This paper discusses Geographic Information Management (GIM), and mentions some examples of its applications to transport. GIM should contain the following elements: (1) Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software and hardware; (2) geographical data and information; and (3) the spatially related problem that needs to be solved. The following aspects of GIM are considered: (1) geographic data, for example a database about roads, railways, postcode boundaries, and customer records for evaluating rail transport uses; (2) linking various datasets together to provide added value information; (3) the distinction between data and information; (4) computer networks including the Internet; (5) GIS systems; (5) GIS systems; (6) geographic analysis, such as shortest path or quickest path analysis of transport networks; (7) data models and structures; (8) data formats; and (9) data management. Finally, some data issues are outlined. For example, in transport applications, a road network may not change very rapidly in an area, but some network characteristics, such as one-way roads, diversions, and temporary traffic lights, may change at very short notice; this can be very important to transport planners and emergency services.
Abstract