prediction." Thesis, This resource online, 1992. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05042010-020256/.
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Kolat, Cagil. "Geographical Information Systems Based Microzonation Map Of Eskisehir Downtown Area." Master's thesis, METU, 2004. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12605410/index.pdf.
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The purpose of this study is to prepare a geotechnical microzonation map regarding the
suitability of the residential areas in EskiSehir downtown area. In order to obtain the
microzonation map, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) based Multicriteria
Decision Analysis (MCDA) is used. For this analysis, the slope, flood susceptibility, soil,
depth to groundwater table, swelling potential and liquefaction potential layers are
prepared. The weight values to the layers and rank values to the classes of each layer
are assigned by applying Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) and Analytical Hierarchical
Process (AHP) methods. Two geotechnical microzonation maps are obtained as outputs
of these methods. The study area is categorized into three different zones regarding the
foundation suitability of residential areas as: (1) Areas suitable for settlement(2) Provisional settlement areas
(3) Areas requiring detailed geotechnical investigations. The maps prepared using SAW and AHP methods are found to be consistent with each other. The geotechnical microzonation map prepared using AHP method is recommended as the final map of the study area.
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Wade, Steven David. "The development of geographical information systems for nitrate vulnerability mapping." Thesis, Coventry University, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.336455.
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Field, Kenneth Spencer. "Modelling health care utilization : an applied Geographical Information Systems approach." Thesis, University of Northampton, 1998. http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/2708/.
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This research has emanated from the geographical concerns raised by organisational change in the British National Health Service (NHS), namely the ongoing debate relating to health and health care inequalities. This thesis develops a flexible, portable and predictive model of health care utilization capable of assisting improved health care planning and analysis. In so doing it contributes to the current resurgence in medical geography. An applied approach to this research is identified which builds upon methods of modelling spatial patterns and processes in geography and the upsurge of interest in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology. In these terms, the use of GIS is central to the research; it supports construction and application of the model; facilitates a wide range of analyses; and provides a basis for visualisation and interpretation of model results. The value of modelling in analysing relationships between health inequalities and the location and allocation of health care is identified through a discussion of previous NHS policy initiatives and previous research. From this, a conceptual model of utilization is developed which incorporates components of need, accessibility and provision. A patient survey of asthmatics and diabetics informs the development of the model and validates the choice of indicators used to measure utilization. Indicators of need, accessibility and utilization are thus defined and subsequently measured using a signed chi-square scoring method. The model was developed and tested for primary care General Practitioner services in the Northampton District Health Authority area and outcome measures are proposed and evaluated. Rigorous testing of the model’s sensitivity and robustness is undertaken and potential for its simplification explored. Components are critically evaluated through a comparison with alternative methods of determining spatial inequalities in disadvantage. The potential of the model of utilization for health care planning and analysis is extensively demonstrated through the application of a variety of modelled scenarios. Emergent issues from the research are considered and potential for future geographical research in this area of study, and the impact upon research agendas more generally, is explored
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Beale, Linda Anne. "Hydrological modelling for lowland catchments : a geographical information systems approach." Thesis, Staffordshire University, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.247205.
