Stanford University Libraries' Center for Interdisciplinary Digital Research (CIDR), invites you to hear David O'Sullivan, Associate Professor of Geography at the University of California, Berkeley speak on "Simple spatial models: building blocks for process-based GIS?" David's talk will be on Thursday, May 7th, from 4:00-5:30pm in Green Library's Social Science Resource Center Seminar Room (Room 121A).

In our recent book 'Spatial Simulation: Exploring Pattern and Process' (co-authored with George Perry) we propose a classification of dynamic spatial models into broad process categories of aggregation-segregation, movement, and growth.  I revisit these categories and show how thinking about process models in this way leads to 'building block' spatial models.  Such building block models offer a number of advantages in helping us to build and to understand complicated simulation models. Further, these building blocks may provide a way forward in the development of more dynamic, process-based, geographical information systems.