LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN GIS LIS

Significant achievements have taken place in Geographical/Land Informa tion Systems (GIS/LIS). An attempt is made to give an overview of the state of the art as well as a vision of progress still to be accomplis hed. Key issues are discussed in various GIS/LIS activities. A generic analysis shows that most of the applications are environment-oriented . The various GIS/LIS topical issues are discussed in the order of an ascending graph, including data capture, data structure and modelling, data quality and standards, institutions, ethics, education, visualiz ation and interface, spatial decision support systems, and application s. Finally a brief assessment of the role and nature of GIS is made. I t is noted, in particular, that there are great discrepancies in the s pread and success of GIS/LIS at the international level. This is true between developed and developing countries, but the case can also be m ade between western industrialized countries. It is also observed that there is an increasing number of professions involved in GIS/LIS acti vities and an increasing collaboration between those professions. Fina lly, it is observed that GIS/LIS are used predominantly as a tool to m anage and keep records, although there are signs that GIS/LIS are also leading the way towards a new spatial science. This is only a 1993 's nap shot', and is expected that many of the statements have only a lim ited life, considering the rapid changes in both theory and technology .