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This research applies, evaluates and compares approaches to hydrological modelling and stream flow forecasting within a GIS environment. Three different approaches to modelling stream flow were investigated, namely; TOPMODEL, a regression approach and a GIS-based model, HydroGrid. TOPMODEL is a parametrically simple, physically-distributed model that allows the topological modelling of catchment processes. Regression modelling is a statistical technique that derives an empirical equation based on the assumption that the values of a dependent variable will depend upon the values of the independent variables. HydroGrid is a purpose-built GIS-based model for catchment modelling using the functionality that GIS offers for modelling the spatial variations of catchment characteristics. All three approaches were evaluated using readily available data for a lowland catchment, in Staffordshire, U.K. Model validation used six years of data covering the period 1991-92 through to 1996-97 - with years running from March-February. Five performance indicators were used to assess the models enabling both for detailed evaluation of the models and comparisons to be drawn with other research. The performance of the three models tested showed great similarities, with all approaches tending to over-predict stream flow. Model performance was also evaluated using three different evapotranspiration models - the Penman formula, the Crowe-irrigation method and the sine curve method. All three models performed best during wet years or wetter seasons indicating a common weakness in the accurate modelling of low stream flows. Despite similarities in performance, clear benefits of hydrological modelling within a GIS framework are identified. Overall, the results show that although the methods used here can help in daily flow modelling, there is a major need to improve methods for catchment modelling with routine data sources. An important development could be to loose-couple hydrological models with a GIS to improve their ability to use available information but also, as shown in this work, to model catchment processes directly within a GIS.
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Hobbs, Mike. "Genetic algorithms for spatial data analysis in geographical information systems." Thesis, University of Kent, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.262636.
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Brink, Ester. "Geographical information systems for environmental impact assessment : a feasibility study." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/96143.
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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study acknowledges the status quo in South Africa as a country in transformation. Leaders concur that people live under the spell of the evil triplets of poverty, inequality and unemployment amidst the need for development and economic growth. In order to initiate positive change, the 1996 Constitution of South Africa supports integrated environmental management (IEM) and sustainability principles towards ecological, economic and social compromise. Furthermore, the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) was legislated in 1996 along with the mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA) tool in 1998. Despite this legislation being of global standards, current discourse highlights the need for new strategies and tools to improve IEM. The constraint lies in the implementation of policy as the EIA process is limited by inconsistency and project specific focus. Fortuitously technology has developed to levels where web-based tools encourage spatial awareness and individual responsibility for the environment. Usage of participative GIS supported by best practice in governance has the potential to successfully drive IEM. This research builds on the integration of a policy instrument (EIA), spatial technology (GIS), development and human factors (people) as pillars of transdisciplinary methodology to collaborate and gather new information to expand knowledge and augment existing processes. The study objectives required rigorous research and involved a wide range of participants in a feasibility study to provide details of the viability of integrating GIS usage into EIA conduct in South Africa. Participants in the research were selected from the geographical scope of Cape Town and represent involved parties in EIA and potential users of GIS in EIA. The legislative scope is the Western Cape Province. Triangulation, a mixed method approach, was employed to collect and collate qualitative and quantitative information based on the opinions of involved parties in the IEM, EIA and GIS domains. Primary data collection methods included observation, fieldwork, informal, formal and focus group discussions as well as an e-mail questionnaire and a Likert scale e-survey. The knowledge gained was evaluated using SWOT and graphics. The findings indicated that the majority of participants agreed that technology and skills are available to design and develop a web-based application for GIS usage in EIA. However, from the outcome of the study the main challenge is not related to technical skills and capacity, but to align the EIA with IEM sustainability principles for effective decision making and self-regulation. It is therefore envisaged that web-based GIS usage in EIA based on IEM has the potential to reconnect the EIA process by uniting people in knowledge with easy access to information from a central data base repository to an on-line web-based platform that links time and space to inform decision making.