USE OF GRID-BASED GIS -ANALYSIS AND PROCESSING IN LAND USE PLANNING 
Kirsi Artimo 
Helsinki University of Technology 
Department of Surveying 
Finland 
Maria Erke 
Helsinki University of Technology 
Department of Landscape Architecture 
Finland 
Commission IV, Working Group 1 
KEYWORDS: Land use, Planning, GIS, Analysis. 
ABSTRACT: 
Maps and map -like presentations are traditionally used in land use planning. Graphical maps are often digitized into vector 
format. However in data processing and analysis vector format is not always the best data model. Raster format seems to be the 
most suitable for combining data used in land use planning. Topographic maps can be scanned, air photos can be scanned as well 
as e.g. soil maps. Satellite data is primarily in raster format. In some attribute data registers information is collected also to regular 
grid. We can say that all planning information can be represented in raster format. 
Raster based processing seems to be a powerful tool for land use planners. Compared to vector based systems several basic 
functions are more straightforward like: collecting and combining source information, computations which compare, overlay, sum 
etc. data of pixels on various layers. Grid -based software offer operations which perform analysis on one pixel location, on a 
defined neighbourhood, on certain zones or on the entire map area. GRID -modules of GIS-software packages include commands by 
which the user can implement analysis processes. If he or she is a professional GIS-analyst the analysis can be performed 
spontaneously. In most cases, however it is useful that analysis processes are aredy made and the planner can just use the new 
source material and by using an user-friendly user interface "run" the various analysis. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
We are not claiming that raster models are the best one for all 
In spite of the progress in geoinformatics during the recent ^ applications, it is just suggested that for land use planning 
years there are certain fields which still are lacking useful applications in the scales mentioned raster model could be a 
applications of GIS technology. One of those fields is land use solution and a way for developing useful tools. 
planning. Architects designing buildings already use with great 
efficiency CAD-applications with 3d -modeling. However land In this article land use planning as the field for GIS- 
use planners and architects involved with small scale planning ^ applications is discussed in more detail and a case work is 
seem to have great difficulties in utilizing computer assisted introduced. 
methods. 
The reason for the slow development is not the lack of 2. GRID -BASED ANALYSIS AND PROCESSING OF 
pioneers. The short history of  geoinformatics shows that GEOGRPHICAL INFORMATION 
among those who "started" the development of GIS-technology 
were also land use planners at least landscape architects 
(Steinitz,1993). In this article we refer to the map algebra created by Dana 
Tomlin (Tomlin,1990) as the teory and GRID -modules of GIS 
In this paper we want to show that the biggest setback which ^ -softwares (ArcINFO and Intergraph MGE) as implemented 
was met by those who tried to develop computer assisted land tools of raster based data processing and analysis. 
use planning applications was the boom of vector-based data 
modeling. Land use planning in medium scales (1:10000 - Tomlin gives in his book the description of raster-based map 
1:50000) covering general/master planning in municipalities ^ processing functions and procedures. He divides processing 
and regional planning in counties do not need “object-oriented” into four groups of functions: local, focal, zonal and 
models of the reality but rather can better utilize 2d -oriented incremental. By local functions he means all functions which 
cartographic model. 2d cartographic models of the reality are only touch one pixel location of the map matrix at a time. Focal 
best implemented by utilizing raster-based data models. functions calculate a new value for a pixel on the basis of a 
defined neighbourhood ^ area  (4-neihghbourhood,  8- 
neighbourhood etc.). Zonal functions deal with area divisions 
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International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B4. Vienna 1996 
  
  
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