• Murphy, Sean
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

Land conservation is frequently cited as the most effective means of limiting the detrimental effects of anthropogenic forces on natural resources. Because governmental entities can be hampered by fiscal and political concerns, land trusts are increasing relied on to protect habitat. However, these groups often lack the analysis and research tools necessary to meet their mission.

Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies such as Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS) offer the promise of allowing decision makers to explore their decision space at a landscape level of analysis. But critics have charged that research in this area is largely anecdotal in nature. This research explores the validity of this contention and presents two applied empirical studies of user satisfaction with an SDSS.