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die uitgangspunt van hierdie studie is dat Suid-Afrika 'n land in transformasie is en die behoefte aan ontwikkeling en ekonomiese groei van kardinale belang is weens die armoede, ongelykheid en werkloosheid waaronder baie mense lei. Effektiewe omgewingsbestuur is uiters belangrik om omgewingsbesoedeling en agteruitgang te verhoed. Ten einde 'n positiewe verandering te inisieer, ondersteun die 1996 Grondwet van Suid-Afrika geïntegreerde omgewingsbestuur (GOB) en volhoubaarheidsbeginsels teenoor ekologiese, ekonomiese en sosiale kompromie. Die 1996 Nasionale Wet op Omgewingsbestuur (NEMA) het die omgewingsimpakstudie (OIS)-instrument in 1998 verpligtend verklaar. Die OIS wetgewing is gebaseer op hoë internasionale standaarde, maar ten spyte hiervan beklemtoon die huidige diskoers die behoefte aan nuwe strategieë om OIS in die praktyk effektief te belyn met die GOB beleid. Tans word die OIS proses beperk deur teenstrydigheid tussen gebruikers van die proses sowel as projekspesifieke fokus. Tegnologie het ontwikkel tot 'n vlak waar webgebaseerde GIS ruimtelike bewustheid aanmoedig en individuele verantwoordelikheid vir die omgewing aanbeveel en ondersteun word. Deelnemende GIS, ondersteun deur goeie regering, het die potensiaal om OIS en GOB suksesvol in die praktyk te implementer. Hierdie navorsing bou voort op die integrasie van 'n beleidsinstrument (OIS), ruimtelike tegnologie (GIS) asook ontwikkeling en menslike faktore (mense) en ondersteun die transdissiplinêre metodologie om nuwe inligtig te versamel en vryelik te deel. Die studiedoelwitte het streng navorsingsmetodologie vereis deur 'n wye verskeidenheid van deelnemers te betrek in 'n ondersoek na die haalbaarheid van die integrasie van GIS gebruik in OIS in Suid-Afrika. Deelnemers aan die navorsing is gekies uit die geografiese domein van Kaapstad en was betrokke partye in omgewingsbestuur en potensiële gebruikers van GIS in OIS. Die wetgewende domein is die Wes-Kaap. 'n Gemengde-metode benadering is gevolg om kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe inligting te versamel en was gebaseer op die menings van die betrokke partye in die IEM, OIE en GIS terreine. Die kennis is geëvalueer met behulp van SWOT analise en grafika. Die bevindinge dui aan dat die meerderheid van die deelnemers saamstem dat tegnologie en vaardigheid beskikbaar is om 'n program vir GIS-gebruik in OIS te ontwikkel. Die uitslag van die studie dui daarop dat die grootste uitdaging vir effektiewe besluitneming en self-regulering nie verband hou met tegniese vaardighede en kapasiteit nie, maar om die OIS te verenig met GOB-volhoubaarheid beginsels. Die vooruitsig is dus dat web-gebaseerde GIS gebruik in OIS gebaseer op GOB die potensiaal het om mense met kennis te verenig en omgewingsbestuur effektief in te lig.
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Shi, Yuji. "The improvement of bus networks based on geographical information systems." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2017. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/413813/.
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The current regulatory and planning environment means that road-based public transport in UK urban areas (with the exception of London) tends to be planned on a piecemeal basis, and there are often conflicts between the needs and priorities of operators, passengers and planners. In consequence, several local authorities are considering adopting an alternative regulatory environment using quality contracts, with a consequent shift towards centralised service planning. There are though no tools readily available to ensure this centralised service planning will lead to a situation which provides a better balance between the interests of the different stakeholders. This thesis describes the development of a methodology to fill this gap, using Southampton as a case study to diagnose issues with its current bus network, and to explore the corresponding improvement methods which could be applied based on the alternative regulatory environment. Gravity-based accessibility levels from population-weighted centroids of postcodes to key services were calculated as an indicator to measure the performance of the current bus network in Southampton. Based on the accessibility analysis, service improvements, including both route planning and frequency setting, can be developed for the Southampton bus system under the alternative regulatory environment. This service improvement problem is then solved by making use of an optimisation technique, the tabu search algorithm, developed under the environment of ArcObjects for Java. The methodology described above has been shown to work well for the Southampton case study, and the outputs from the optimisation model indicate that the model can deliver a bus network which provides a higher level of accessibility under the alternative regulatory environment. While the methodology is developed in the UK context, the general principles used could be applied more widely to improve transit network planning.
