The integration of Decision Support Systems (DSS) and GIS technologies has resulted in Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS), which harnesses the decision analytic power of traditional DSS and the spatial capabilities of GIS. Research in the DSS and GIS areas have progressed in parallel over the last two decades with some significant developments. However, the synergy between these two streams of research is beginning to materialize now and the outlook for SDSS research and development is very promising.

The main focus of this book is to bring this inter-disciplinary approach (combining Geosciences and Decision Sciences) and discuss in detail the various aspects of SDSS architecture and implementation with different applications, It will provide not only the “core knowledge” needed to understand how SDSS function and how they can be used in various decision making contexts, but also how to design and deploy SDSS using enabling technologies and commercial tools. This book will focus on the evolution, architecture, and implementation of SDSS and provide a number of case studies. The book will also examine general SDSS issues with an interdisciplinary focus, which will inspire others to work towards further developments in the increasingly progressive and highly related fields of geosciences and decision sciences.

The intended audiences for this book are students as well as professionals working in all decision and geosciences applications including resource assessment, environmental analysis and assessment, geological exploration, remote sensing, business analyses, soil science, medical geology and hazard analysis. This book will also be of interest to researchers, planners and mangers involved in planning urban and environmental applications. This book will be suitable for teaching at different levels. One of the problems in designing an SDSS course is the non-availability of a standard book. This book will make it easy for instructors to adopt because of the organization of its content, which starts with a basic introduction and progresses to advanced step-by-step implementation of SDSS. It also includes creative projects and exercises that instructors can use in introductory or graduate level courses. This book can also be used by professional trainers that offer short training courses on various aspects of SDSS and their application.

Dr. Ramanathan Sugumaran and Dr. Vijayan Sugumaran are writing this book. They have been working in the geosciences and decision sciences field respectively for the past 15 years. This book will be published in 2008.

For Further information Contact Dr. Ramanathan Sugumaran or Dr. Vijayan Sugumaran.