Spatial Analysis and Modeling: Advances and Evolution

Abstract

This review is based on a plenary lecture delivered at a recent annual meeting of the American Association of Geographers, sponsored by the Spatial Analysis and Modeling specialty group. This group began around 1979 as Mathematical Models & Quantitative Methods, with a subsequent name change in 2000 to better reflect the maturing interests and concerns of members. Some twenty years down the road, advances in computing, methods, and models across academic disciplines have brought about many advances and evolution in capabilities. This article discusses a number of important spatial analytical methods with the intent of highlighting understanding and solution. Further, this is based upon development efforts rooted in the fundamentals of GIScience and spatial data science. Three spatial analytical approaches are reviewed, offering insight regarding evolved capabilities. Of particular emphasis is the ability to take advantage of derived geographic knowledge in order to structure, solve, and apply these methods.