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Walsund, Emelie. "Geographical Information Systems as a Tool in Sustainable Urban Development." Thesis, Malmö högskola, Fakulteten för kultur och samhälle (KS), 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-21018.
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Sustainable development has been in focus since late 1980’s and the Brundtland report Our Common Future. But the lack of a detailed common definition of sustainability makes the work for a sustainable urban development difficult. This literature review examines how Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS) and Decision Support Systems (DSS) can be used as tools to help achieve sustainable urban development with focus on the environmental aspect of sustainability. By reviewing former research within the subjects of GIS, RS, DSS and sustainable urban development, the wide potential of how to use GIS, RS and DSS in urban planning are presented. GIS and RS can be used to plan for water usage, actions to decrease air pollution and climate change adaption, and combined with a DSS, the software can help decision makers in the process of planning. Suggestion made are to implement the GIS and DSS early in the planning process, and to base action plan goals on what is realistic, in areas that are in greatest need of sustainability initiatives. There are vast amounts of research made within the subject of DSS and sustainable development, but there is a lack of consensus among the DSS developed, and many stays on the prototype level due to e.g. lack of data and hard to use software. Similar implications are experienced within the subject of GIS and sustainable development, but there are great potential of succeed, when the knowledge of GIS and DSS are spreading among planners and sustainability workers. One of the most important tasks of GIS users today is to inform and develop GIS to be more user friendly and easy to access data.
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Webb, Amy. "Geographical Information Systems as a Tool for Non-Profit Organizations." The University of Arizona, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/552682.
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Sustainable Built Environments Senior CapstoneThe study is on non-profit organizations use of data to analyze and plan projects. It looks at Geographical Information Systems as a tool that could benefit organizations in their data management, project creation, and community collaboration. Case study research was used to analyze three different tree maps created by non-profit organizations. The case studies looked specifically at the organizations’ use of GIS in the data management, project creation, and community collaboration aspects of the maps. By looking at these aspects, it was concluded that GIS is a beneficial tool for non-profit organizations, even on the most basic level. As the organizations become more financially able to afford better software, the GIS capabilities become more beneficial. Non-profits should try to incorporate GIS at any level into their organization.
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Hammam, Yasser, and n/a. "Geographical vector agents." University of Otago. Department of Information Science, 2008. http://adt.otago.ac.nz./public/adt-NZDU20080404.150839.
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Simulating geographic phenomena in a realistic and plausible way requires real-world entities to be abstracted based on the dynamic physical characteristics they exhibit, and treated as individuals in a simulation domain. These processes cannot be adequately supported by the traditional spatial model based on cellular-space such as Cellular Automata (CA). Although this approach has received a great attention as a most favoured technique for simulating the geographic phenomena from different aspects, the need for a generic spatial model to overcome the limitations encountered in such an approach has been raised. This applies particularly to the way real-world entities are represented in a simulation domain regarding their physical characteristics and temporal aspects.
In this thesis, a new computational approach for a spatial model suitable for simulating geographic phenomena is presented: the vector agents model. The vector agent is goal-oriented, adaptable, physically defined by an Euclidean geometry and able to change its own geometric characteristics while interacting with other agents in its neighbourhood using a set of rules. The agent is modelled with sensor, state, and strategies. The successful implementation of the model�s architecture allows the representation of the physical characteristics of real-world entities and to observe their complex and dynamic behaviour in a simulation domain. Vector agents have developed out of a need to create a systematic basis for the geometric components of Geographic Automata Systems (GAS), as outlined by Torrens and Benenson (2005).
