Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Geography

Supervisor

Dr. Jacek Malczewski

Abstract

GIS-based multicriteria analysis is a procedure for combining a set of criterion maps and associated criterion weights to obtain overall value for each spatial unit (location) in the study area. Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) is a generic algorithm of the multicriteria analysis. It has been integrated into GIS and applied for tackling a wide range of spatial problems. However, the conventional OWA method is based on an assumption of spatial homogeneity of its parameters. Therefore, it is referred to as a global model. This thesis proposes a local form OWA. The local model is based on the range sensitivity principle. A case study of examining spatial patterns of socioeconomic status in London, Ontario is presented. The results show that there are substantial differences between the spatial patterns generated by the global and local OWA methods.

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