The effective use of the vast resources of geographic information available today requires more than the use of advanced and powerful technology to solve problems. It requires the scientific thinking that will allow us to understand how the world works and will help us develop effective processes for decision-making.
The three previous editions of this book have established it as one of the most comprehensive interdisciplinary textbooks for the foundation and use of geographic information technologies in problem-solving.

This fourth edition is an extensively revised and fully updated guide to the scientific principles and modern geographic information systems, covering all the basic methods of analysis and the ways in which effective management of geographic information can be applied to shaping policies and actions.