A generic vector agents model was built, then tested and validated from different aspects, from which results demonstrated the model�s efficiency. It is confirmed that vector agents are flexible in producing different complex shapes and patterns for recreating real geographic phenomena through the generic use of three algorithms of geometric manipulation: midpoint displacement by using the relaxed Brownian Motion (fractal-like) algorithm, edge displacement and vertex displacement. The effectiveness of this was initially ascertained visually. A simple heuristic to govern shape growth rate and complexity was derived based on the interplay of the three algorithms. There was a further abstract model comparison against the cellular-agents environment, with the result that vector agents have the ability to emerge patterns similar to what can be produced by cellular-agents with the advantage of representing entities as individuals with their own attributes with realistic geometric boundaries. On the other hand, the city as a complex geographic phenomenon was used as a specific domain for validating the model with a real-world system. The results of the urban land use simulations (driven by simple rules based on three classical urban theories) confirmed that: (a) the model is flexible enough to incorporate various external rules based on real-world systems and (b) the model has a sufficient capability in emerging a variety of patterns under several environments close to actual patterns. The agent environment also proved to be an effective way of easily combining the rules associated with each urban theory (different agents behaved according to different theories). Finally, limitations raised through the development of this work are addressed leading to outline possible extensions of both model computation and the domain of applications.
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Tecim, Vahap. "A geographical information systems based decision support system for tourism planning and development." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.387436.
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Ayhan, Saglam. "Developing A Geographical Information System For The Gallipoli Campaign." Master's thesis, METU, 2005. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12606263/index.pdf.
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Geographical Information System (GIS) is a very powerful technique which is used in solving different problems in various fields dealing with spatial information. It can also be used for analyzing wars and campaign. Today’
s modern armies use GIS effectively for different purposes such as determining strategic points and planning attack and defense. GIS can also be used for past wars, and historical GIS includes these kinds of applications. In this study, GIS have been used for analyzing Gallipoli Campaign in the First World War. This campaign started in February on 1915 and Allied troops left the Gallipoli Peninsula on 9th January 1916. Gallipoli Campaign have very important role in Turkish and World history. This study includes two different parts about Gallipoli Campaign. In the first part, selected battles of the campaign are analyzed with different GIS functions. Selected battles are Naval, Ariburnu, Conkbayiri, and 2nd Kirte Battles, and they are selected based on the availability of graphic and attribute data. In the second part, relationship between martyrs and locations are studied. Distributions of the number of soldiers for different criteria, such as province, district, soldier rank, death location and age are shown on maps and pie charts.
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Turkmendag, Gokce. "Web Based Geographical Information Systems For Middle East Technical University Campus." Master's thesis, METU, 2009. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12610592/index.pdf.
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Middle East Technical University (METU) campus has such an extensive area that reaching the necessary information which affects campus life, such as the locations of the buildings, classrooms, computer labs, and etc. may be very difficult for anyone who does not know the campus well, and even for a student, personnel or a graduate who had a long time in the campus. An interactive campus map and a database structure related to this map which can be accessed by multiple types of users on the Internet can display this information with its geographical locations, and will reduce the "difficulty for reaching information"
widely. For this purpose, data of METU were collected from various sources, edited, organized, and inserted into data tables. An interactive campus map displaying the locations of the physical structures and facilities in the campus was created in Scalable Vector Grapics (SVG) standard, and published on the Internet. By JavaScript functions, the map can be browsed with map navigation tools, including zoom in, zoom out, move and information buttons, and layers control. There is a search section on the user interface, which allows users make queries to find building and classroom names, and list the buildings and facilities according to their usage and category types. Data are stored in PostgreSQL database, transmitted through PHP scripts, and can be edited by authorized users through the specialized web interfaces. Lastly, web-based implementation of the application is entirely based on open-source standards.
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Storie, Christopher D. "Assessing the role of geographical information systems (GIS) in the classroom." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape4/PQDD_0015/MQ53275.pdf.
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Wood, Graham John. "Auditing and modelling environmental impact assessment errors using geographical information systems." Thesis, Oxford Brookes University, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.364099.
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Foley, Ronan. "The application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to health care planning." Thesis, University of Brighton, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.324396.
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Goonetilleke, Ashantha. "Use of geographical information systems for hydrological evaluation and urban planning." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 1998.
