An application of fuzzy logic reasoning for GIS temporal modeling of dynamic processes

The analysis and modeling of dynamic processes require the consideration of both spatial and temporal attributes of data and their integration into a GIS database. However, current GIS raster databases have severe limitations related to the temporal component of data. Data are generally stored through a series of snapshot layers associated to particular instants in time. If the interval between two consecutive snapshots is too long the essential information about the change may remain undetected. In this study, spatio-temporal interpolation based on fuzzy logic theory was applied in order to model the missing information about change that happened between consecutive snapshots. Three different scenarios of rural-to-urban landuse transformation were conceived to simulate different dynamics of change using module FUZZY-TEMP integrated in the GRASS4.1 environment. The obtained results were validated through a comparison of the urban boundaries obtained from aerial photographs and those which were generated using the proposed methodology. The results confirm the potential of the approach to produce realistic simulations of the dynamics of the urbanization process. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.