An Information System Design Theory for Spatial Decision Support System Development

An Information System Design Theory (ISDT) is proposed for use in the development of Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS). First, a review of SDSS is presented along with the problems specific to end-users of these systems. Next, a brief overview of ISDT is presented along with a specific example of an ISDT for SDSS that addresses the question of how to establish relationships between components of a Proximate Commuting System. The International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 211 and the Open GIS Consortium Service Architecture is then discussed. Drawing on this discussion, an ISDT that addresses the question of how to establish relationships between components of a SDSS, in general, is detailed. Finally, a specific example is presented demonstrating how the ISDT for SDSS was utilized in the development of a system of this type.