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Darnell, Amii Rebecca. "Application of geographical information systems to lahar hazard assessment on an active volcanic system." Thesis, University of East Anglia, 2010. https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/47533/.
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Lahars (highly dynamic mixtures of volcanic debris and water) have been responsible for some of the most serious volcanic disasters and have killed tens of thousands of people in recent decades. Despite considerable lahar model development in the sciences, many research tools have proved wholly unsuitable for practical application on an active volcanic system where it is difficult to obtain field measurements. In addition, geographic information systems are tools that offer a great potential to explore, model and map hazards, but are currently under-utilised for lahar hazard assessment. This research pioneered a three-tiered approach to lahar hazard assessment on Montserrat, West Indies. Initially, requirements of potential users of lahar information (scientists and decision-makers) were established through interview and evaluated against attainable modelling outputs (given flow type and data availability). Subsequently, a digital elevation model, fit for modelling lahars, was used by a path of steepest descent algorithm and a semi-empirical debris-flow model in the prediction of lahar routes and inundation areas. Limitations of these established geographical information system (GIS) based models, for predicting the behaviour of (relatively under-studied) dilute lahars, were used to inform key parameters for a novel model, also tightly coupled to a GIS, that simulated flow routes based on change in velocity. Importantly, uncertainty in model predictions was assessed through a stochastic simulation of elevation error. Finally, the practical utility of modelling outputs (visualisations) was assessed through mutual feedback with local scientists. The new model adequately replicated past flow routes and gave preliminary predictions for velocities and travel times, thus providing a short-term lahar hazard assessment. Inundation areas were also mapped using the debris-flow model to assist long-term planning. Ultimately, a GIS can support ‘on the ground’ planning decisions, but efficacy is limited by an active volcanic system which can restrict feedback to and from end-users.
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Siebert, Stefan. "Analysis of arid agricultural systems using quantitative image analysis, modeling and geographical information systems." Kassel : Kassel Univ. Press, 2006. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0002-1929.
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Siebert, Stefan. "Analysis of arid agricultural systems using quantitative image analysis, modeling and geographical information systems." Kassel Kassel Univ. Press, 2005. http://deposit.d-nb.de/cgi-bin/dokserv?idn=982924984.
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Ngqongwa, Abongile. "Small-scale fisheries governance in South Africa using information management systems." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15586.
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Conventional management approaches, focused primarily on stock status and top-down driven regulatory measures, such as are employed in many commercial fisheries across the globe, have proven to be inadequate in managing small-scale fisheries and have contributed to marginalisation of this sector. In South Africa, small-scale fisheries have been increasingly recognised since the abolishment of Apartheid and the advent of democracy in 1994. Nevertheless, the management approaches implemented have been largely top-down, natural science-driven and single-species approach. South Africa's fishery sector is currently going through a historic moment where all small-scale fishers are awaiting implementation of a new Small-Scale Fisheries Policy that will see it endorsing the holistic, multi-species and people-centred approach and the recognition of local and indigenous knowledge of fisheries and addressing the complex socio-economic needs of the fishers. However, in order to implement this policy using a co-management and EAF approach, Government and fishing communities will need to set up the required information-gathering and monitoring tool that would be in line with the principles and objectives of the South African Small-Scale Fisheries Policy as careful assessment of social and economic outcomes of fisheries policies is required to support and sustain livelihoods of these fishers. A proper information management system (IMS) would further ensure that the new approaches to small-scale fisheries management are practical and effective in managing this sector. In investigating the small-scale fisheries information management system, the researcher conceptualised and designed an IMS and further conducted case studies by analysing and work-shopping results of analysed catch data recorded by an independent service provider to Doringbaai small-scale fishers, and analysed catch data of East Coast Rock Lobster in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Based on the results of the conceptualised and designed IMS and that of the analysed catch data, it is clear that there is a need for the IMS to be converted into a web-based system and further accommodate more indicators that would assist in equipping fishers and fisheries authorities with relevant decision-making. It is also clear that there is a need for an urgent overhaul in how catch data is gathered and packaged as there were numerous errors in the data that could affect how small-scale fisheries should be managed. One of the interventions urgently needed is implementation of an electronic data capturing and instant synchronisation of data into the IMS which would present live data through a web interface customised per user type. Such tool would improve the current management measures and further contribute to improving governance of small-scale fisheries when the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy is implemented.
