What operations are typically used as spatial analysis functions in GIS? Chou (1997, p. 15) provides the most efficient description. Three different types are illustrated:
Note that only some of these operations generate new data. The first two functions mentioned
are simple queries, and the result consists of a selection of objects from the databases.
Spatial analysis functions can also be classified in regards to the data type involved in the
spatial analysis (point, line, network, polygons/areas, surface), the data structure (vector
vs. raster), or the conceptual model of space (discrete entity vs. continuous field (Burrough et al. 1998)).
Bailey et al. (1995) and Abler et al.
(1971) propose
another differentiation of the functionality of spatial analysis. They distinguish the functions by their level
of dynamics: E.g. static data (point distribution, surface area etc.), interactions between objects in space
(for example interactions between two economic centers), or analysis of spatio-temporal changes).
Depending on the author's point of view and his knowledge, organization and classification of SA
functions are defined differently.
The lesson of the module "Basic Spatial Analysis" is organized using a mixed approach. The
module is composed of lessons dedicated to the different analysis and application
functions such as terrain analysis, accessibility analysis, and suitability analysis, etc.
Albrecht (1996) provides a nice classification of SA
functions used in GIS (see also the
illustration below). This classification was developed to deliver a universal interface for
GIS. That is why this classification has two advantages: It gets the user's aspect (not the
technical aspect), it is the briefest description, but it is a complete description of SA
functions available in GIS (at least in commercial GIS). The term "spatial analysis" could be
irritating. For this reason, a better description of SA would be "pattern analysis".
There is a very pragmatic approach in the following list provided by Goodchild (1990) based on Goodchild (1987). It provides the typical function range of commercial GIS and operation components in data analysis. Other books provide overviews and discussions on the topic of the typical SA functions used in GIS, such as Aronoff (1989), Bill (1999), Burrough et al. (1998), or Jones (1997).
Try to assign the functions defined by Goodchild (1990) to the spatial
analysis functions determined by Albrecht (1996). Specify Goodchild's with Albrecht's
categories. Where do problems occur? Are there functions defined by Goodchild which cannot be assigned to Albrecht's
categories (that could possibly indicate that Albrecht's classification is not universal)?