• Spatial Information Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.55-65
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• 2014

By combining the role of current GIS technology and design behaviors from the cognitive perspective, spatial conceptualization can be extended efficiently and creatively for ill-structured problems. This study elaborates the model of a conceptualization-oriented SDSS(Spatial Decision Support System) for a landscape design problem. Current information-oriented GIS technology plays a minor role in planning and design. The three attributes in planning and design problems describe how the deficiencies of current GIS technology can be seen as a failure of the technology. These are summarized: (1) Information Explosion/Information Ignorance (2) Dilemma of Rigor and Relevance (3) Ill-structured Nature of planning and Design. In order to implement the conceptualization idea in the current GIS environment, it will be necessary to shift from traditional, information-oriented GISs to conceptualization-oriented SDSSs. The conceptualization-oriented SDSS model reflects the key elements of six important theories and techniques. The six useful theories and techniques are as follows; (1) Human Information Processing (2) Tool/Theory Interaction (3) The Sciences of the Artificial and Epistemology of Practice (4) Decision Support Systems (DSSs) (5) Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) (6) Creative Thinking. The future conceptualization-oriented SDSS can provide capabilities for planners and designers to figure out some "hidden organizations" in spatial planning and design, and develop new ideas through its conceptualization capability. The facilitation of conceptualization has been demonstrated by presenting three key ideas for the framework of the SDSS model: (1) bubble-oriented design support system (2) prototypes as an extension of semantic memory, and (3) scripts as an extension of episodic memory in a cognitive pschology perspective. The three ideas can provide a direction for the future GIS technology in planning and design.