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Gulden, Birsen. "A Geographical Information System Application For Ambulance Routing Services:a Prototype." Master's thesis, METU, 2004. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/2/12605085/index.pdf.
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In public safety, geography plays a significant role. One of the most important front-line elements of public safety is an efficient emergency transport and care system. The capacity to access and process information rapidly and organize resources where needed can be critically important in an emergency situation. Information about the locality of an event or a disaster is often vital in knowing how to respond. A significant operation in handling emergency situations is the routing of ambulances to incident sites and then to the closest appropriate hospitals. One of the important steps to survival in an emergency is quick response time.
The aim of this thesis study is to build an immediate, rapid and efficient emergency medical transport system prototype, called Ambulance Routing Service Application Prototype (ARSAP), to be used in Middle East Technical University
(METU) Emergency Service, Ankara, Turkey. In the study, geographical information systems (GIS) technology is used in assisting the development and implementation of an emergency medical service (EMS) response system.
In this prototype, while choosing a proper facility, the available quantity of beds, respiratory equipments and doctors in a hospital's intensive care room and the best traffic routes to the hospital in hand are also considered. The ARSAP is expected to shorten the commuting time and hence to reduce the damage to the patient to the lowest level and allow the ambulance staff to perform their task better. The results generated using the ARSAP are validated and analyzed by comparing with currently practiced emergency call paths data collected with the help of METU Emergency Service ambulance drivers.
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Sharfman, Jonathan. "The Oosterland GIS : applying aspects of geographical information systems to maritime archaeological project." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22081.
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Bibliography: pages 191-198. volume 1, thesis. volume II, appendices.The ancestors of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were first developed in the early 1960's as a computer mapping mechanism but with the development of the Canada Geographical Information System the base was set for a powerful spatial analytical tool that could be used in a wide range of applications from business through to map analysis and archaeology. GIS have been used in terrestrial archaeology with success for a number of years and have started to move into the maritime archaeological field, however, little has been published on the use of GIS in the regard to the latter. On 24 May 1697, the VOC retourschip, Oosterland, was wrecked in Table Bay off Paarden Eiland, Cape Town, South Africa. With its discovery by sport divers in 1988, an ideal opportunity represented itself for the first scientific excavation of a shipwreck in southern Africa. With the development of the project, it was decided that GIS would be applied to surveyed artefacts recovered over the first fieldwork seasons. Early efforts, in 1991 and 1994, set up a GIS for this site that succeeded in plotting and mapping artefact groups selected by the user but failed in creating a system through which advanced spatial analysis could be undertaken. Because of the simplicity of the 1991 and 1994 versions of the Oosterland GIS and the fact that the format of analysis was changed from the ARCJINFO to ArcView GIS, it was necessary to re-enter all of the data. This was achieved by creating tables in the Tables feature of ArcView that contained x and y positions for all of the surveyed artefacts. Positioning of artefacts was achieved through a True Basic program that converted on-site tape measurements into map co-ordinates. Other features included in these tables were artefact numbers, names, a classification and a description of each artefact created specifically for use in this system. Once data had been captured it was plotted and spatial analysis that hoped to test the viability and accuracy of the system was performed. These tests included the orientation of the wreck on the sea floor, and assigning ownership of personal trade items within the artefact assemblage to specific people or areas on board the ship. Tests also examined the position of artefacts whose place on the working vessel were known from historical documentation and related them to other artefacts present in their immediate neighbourhoods. This system appears to possess the potential for being a powerful analytical tool which can be easily updated to include more advanced analysis and adapted to incorporate other wreck sites. Finally, this system has enormous potential as an educational tool that can be used to raise awareness of the importance of historically significant wrecks.
