Retail impact analysis with loosely coupled GIS and a spreadsheet

Abstract
This paper describes an innovative computer‐based system, GIS‐SHOP, for providing low‐cost decision support for retail impact analysis. The system implements a loosely coupled approach to urban modelling using a widely available, low‐cost desktop geographic information system (GIS) and an electronic spreadsheet to develop a gravity‐model‐based retail shopping model. The paper begins by reviewing the power—and limitations—of the current generation of GIS for planning and the need to extend this technology to develop more powerful planning support systems (PSS). It then describes the GIS‐SHOP model which uses ESRI's ArcView® 2.1 and Microsoft's Excel® 5.0 together to provide analytic and display capabilities which are available in neither package alone. The paper concludes by considering the advantages and disadvantages of this loosely coupled modelling strategy.

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