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Geographical Information Systems as Environmental, Landscape, and Urban Planning and Research Tools. Romania as a Case Study

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Space and Time Visualisation

Abstract

Geographical information systems are decision support systems composed of hardware, software, data, methods, and users. Their main ability is to relate objects from different layers based on their spatial relationship. This chapter attempts to emphasize the goal-oriented definition of GIS in order to show when its use is a “must”, when other tools perform better, and its main limitation, exploring planning and research, with a special focus on the Romanian experience. The results indicate that the use of GIS can be strengthened in conjunction with statistical tools, but this combination is more appropriate in research; in planning, participatory tools should be used instead. Also, a GIS is unable to prove spatial causality unless hypotheses have been stated before and the experiments control for extraneous variables.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, str. Academiei nr. 18-20, sector 1, cod 010014, Bucharest, Romania

    Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor (Ph.D.(Ecology),Ph.D.(Geography),Habil.(Urban Planning)

  2. National Institute for Research and Development in Constructions, Urbanism and Sustainable Spatial Development URBAN-INCERC, sos. Pantelimon nr. 266, sector 2, cod 021652, Bucharest, Romania

    Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor (Ph.D.(Ecology),Ph.D.(Geography),Habil.(Urban Planning)

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Correspondence to Alexandru-Ionuţ Petrişor .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. "Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning, Bucharest, Romania

    Maria Boştenaru Dan

  2. Urban and Landscape Design, "Ion Mincu" University of Architecture and Urban Planning, Bucharest, Romania

    Cerasella Crăciun

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Petrişor, AI. (2016). Geographical Information Systems as Environmental, Landscape, and Urban Planning and Research Tools. Romania as a Case Study. In: Boştenaru Dan, M., Crăciun, C. (eds) Space and Time Visualisation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24942-1_14

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