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Parsley, Scott. "Methodologies for distributed and higher dimensional geographic information." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/462.
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In today's digital era, cartography has changed its role, from that of a pure visual model of the Earth's surface, to an interface to other spatial and aspatial information. Along with this, representationa nd manipulation of graphical information in three-dimensional space is required for many applications. Problems and difficulties must be overcome in order to facilitate the move to three-dimensional models, multimedia, and distributed data. Can accurate measurements, at sufficient resolution, and using affordable resources be obtained? Will application software usefully process, in all aspects, models of the real world, sounds, and videos? Combined with this, the workplace is becoming distributed, requiring applications and data that can be used across the globe as easily as in the office. A distributed, three-dimensional, GIS is required with all the procedural and recording functionality of current two-dimensional systems. Such a GIS would maintain a model, typically comprised of solids of individual buildings, roads, utilities etc. with both external and internal detail, represented on a suitable digital terrain model. This research examines virtual reality software as part of an answer. Alternatively, can technologies such as HTML, VRML, and scripting, along with object-orientation and open systems, allow for the display and interrogation of networked data sets? The particular application of this technology, considered during this research, is the need for accurate reconstruction of historical urban monuments. The construction, manipulation, and exploration of these models is often referred to as virtual heritage. This research constructs an innovative and resource effective methodology, the Phoenix algorithm, which requires only a single image for creating three-dimensional models of buildings at large scale. The development of this algorithm is discussed and the results obtained from it are compared with those obtained using traditional three-dimensional capture techniques. Furthermore, possible solutions to the earlier questions are given and discussed.
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Dauncey, David Gideon. "Contemporary technology for the management of large scale spatial information." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.317858.
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Winning, Herbert Keith. "Application and development of advanced engineering geographical information systems for pipeline design." Thesis, Coventry University, 2015. http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/4e581e2a-9d09-4b76-ace2-d76d22354719/1.
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This thesis proposes the use of an Advanced Engineering Geographical Information System (AEGIS) for the improved design of onshore pipelines, from concept to operation. The system is novel in that it is function rather than discipline or software specific. The thesis statement has been developed, and an aim and set of research objectives identified (along with the success criteria for the evaluation of the system), based on a review of current pipeline design methods. Drawing on a design science research methodology (DSRM), the thesis proposes the development of the system as an artefact in order to validate the proposed constructs, models, methods and implementations. The thesis discusses the underlying issues of data interoperability, the application of open data standards, and the integration of computer aided design (CAD) and geographical information systems (GIS). These challenges are addressed in the thesis and demonstrated through the implementation of the system. To support the development of the system, research was undertaken in the fields of pipeline engineering, environmental engineering and engineering design. As part of this research, a number of peer-reviewed journal papers were published, and conference papers presented in Kampala, Houston, London and Split. These papers covered the key fields contained in the thesis including, fluid mechanics, bio-systems engineering, environmental engineering, CAD/GIS integration (CGI), and the application and development of geospatial pipeline data models. The thesis concludes that the approach is valid, offering significant improvement across all fields compared to the current method of pipeline design. By taking a functional approach to the challenges of the design of pipelines, a system has been developed that addresses the requirements of the pipeline engineer, environmental engineer and engineering designer. The system enables the user to select the software of their choice, thereby reducing the problems associated with data interoperability, retraining and system integration. The sharing of data and outputs from analysis carried out within the system, provides an integrated approach, which can subsequently be used for the integrity management of the pipeline during the operational phase of the project. The scope for further development of this approach to pipeline design is also discussed. In addition to the inclusion of further engineering and environmental analysis, there is the potential for using the system for the design of subsea pipelines.