This paper summarises the development of a framework of geographic factors which are used to inform the development of a Spatial Decision Support System for the promotion of Inward Investment. First, a literature review identified potentially relevant theories of factors influencing regional development and competitiveness. Drawing from this review, we developed a geospatial framework which incorporates data requirements that were gathered from a user requirements study carried out with Think London, London’s inward investment agency.

Author: Marc Hardwick
Author: Dave Chapman
Author: Patrick Weber

Publication: Suarez, J and Markus, B, (eds.) 9th AGILE conference on Geographic Infomation Science - conference proceedings. (pp. 239 - 246). College of Geoinformatics, University of West Hungary: Szekesfehervar, Hungary. | full text (PDF)

Year: 2006

This paper discusses the methodology and processes required to implement a geo-business classification to aid spatial decision making in the context of foreign direct investment promotion for London. This research is both timely and relevant since there is need for better decision support tools that will improve sub-regional location decision making ensuring London’s diverse business neighbourhoods are presented effectively to potential investors.

Author: Dave Chapman
Author: Patrick Weber

Publication: Transactions in GIS, Volume 15, Issue 3, pages 309–328, July 2011, Wiley, London.

Year: 2011

For the last 11 years Think London has acted as London’s official inward investment agency. In this time it has helped over 800 foreign companies set up operations in London, thus making an important contribution to London’s position as a major foreign direct investment target.

Author: Patrick Weber
Author: Dace Chapman

Publication: Computers, Environment and Urban Systems Volume 33, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 1-14

Year: 2009

Technological changes over the past 10 years, in combination with increased bandwidth and the ability to provide better tools for collaboration, have led to “crowdsourcing”—a term developed from the concept of outsourcing in which business operations are transferred to remote, many times cheaper locations. Similarly, crowdsourcing is how large groups of users can perform functions that are either difficult to automate or expensive to implement.

Author: Patrick Weber
Author: Mordechai Muki Haklay

Publication: IEEE Pervasive Computing, October-December 2008, Pages 12-18, ISSN: 1536-1268 | full text (PDF)

Year: 2008