Progress reports, GIS: the accuracy of spatial data revisited
Progress reports, GIS: the accuracy of spatial data revisited
Thematic maps have a central and often unquestioned role in geographical information systems (GIS) (Woodcock and Gopal, 2000). They are one of the most common ways of representing spatial data and are unsurprisingly, therefore, a common input and output of analyses undertaken in GIS. They are, however, only a model or simplification and hence a flawed representation of reality. Consequently, it is important that the quality of thematic maps is evaluated and expressed in a meaningful way so that their suitability for use may be assessed. This is important not only in providing a guide to the quality of a map and its fitness for a particular purpose but also in understanding error and its likely implications, especially if allowed to propagate through analyses linking the thematic map to other data sets. Unfortunately, for many geospatial data sets there is commonly a lack of information on data quality and what exists is often poorly communicated (Johnston and Timlin, 2000). The quality of spatial data sets is a very broad issue that may relate to a variety of properties (Worboys, 1998) but with thematic maps the property of interest is typically map accuracy. The accuracy of spatial data sets has long been an important issue in GIS and has been the focus of considerable research, particularly since the influential book by Goodchild and Gopal (1989). As accuracy remains a major research topic and issue of concern to many researchers, it seems pertinent to revisit the topic of accuracy, especially that of thematic maps. For instance, it is apparent that considerable development is required in the methods of accuracy assessment (Scepan, 1999) particularly as the accuracy of thematic maps is one of the greatest limitations to many users (Guisan and Zimmermann, 2000).
389-398
Foody, G.M.
06e50027-603d-4a5b-88f5-af2bb6235a37
2001
Foody, G.M.
06e50027-603d-4a5b-88f5-af2bb6235a37
Foody, G.M.
(2001)
Progress reports, GIS: the accuracy of spatial data revisited.
Progress in Physical Geography, 25 (3), .
Abstract
Thematic maps have a central and often unquestioned role in geographical information systems (GIS) (Woodcock and Gopal, 2000). They are one of the most common ways of representing spatial data and are unsurprisingly, therefore, a common input and output of analyses undertaken in GIS. They are, however, only a model or simplification and hence a flawed representation of reality. Consequently, it is important that the quality of thematic maps is evaluated and expressed in a meaningful way so that their suitability for use may be assessed. This is important not only in providing a guide to the quality of a map and its fitness for a particular purpose but also in understanding error and its likely implications, especially if allowed to propagate through analyses linking the thematic map to other data sets. Unfortunately, for many geospatial data sets there is commonly a lack of information on data quality and what exists is often poorly communicated (Johnston and Timlin, 2000). The quality of spatial data sets is a very broad issue that may relate to a variety of properties (Worboys, 1998) but with thematic maps the property of interest is typically map accuracy. The accuracy of spatial data sets has long been an important issue in GIS and has been the focus of considerable research, particularly since the influential book by Goodchild and Gopal (1989). As accuracy remains a major research topic and issue of concern to many researchers, it seems pertinent to revisit the topic of accuracy, especially that of thematic maps. For instance, it is apparent that considerable development is required in the methods of accuracy assessment (Scepan, 1999) particularly as the accuracy of thematic maps is one of the greatest limitations to many users (Guisan and Zimmermann, 2000).
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 2001
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 16132
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/16132
ISSN: 0309-1333
PURE UUID: 6511af70-b390-4b2e-bbd7-79fd67cfd3e3
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 23 Jun 2005
Last modified: 08 Jan 2022 18:48
Export record
Contributors
Author:
G.M. Foody
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics