INTEGRATING URBAN INFORMATION-SYSTEMS AND SPATIAL MODELS

The evolution of spatial and nonspatial information systems is rapidly altering the role of applied computing in urban and regional planning. Urban development tracking and monitoring systems are in place in many regions in the United States and Canada. These systems provide continual status reports on land-use activity. Also, spatial interaction models are being developed for several major cities in the United States. The corollary collection of many types of spatial information has been impressive. The US Census will produce TIGER geo-referenced files with the 1990 census, and information will be widely available on CD-ROM disks. In this paper current trends in the development of new data sources, information systems, and spatial modelling are discussed and the potential for integrating these elements into a working planning-support system is discussed.