 reviewed paper CORP 2006 & Geomultimedia06 Vienna, Feb. 13-16 2006 www.corp.at Proceedings / Tagungsband; Editor / Herausgeber: Manfred SCHRENK ISBN: 3-9502139-0-2 (from 2007: ISBN 978-3-9502139-0-4) 235 Applications of Fuzzy Logic in Geographic Information Systems for Multiple Criteria Decision Making Almir KARABEGOVIC & Zikrija AVDAGIC & Mirza PONJAVIC (MSc EE Almir Karabegovic, Gauss, Geo Information Systems, Stupine B9/6, Tuzla – Bosnia and Herzegovina, almir@gauss.ba) (PhD Zikrija Avdagic, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Department for Informatics and Computer Science, Zmaja od Bosne (Kampus), Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina, zikrija.avdagic@etf.unsa.ba) (MSc EE Mirza Ponjavic, Gauss, Geo Information Systems, Stupine B9/6, Tuzla – Bosnia and Herzegovina, mirza@gauss.ba) 1 ABSTRACT This work will present some of problems in making spatial analyses, study done as part of making Spatial Plan of Tuzla Canton. This procedure in classic GIS is very demanding in time and it is unsuitable for decision making in real time. Limitations of multi criteria analyses in standard GIS are necessity to define all steps in advance and inability to simple change criteria or thresholds later. Here will be shown how incorporation of fuzzy set into GIS is improving system's level of intelligence and have useful implications for spatial data handling. Contrary to classic method, where was everything done graphically, this methodology moves whole process to database side. This approach put time demand part in preparation of process and delaying defining criteria to time of creating queries. This makes possible doing such multiple criteria decision making in real-time. Also, very important issue is that results could be ordered according to its importance for decision makers. 2 INTRODUCTION Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computer based systems designed to support the capture, management, manipulation, analysis, modeling and display of spatially referenced data at different points in time. Today, GIS are widely used in many government business and private activities, which fall into three major categories: socio-economic applications (urban and regional planning, cadastral registration, archaeology, natural resources) environmental applications (forestry, fire and epidemic control) and management applications (organization of pipeline networks and other services such as electricity and telephones, real-time navigation for vessels, planes and cars). In these applications GIS provide decision makers with effective tools for solving the complex and usually not-at-all or semi- structured spatial problems. Figure 1: Map of Bosnia and Herzegovina made from layers GIS contains various interrelated information for urban planners: cadastre maps, altitudes, urban plans, land use, economic development information, demographic information and various statistical analyses. GIS maps are layered, with each layer consisting of information related to the area contained in the map, such as spatial objects (roads, rivers, lakes, etc.), population distribution, land division, etc. Regarding spatial objects, the GIS contain a special feature that allows their illustration in either vector form or with abrupt fields (grid and raster). GIS also has capability to show different kinds of objects (houses, lakes, plots of land) by using simple geometric forms to represent them: dots, lines and polygons. For example, polygons can be used to represent objects big enough to be shown with borders (lakes, parks, municipalities), lines can be used to draw linear objects such as rivers and roads, and dots are useful for illustrating small objects such as trees and other abutments. The primary function of GIS includes: geoprocessing, 3D visualization, interoperability, cartography and infrastructure. GIS provides a mechanism for data integration, management and analysis, and generates concise reports on spatial environment. This tool assists planners and decision-makers with their urban analysis and planning. One of the main benefits of GIS is improvements to the management of the organization and its resources by allowing for the sharing of data between various departments. A shared database allows one department to benefit from the work of another; data can be collected once and used many times.