Introduction:

The Geographic/Land Information System (GIS) Research Centre was set up in October 1994.

It aims to:

• form a network and focus for encouraging geographic information system related research and development activities in the University of Hong Kong;
• promote collaboration within the University on multi- and inter-disciplinary studies on geographic/land information system;
• promote inter-institutional, regional and international cooperation in geographic/land information system research;

With the widely availability of GIS/LIS data, GIS will be widely used by planners, geographers, architects, and engineers who have to deal with geographic and land information in their work in both the public and private sectors.

Two types of research are emphasized in the Centre:

• One is theoretical research, such as the use of expert systems in GIS, large spatial database, 3-dimensional data structures, and big data.
• The other is applied research, such as the use of GIS in urban planning, environmental management, transport management, telecommunication, facility management, and marketing.

Many departments of the University are doing theoretical and applied research in GIS. The GIS Research Centre will further strengthen these research by organizing multi-disciplinary studies.

The Centre is assisting the operation of the Information technology Services for university wide sharing of expensive GIS, software, and data. The Hon. Director of the Centre is Prof. Anthony G.O. Yeh of the Department of Urban Planning and Design and Hon. Deputy Director is Prof. P.C. Lai of the Department of Geography.