SemesterFall Semester, 2025
DepartmentThe International Master Program of Applied Economics and Social Development (IMES) , First Year The International Master Program of Applied Economics and Social Development (IMES) , Second Year
Course NameSpatial decision Making
InstructorSTEPHAN VAN GASSELT
Credit3.0
Course TypeElective
Prerequisite
Course Objective
Course Description
Course Schedule

Classes are 3 hours and take place in the GIS lab (270610). 



Due to the practical nature of this course, we will follow a hybrid approach with mixed theory and practice. 

This course and all handout/upload material are provided in English, therefore a basic command of the English language will be required. 



Also, a basic understanding of spatial data and a feeling for spatial information and relationships are of advantage. Basic knowledge of, and experience with (a) GIS and (b) database management systems are welcome but not required.














































































































Week Topic Content and Reading Assignment Teaching Activities and Homework
1 Course Introduction Course organization and contents overview. Reading of handout material. First simple multi-criteria decision making process with exercises.
2 Decision Making Processes Definition and basics of decision making. Introductory reading of course script. Examining various MCDM methods with comparative exercises.
3 Decision Making Processes Definition and basics of decision making. Introductory reading of course script. Introduction of Fuzziness in the Evaluation Process with exercises.
4 Decision Making Systems Coverage of major decision-making platforms in the spatial domain. Investigation of spatial decision making in the literature and available on web platforms. Homework focuses on the identification of various types.
5 Public Holiday    
6 Public Holiday    
7 Model Components Conceptualizing a decision-making system with its subsystems. Developing a strategy for and EIA and SDG spatial MCDM solution from scratch. Homework will focus on the extraction of relevant parameters.
8 Mid-Term Exam Week    
9 System Requirements Standard requirements and SRS documents. Developing a strategy for and EIA and SDG spatial MCDM solution from scratch.
10 System Requirements Definition of standard requirements and formulating SRS documents. Reading of SRS specification standards. Developing a strategy for and EIA and SDG spatial MCDM solution from scratch. Homework will focus on the extraction of relevant parameters.
11 Data and Variables Search, priming and integration of data from public sources. Data search, assessment, priming and integration in class with finalization of process as homework. Application of pre-trained AI models to extract land-cover information.
12 Definition of Workflows Development of workflows using spatial modeling software. Coverage of spatial modeling tools and limitations, developing basic workflows with finalization as homework.
13 Definition of Workflows Development of advanced workflows using spatial modeling software, use of iterators. Coverage of spatial modeling tools and limitations, developing advanced workflows with finalization of model as homework.
14 Assessments and Optimization Accuracy assessments and evaluation, methods and explanatory AI Discussion of which assessment methods will be integrated.
15 Project Use Case Performing in-depth analyzes using a use-case from and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Project introduction and lab exercise on the integration of a solution given pre-defined criteria and potential locations.
16 Final Exam Week Development of Multicriteria Decision Making Project Project introduction and lab exercise on the integration of a solution given pre-defined criteria and potential locations.

Teaching Methods
Teaching Assistant

The teaching assistant for Spatial Decision Making will be announced in due time.


Requirement/Grading

This course has a midterm and final exam.

Homework assignments and bonus exercises will help to consolidate the obtained knowledge.




  • The midterm examination will be a portfolio of online questions and/or a project covering the theoretical foundations.

  • The final exam will be a project. In order to complete the final project successfully, students will set up a spatial decision-making project, and produce a workflow with evaluation criteria.


Textbook & Reference

All relevant material will be distributed during class. 

There is currently no suitable textbook on the market for spatial decision making (plenty for decision making in general), and those that provide some background detail on this dynamic topic are outdated. The following contribution comes closest to the course aims and if you find it online or as hardcopy in a library, it does not hurt to take a look. All other material will be provided in class.



Sugumaran R, Degroote, J (2010): Spatial Decision Support Systems: Principles and Practices. - 469 pp, CRC Press. ISBN: 9781420062120.


Urls about Course
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