1. the process of modeling, examining, and interpreting model results 2. the process of extracting or creating new information about a set of geographic features —note 1. spatial analysis is useful for evaluating suitability and capability, for estimating and predicting, and for interpreting and understanding —note 2. in GIS there are four traditional types of spatial analysis: spatial overlay and contiguity analysis, surface analysis, linear analysis, and raster analysis —synonym modeling This definition last updated 10/07/2008