Spatial group choice: a SDSS tool for collaborative spatial decisionmaking

Abstract

Current trends in modern organizations towards flatter structures and the involvement of many stakeholder groups in solving spatial decision problems have created a need for information technology capable of supporting collaborative spatial decision-making. Such information technology has developed in recent years for the computerized support of group decision-making aimed at solving business problems, e.g., market strategies, corporate planning, product development, and others. Similar information technology to support group decisionmaking aimed at solving spatial decision problems, e.g., site selection, choice of environmental and economic strategies, and urban/regional development, are now beginning to appear in the research literature. GIS, often designed for spatial decision support, have lacked a capability to collate interests and interactions to support collaborative spatial decision-making. As a step towards addressing this void, we present a spatial decision support system for groups (SDSS-G) called Spatial Group Choice. A spatial problem focusing on prioritizing habitat site development is used as a backdrop to present the design and development issues. We discuss the technical and social-oriented design guidelines adopted for the development of Spatial Group Choice using a framework that characterizes meetings in terms of spatial-temporal dimensionality. We then describe the design and implementation of Spatial Group Choice, including a 'tour' of the software, using a habitat restoration decision problem. We conclude with issues unresolved and prospects for future development.