地理資訊系統是一門以電子計算機(俗稱電腦)為工具來從事空間資料的獲
取、儲存、處理、分析與表達的科學, 對於空間知識的表達儲存、處理都
以電腦的運作方式為導向, 空間地物與相互空間關係以幾何方式來表達,
然幾何方式未必能完全表達真實世界的地物空間關係, 以致某些空間推理
決策行為地理資訊系統的能力無法與人相比擬, 本研究以認知科學的研究
取向來探究人腦的空間知識結構, 以做為未來發展智慧型地理資訊系統的
基礎。前人研究一致支持空間知識由明顯地物發展成程序性知識而後概觀
性知識, 本研究從辨認真實環境的明顯地物開始, 以 primming 方法來探
究明顯地物在腦中的結構, 結果顯示真實環境中的明顯地物可分為不同層
次, 第一階層明顯地物以圖像式的網狀結構來表達, 第二階層明顯地物分
成許多群落, 分別附屬於某些第一階層明顯地物, 造成階層從屬關係, 整
體空間知識是以混合結構來表達。

A geographic information system is a computer-assisted and
integrated environment for geographic data acquisition, storage
, management, analysis and display. Spatial objects and their
relationships are all represented in geometric form. It is
quite different from spatial representation in human''s brain.
The capabilities of spatial inference and spatial decision-
making of a geographic information system are somtimes not as
good as human beings. This research explores the spatial
knowledge structure through cognitive approach in order for the
development of an intelligent geographic information system in
the future. Prior research has suggested the developing mode of
spatial knowldege. Survey knowledge is organized from procedure
know- ledge which is derived from landmarks. This research uses
recognition method to identify landmarks in natural environment
and uses priming technique to explore the spatial knowledge
structure. The result shows that there is a multilevel
structure of the space. The landmarks in the upper level are
organized in a network-map. The second level landmarks are
categorized into different gropus with hierarchical relation to
different first level landmarks. It is concluded that spatial
knowledge is organized as a hybrid model.