Modelling Geographical Systems

Within the realm of quantitative geography, systems modelling is specifically concerned with understanding those relationships that influence the attributes of phenomena located in space and time. The intention is to replicate the main processes influencing a system's behaviour and, thereby, assist its manage­ ment through a capability to estimate future change. Over the last few decades, one of the major institutional initiatives for promoting such research has been provided by specialised Study Groups and Commissions established by the International Geographical Union (IGU). These scholarly networks have aimed to co-ordinate international research agendas for geographical systems model­ ling and their activities have been recorded in both edited volumes (Fischer and Getis, 1997) and special issues of learned journals (Wilkinson and Boots, 2000; Leung and Okabe, 2001). Presently, this facilitative task is the charge of the Commission on Modelling Geographical Systems (CMGS) appointed at the IGU Hague Congress in 1996 and chaired by Barry Boots (1996-2000) and Richard Thomas (2000-present). Set against this background, this book provides a perspective on the work of the CMGS from 1996 until the IGU Seoul Congress in August 2000 through a collection of papers first presented to our sessions at this event. Moreover, a number of Japanese delegates were attracted to this Asian venue and their con­ tributions provide many new ideas concerning the implementation of systems analysis.