Local government is one of the most important groups of users of geographical information systems (GIS). The significant interest amongst users and the varied demands to be made of GIS have stimulated discussion in many countries. This article presents some of the findings of a research project which is currently exploring the impact of GIS on British local government. The discussion examines the results of a comprehensive survey of all 514 local authorities in Great Britain. These findings provide an overview of GIS adoption in relation to type of local authority and geographical location. Particular attention is focused on the type of systems which have been adopted, the take-up of GIS over time, the software and hardware being utilized and the perceived benefits and problems associated with GIS. The results demonstrate that take-up has been most pronounced in the larger authorities, particularly in the southern part of Great Britain, with the most popular combination of equipment being Arc/Inf...

GIS in local government: some findings from Great Britain

In 1987, the Scottish Office commissioned vertical aerial photography for the whole of Scotland at 1:24 000 scale. The paper describes the need for this national coverage, the physical and economic constraints and the acquisition of the photographs. The principal use of the photography, as a database for measuring land cover change in Scotland, is summarised and numerous other projects are also described.



Resume

Le Bureau des Affaires Ecossaises a commande en 1987 une couverture photographique aerienne verticale au 1:24000 sur ľensemble de ľEcosse. On presente dans cet article les besoins qui ont motive cette couverture, les contraintes economiques el physiques correspondantes et le deroulement de sa saisie. On donne un apercu de la principale utilisation de ces photographies, destiniees a constituter une base de donnees pour la determination des modifications intervenues en Ecosse dans ľoccupation du sol; de nombreux autres projets sont egalement mentionees.



Zusammenfassung

Im Jahre 1987 gab das Scottish Office Auftrag zur Luftbildaufnahme im Maβstab 1:24000 von ganz Schottland. Im Artikel werden die Notwendigkeit fur diese vollstandige nationale Bedeckung, fur die physikalischen und okonomischen Zwangsbedingungen und fur die Beschaffung der Fotos beschrieben. Die prinzipielle Nutzung der Fotografie als Datenbasis zur Bestimmung der Landnutzungsanderung in Schottland wird hervorgehoben und zahlreiche andere Projekte werden ebenso beschrieben.

The 1987–1989 scottish national aerial photographic initiative

GIS in Italian urban planning

The CORINE Programme of the European Community represents one of the most ambitious and extensive attempts to establish a geographical information system for policy applications that has yet been undertaken in Europe. As such, it has much useful experience to offer the various new international systems that are now being developed or are planned. This chapter outlines the experience of establishing the CORINE information system and shows some of the conceptual, technical and administrative problems involved.

R. Green

Papers

Geographic information systems in Europe