Geographical Information Science to Enhance Location Coverage Modeling

The use of points to represent facilities, demand or a region of interest in location modeling may not effectively address the geometrically complex shape of abstracted spatial features resulting in certain measurement errors. While point-based representations facilitate model construction, simplify data requirements and enable more efficient problem solution, advances in GIScience and spatial data acquisition highlight deficiencies in using overly rudimentary feature depictions, like points, in certain modeling instances. In this paper other representations, such as lines and polygons, are investigated in covering location problems. The evaluation of warning siren siting in the city of Dublin, Ohio is used to discuss nuances of point representation and other geometric shapes in location modeling. We illustrate how geometric sophistication and reality can be addressed in location coverage modeling through the use of GIS. Application results show that complex geometric shapes can be considered in site/service selection, and doing so in a way that remains computationally feasible.