該書是GIS和計量方法在社會科學領域中各種應用的集中演示。在方法層麵上，包括從簡單的迴歸分析到綫性規劃和求解方程組，在應用層麵上，包括城市與區域研究的一些典型問題，如市場和城市吸引範圍的劃分、便捷度的度量、區域增長模式的分析、城市用地的模擬，也涉獵更前沿的犯罪與健康問題。

"Quantitative Methods and Applications in GIS" integrates GIS, spatial analysis, and quantitative methods to address various issues in socioeconomic studies and public policy. Methods range from basic regression analysis to advanced topics such as linear programming and system of equations. Applications vary from typical themes in urban and regional analysis - trade area analysis, accessibility measures, analysis of regional growth patterns, land use simulation - to issues related to crime and health analyses.This book covers common tasks such as distance and travel time estimation, spatial smoothing and interpolation, and accessibility measures. It also covers the major issues that are encountered in spatial analysis including modifiable areal unit problems, rate estimate of rare events in small populations, and spatial autocorrelation. Each chapter has one subject theme, introduces the method (or a group of related methods) most relevant to the theme, and then uses case studies to implement the method in a GIS environment.