Integrating GIS components and spatial statistical analysis in DBMSs

The integration of GIS and spatial statistical analysis can occur in two di fferent ways: embedding spatial statistical analysis into a GIS environment , or embedding selected GIS functions into a spatial statistical analysis e nvironment. Attention has been given almost exclusively to the former in th e past. This paper argues that the latter deserves more attention, especial ly with the rapid development of embeddable GIS component technology. Howev er, because current statistical software packages have not yet provided the environment into which GIS components can be embedded, we explore the poss ibility of integrating GIS components and spatial statistical analysis in a current proprietary Database Management System (DBMS: Microsoft Access), w hich can be easily extended to incorporate statistical analysis capabilitie s. A conceptual framework for this integration is outlined, an interactive spatial statistical analysis module is presented, and an example is used to illustrate the advantage of this module.