Incorporating Fuzzy Logic Methodologies into GIS Operations

. At present, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) though powerful toolboxes, most with hundreds of functions, they suffer from several limitations which render them inefficient tools for spatial decisionmaking. This paper focuses on the inappropriate logical foundation incorporated into them and examines the necessity of adopting fuzzy logic methodologies in GIS operations. 1 Introduction Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computer-based systems designed to support the capture, management, manipulation, analysis, modeling and display of spatially referenced data at different points in time [1]. Today, GISs are widely used in many government, business and private activities; which fall into three major categories [10]: a) socio-economic applications (e.g., urban and regional planning, cadastrial registration, archaeology, natural resources, etc.); b) environmental applications (e.g., forestry, fire and epidemic control, etc.); and c) management applications (e.g., organization o..