Urban informatics and spatial optimization

There has been much concern for sustainability issues, recognizing the significant impacts that humans have had and continue to have on the Earth. Urban informatics has much to offer city systems in terms of understanding, management and design, particularly associated with sustainability. Efficiency that characterizes sustainable systems, and strategic goals to achieve them, does not happen by chance, but rather is the byproduct of concerted efforts driven by informed decision making. This paper focuses on strategic decision making, and the role of spatial optimization as a component of urban informatics. Strategic siting involving access and coverage demonstrates the capabilities of spatial optimization, but more importantly highlights the significance of an urban informatics perspective.