A Methodological Study Of GIS-based Suburban Logistics Planning

Current studies of the application of GIS-based logistics mainly focus on the logistics management information system, the positioning of logistic nodes, logistic models and other aspects. Static analyzing is their major feature and many problems exist in practice. How to fully tap GIS's analyzing and reproducing functions and put them to comprehensive and in-deep use in logistic planning, the suburban logistic planning (SLP) in particular, is, therefore, the focus and major concern of this paper.After reviewing and analyzing relevant literature both home and abroad, the paper tries to bridge GIS and SLP, systematically analyzing the application of GIS to SLP and GIS's supportive functions in suburban logistics and then formulates the principle, method and content system for suburban logistics. The SLP method part addresses three aspects: philosophical basis, thinking methodology and operational methods. The operational methods can be sub-classified into strategic route, operation procedure and techniques, therefore forming a fairly comprehensive framework of methodology. This paper analyzes the procedure of logistic planning, discusses the nature of the suburb, and the features of suburban logistics, and formulates SLP content, principle and fundamental requirements.Two premises and three core issues are expounded after GIS advantages are reviewed. Functions of various GIS supportive techniques are enumerated and the comprehensive GIS supporting capability for SLP is formulated, thus establishing the GIS-based SLP methodology system. The supportive methodology system covers 4 major categories (i.e. data management, data reproduction, information processing and synthesizing) and 16 sub-categories like data coordination, data incorporation, spatial representation, correlation extraction and so on. Based on the differences of functional requirements, this paper puts forward 4 types of planning: conception, infrastructure and facilities, transportation and strategies, as well as the corresponding supportive measures. The concept of "visualization of knowledge" is proposed and its application in SLP is discussed.This paper proposes the idea of whole-process GIS support to SLP, elaborates upon the current logistic situation, logistic demands, infrastructure planning, information platform planning, GIS realization strategies in the strategic development planning, and the realization measures in the GIS-based SLP.Under the guidance of the theory, principles, and methods of logistics planning, this paper has completed the GIS-based logistics planning in Wuzhong District of Suzhou, including the analysis of current logistic situation and prediction of future logistic situation there, the planning of logistics nodes, logistic information system, transportation, and development strategies.