Expert Systems and Geographic Information Systems: Review and Prospects

Abstract

Expert system efforts of particular importance to the development of Geographic Information Systems are evaluated. Three general problem domains are identified as automated map design and generalization, terrain/feature extraction, and geographic database management/user interface. Within each problem domain we critically assess each of the reported systems. There is a paucity of efforts directed at developing expert systems for land records systems. We review prospective areas for the application of expert systems to problems of land records systems. It is concluded that expert systems for geographic information system applications can be built. However, it is not yet advisable to begin large‐scale projects.