1.1. Introduction

As with many other disciplines, those focusing on spatial analysis have to deal with a large number of complex issues with many particularities. They must therefore try to simplify, in order for the essential detail to stand out, the permanent and determining factor of the contingent and explain the problems in relation to what has been observed. As is the case with most soft sciences, as well as some material sciences, it is difficult for spatial analysis to rely on experience say from physicists or biologists. These are two good reasons that justify the need for simplification and for tools that will help in finding substitutions to traditional experimentation methods.

These two tasks can be achieved with the use of models. Based on a traditional definition by Haggett [HAG 65] and slightly modified, a model is a schematic representation of reality, developed with the goal of understanding and explaining it. The goal has two functions, didactic and heuristic.

To a large degree, we can say that modeling in spatial analysis has come with types of thought that are unwelcome to certain social practitioners or even with a relatively new paradigm. Novelty, which explains a large lack of understanding, is of such magnitude that we felt it justified starting this book with somewhat of a general overview of modeling. On the other hand, modeling, its characteristics and its methods are influenced by the nature of the reality that it studies and by the traditions...