'London Calling' - A Spatial Decision Support System for inward investors

SUMMARY: 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. Central to our framework is the notion of “hard” and “soft” capitals (factors) which influence competitiveness and economic development, against which all data requirements were mapped. These geospatial frameworks gave us important insights into how Think London can structure information demands, and devise a strategy to implement a GIS to pro-actively target and promote locations in London.