Analizy przestrzenne w systemach informacji georgaficznej

Systemy GIS spełniają wiele funkcji, z których najczęściej wykorzystywane i uznawane za najważniejsze są funkcje związane z zapisywaniem informacji przestrzennej, jej wyszukiwaniem i identyfikacją oraz prezentacją. Nie mniej interesujące dla kartografow są funkcje działające na wyższym poziomie wykorzystania GIS, związane z bardziej złożonymi sposobami przetwarzania informacji przestrzennej, które można określić jako analizy przestrzenne. W atrykule omówiono metody analizy przestrzennej w GIS w kontekście kartograficznej metody badań oraz kartografii analitycznej.

Maps are basic tools in many branches dealing with geographic space; map analysis belongs to primary research methods of natural science. These methods, which are a part of "cartographic research method" (K.A. Salishchev 1955), include: description basing on a visual analysis of a map, graphic methods, grapho-analytical methods, cartometry, morphometry, mathematical analysis methods, statistical methods and information theory methods (A.M. Berlant 1978). In American cartography, W.R.Tobler started so called "analytical cartography" which bases on quantitative, mathematical and statistical relations between geographical phenomena. It covers basic cartographic issues: transformations of map projections, transformations of point, linear and spatial objects, affinical transformations, transformations of statistical surfaces and structure of map data as well as volumetric transformations (J.-C. Muller 1991, A.J.Kimerling 1989, K.C. Clarke 1998, H. Moellering 2000). Data transformation is performed by computer systems, mainly geographical information systems, which are considered to be the natural successor of the methods of spatial phenomena analysis (P.A. Longley et al. 2001), known from cartographic research method. The main difference between cartographic research method and analytical cartography lies in scopee of research. The first concentrates mainly on formal aspect of methods and interpretation of results, the second stresses basic problems and terms of the field. The character of computer systems changed the approach to methods and rules of parameter assignment. Analytical cartography is currently linked to a new scientific discipline connected to spatial information systems "Geographic Information Science" (D. Mark 2000, H. Moellering 2000). In GIS there exist many methods of data transformation, basing on various principles, which are specified in software manuals and GIS handbooks. They can be divided into several groups, differing in complexity and character of operation. These metgod are described in the article. Application of various types of analyses and operations in GIS systems is labeled "cartographic modeling" (C.D. Tomlin 1990, J. Delaney 1999); it can refer to physical as well as socio-economic phenomena. It depends on phenomena models, which simultaneously take into account apatial and functional aspects. The models can be of explanative or predictive character. All methods, which traditionally belonged to cartographical research method can now be realized with GIS. When used properly, they can add to its development.