The research plan of the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Abstract

In August 1988 the U.S. National Science Board established a National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis. This paper, which is adapted from the proposal of the successful consortium, describes a multi-year research agenda built around the recognition of impediments to the successful application of geographical information systems technology. The impediments range in nature from technical to institutional and are organized into five major areas: spatial analysis and spatial statistics, spatial databases, artificial intelligence and expert systems, visualization, and social and economic issues. The Center's research programme consists of a series of initiatives in specific areas, which are designed to last for periods of up to two years and to address the removal of recognized impediments.