RGS-IBG 2005: 31st August - 2nd September 2005, London
Geographical Information Science Research Group Session: New tools and
techniques for the exploration of society and space
Convenor :
Dr Muki Haklay,
Department of Geomatic Engineering, UCL [log in to unmask]
In the last decade, the increased power of computers, the availability
of large data sources and the advances in methods of spatial modelling
and geographical information science created new tools, theories and
concepts for representation and modelling of spatial phenomena.
Agent-Based Modelling, Cellular Automata, Spatial Data Mining and many
other techniques enabled the exploration of spatial relationships in new
ways, using the computer as a simulation laboratory or as a powerful
microscope - revealing new aspects of geographical flows, networks and
spaces. These methods are especially powerful in exploring ideas about
society in a globalised world, be it at the local, regional or global scale.
This session will focus on these methods of modelling spaces and flows
using computerised representation of society and geographical entities.
The aim of the session is to provide a forum for those who are active in
development of computer models of society and space from the small scale
interaction of pedestrians with their environment, to global models of
economic activities or epidemiology. The session is also intended to
explore the philosophical and theoretical assumptions which are embedded
in these models, and consider different ways of representing
geographical phenomena using spatial modelling techniques.
I would especially encourage papers that might touch on one or more of
the following themes:
• The theoretical frameworks that are being used to simulate society and
space
• Reflections on the modelling process: the integration of assumptions,
world-views and concepts into the model
• Abstractions of real-world interactions and their implications on
model's outputs
• The use of models to produce meaningful and verifiable outputs
• The use of models in decision making processes
If you are interested in participating in this session, please submit a
title and short abstract (not exceeding 200 words) to the organiser by
21st January 2005.
Apologies for cross posting!
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