Dr. Alan T. Murray, professor with the GeoDa Center for Geospatial Analysis and Computation in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University, will give a talk Monday (Nov. 2) at 3 p.m. in Room 203 of the Zachry Engineering Center at Texas A&M University.

Murray’s talk, “Geographic Information System (GIS) Relevance in Optimization,” is part of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering’s seminar series sponsored by Parsons Corp.

Abstract
Geographic information systems (GIS) have matured and proven to be an enabling technology, one that is important to many disciplines. This paper provides an overview and discussion of GIS within the context of optimization. The paper highlights how GIS has contributed to spatial optimization approaches in terms of data input, visualization, problem solution and theoretical advances. The significance of GIS in this context is that it is far than a mere spatial data input mechanism, which is a commonly held misconception within industrial engineering and other allied disciplines. A number of spatial optimization models are detailed, identifying past shortcomings and important features now possible through integration with GIS.

Biography
Dr. Alan Murray is a professor in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning and a researcher in the GeoDa Center for GeoSpatial Analysis and Computation at Arizona State University. He is currently an editor of International Regional Science Review. He obtained a B.S. in mathematical sciences (emphasis in operations research), an M.A. in statistics and applied probability (emphasis in operations research) and a Ph.D. in geography, all from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

His research and teaching interests are in optimization; geographic information science; urban/regional planning and development; and, transportation. A particular emphasis across these interests are location modeling and analysis. He teaches a range of courses in the GISciences, including GIS and business site selection, location analysis and GIS. His research focuses on technical and application oriented topics emergency service planning, crime, sustainability, transit, natural resource management, and infrastructure vulnerability. He is the author of two recent books, Critical Infrastructure: Reliability and Vulnerability (Berlin: Springer) and Business Site Section, Location Analysis and GIS (New York: Wiley), and more than 140 research articles, book chapters and proceedings papers.

Submitted by Katherine Edwards, kedwards@tamu.edu

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