The Photogrammetric Record

such as colour illustrations and examples representing several case studies of current hot topics
such as security and health, boxes with biographies and information provided by GIS
practitioners, the provision and dedication to Internet resources for GIS e-learning (such as
ESRI Virtual Campus), and with questions and references provided for further study.
The book is organised into 21 chapters in total. It is structured in such a way that the main
GIS issues presented are principles, techniques, analysis and management and policy. Each
chapter begins with a brief overview and a list of learning objectives. The chapter is supported
by questions for further study, and references for further reading, which are provided at the end
of each chapter. Chapters 1 and 2 provide an introduction to GIS and its applications. Chapters
3 to 6, Principles, provide information on data representation, nature of data, data
georeferencing and uncertainty. Chapters 7 to 11, Techniques, present GIS software, data
modelling, geographical databases and distribution of GIS. Chapters 12 to 16, Analysis, cover
the issues of cartography, map production, ‘‘geovisualisation’’, spatial analysis (queries,
measurements, transformation) and spatial modelling. Chapters 17 to 20, Management and
policy, introduce practical issues and examples of GIS use within management and policy in
business sectors. Finally, an Epilogue (Chapter 21) is provided summarising what is presented
in the book and providing information about further reading.
Summarising, I found the book clear to read and easy to understand, however, the
language used in some parts is unusual, but without being misleading or confusing. Also, the
book is focused mainly on ESRI products rather than other related software suites (for
example, Intergraph Inc. and Autodesk Inc.), although relevant information is provided. I
suggest that this book is suitable both for university level students (of Geography, Civil
Engineering, Forestry, for example) and MSc level students. Moreover, professional GIS users,
who wish to improve their knowledge of GIS, may also find it valuable for its resources and the
presentation of a range of practical issues.
A. Retalis

GIS—A COMPUTING PERSPECTIVE. Second edition. By M. Worboys and M. Duckham.

CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 2004. ISBN 0 415 28375 2. 185 · 260 mm. 448 pages.
Illustrated. Price £22Æ99 hardback.
Across the world, in the past decade several books have been published on geographical
information systems (GIS), with emphasis ranging from fundamentals to applications. The
expanded activities in GIS with a computing perspective from geosciences and geomatics in
particular have led to the subject rising in popularity in recent years. In this rapidly changing
technology, the present book by educators Worboys and Duckham is a worthy addition to this
library. The authors have done a commendable job in providing an overview of GIS from the
perspectives of computing science. This book explores conceptual and formal modes needed to
understand spatial information, and investigates the representation through established
algorithms and data structures needed to support agreeable performance. Chapters in this
book focus on developing certain formal themes useful for better understanding of
geographical information science, and emphasis is laid on spatial information modelling and
representation. In this second edition, which undoubtedly improves on the first edition, a few
updated chapters are added.
The first six chapters cover the primary and essential aspects of GIS as in the first edition,
however, they have been comprehensively updated, modernised and improved. Chapter 1
provides an overall introduction to GIS comprising the definitions, functionality, databases
and required hardware support. Chapters 2 and 3 extend the fundamentals with detailed

2005 The Authors. Journal Compilation
2005 The Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society and Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 397
Book Reviews

information on database definitions, data modelling, database design and spatial concepts of
geometry, sets, topology and graph theory. Chapters 4 to 6 move deeper into the GIS model,
and include corresponding main classes, spatial data representation and pertinent algorithms,
data structures and data retrieval. These chapters are aimed at those who are at the beginning of
the road, and are materially important to the understanding of GIS and the computing tools and
techniques involved. This part of the book would be a good reference for GIS courses due to
the fact that the emphasis is laid on providing definitions, detailed clarifications and examples
for better understanding.
The four chapters that follow focus on the GIS system architectures and human–computer
interfaces, spatial reasoning and the imperfection and importance of spatio-temporal GIS
systems. Interoperability and modularity of GIS architectures are presented in Chapter 7, and
Chapter 8 explores the human–computer interfaces required for GIS and its development.
Chapter 9 gives many insights into the concepts of uncertainty and time in spatial reasoning,
while Chapter 10, coupled with both spatial and temporal information in GIS, examines the
associated data structure and retrieval. All in all, these chapters are well organised and
information therein is lucidly explained at the understandable level for Geography
undergraduate students. Illustrations in each chapter proceed well with the text to support
understanding, and enhance the desire to read on. Furthermore, new formatting style is put to
use to provide inset boxes, references that follow the section number, and easy-to-locate index
terms.
A number of examples are given in this book and some Java code and student exercises
will also be available online soon; however, for the readers’ convenience it would have been
useful to have such material provided on a CD along with the book. In the next edition of the
book, the authors may consider providing the exercises and samples with solutions after each
chapter; such material would enhance the students’ understanding about the knowledge gained.
There is little or no information available on specialised topics, for instance, on spatio-temporal
modelling, decision support systems, agent-based modelling, geostatistical approaches and in-
depth information about scaling ideas. Those readers who are reasonably familiar with the
subject will find some of the topics provided to be of little value. To mention as an example, the
information provided about spatial complexity, in particular about fractal concepts, is too
preliminary. The authors might consider including such material in greater depth in subsequent
editions.
All together, this well-organised book with solid fundamental information on GIS is worth
the price, and unhesitatingly we recommend this book for students of geography, GIS and
allied disciplines, and for those who have interest to venture into GIS research. Together with
sample exercises, lecture slides and open-source codes available online soon, this book would
definitely be a wonderful asset for those teaching GIS courses.
B. S. Daya Sagar and L. T. Tay

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2005 The Authors. Journal Compilation
2005 The Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.