Title: Web 2.0 services for collaborative spatial decision making

Authors: Michele Argiolas; Nicoletta Dessì; Gianfranco Garau; Barbara Pes

Addresses: Dipartimento di Ingegneria civile, ambientale e architettura, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Marengo 2, 09124 Cagliari, Italy ' Dipartimento di Matematica e Informatica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy ' Dipartimento di Matematica e Informatica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy ' Dipartimento di Matematica e Informatica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy

Abstract: Spatial information is a powerful way to integrate data and knowledge in intuitive maps, enabling spatial patterns and relationships to be instantly visible. This paper describes a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) that supports web-based data exploration in spatial decisional processes. Based on a cloud environment, the SDSS is made up of specialised modules providing well-defined services. Mash-ups integrate data from different resources on the internet and provide the user with a flexible and easy-of-use interface. The paper focuses on Web 2.0 technology as a way for sharing geospatial data under the umbrella of collaborative decision making and it aims to make both a conceptual and a practical contribution. Conceptually, it leverages on web-based data integration as a power technology to increase broadly and self-adaptive management of data with high user involvement. Practically, it illustrates how this technology can be effectively deployed in a real estate decision-making scenario.

Keywords: spatial DSS; decision support systems; web-based applications; Web 2.0 services; mash-up integration; cloud computing; collaborative enterprises; user interaction; real estate; web services; collaborative decision making; collaboration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCENT.2013.053295

International Journal of Collaborative Enterprise, 2013 Vol.3 No.2/3, pp.189 - 207

Published online: 01 Jul 2013 *

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