Quantitative Methods and Applications in GIS

Quantitative Methods and Applications in GIS integrates GIS, spatial analysis, and quantitative methods to address various issues in socioeconomic studies and public policy. Methods range from basic regression analysis to advanced topics such as linear programming and system of equations. Applications vary from typical themes in urban and regional analysis - trade area analysis, accessibility measures, analysis of regional growth patterns, land use simulation - to issues related to crime and health analyses. The book covers common tasks such as distance and travel time estimation, spatial smoothing and interpolation, and accessibility measures. It also covers the major issues that are encountered in spatial analysis including modifiable areal unit problems, rate estimate of rare events in small populations, and spatial autocorrelation. Each chapter has one subject theme, introduces the method (or a group of related methods) most relevant to the theme, and then uses case studies to implement the method in a GIS environment.