Title: GIS applications to resort morphology

Authors: Jia Liu, Geoffrey Wall, Jie Zhang

Addresses: Atkins Consultants (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. Shanghai Branch, 22nd Floor, Ciro's Plaza, 388 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai, 200002, China. ' Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada. ' Department of Land Resource and Tourism, School of Geography, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China

Abstract: GIS, RS and GPS are powerful tools that are used to explore many geographical subjects. These new methods of data collection and analysis also have the potential to underpin a new era of longitudinal studies of resort morphology. The capabilities of GIS in facilitating spatial analysis, in handling (collecting, classifying and managing) multiple types of data and in analysing complex phenomena to reveal the spatial connections between data units are useful in morphological studies. This paper uses case studies to show how GIS techniques can be used to process both spatial and attribute data, to map morphological features, and to analyse changes in the morphological characteristics of resorts. It suggests some promising directions for GIS applications in studies of resort morphology and associated implications for resort management and development planning.

Keywords: resort morphology; geographic information systems; GIS applications; morphological analysis; spatial analysis; Sanya; Wuxi; China; global positioning systems; GPSs; remote sensing; data collection; data analysis; longitudinal studies; data classification; data management; complex phenomena; spatial connections; data units; morphological characteristics; resort management; development planning; coastal resorts; Hainan Island; Taihu Lake; services technology; services management; model applications; tourism management; tourists.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2011.038666

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2011 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.119 - 131

Published online: 21 Feb 2015 *

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