The definition of GeoDesign is still being developed. A few often quoted ones include:
"Geodesign is changing geography by design" (Steinitz 2010). Steinitz's Model (with 3 passes of 6 stages including Representation Model, Process
Model, Evaluation Model, Change Model, Impact Model, Decision Model) is often cited
as a typical workflow of the GeoDesign process.
"Geodesign is a design and planning method which tightly couples the creation of
design proposals with impact simulations informed by geographic contexts"
(Flaxman 2010)
"Geodesign is a set of techniques and enabling technologies for planning built and
natural environments in an integrated process, including project conceptualization,
analysis, design specification, stakeholder participation and collaboration, design
creation, simulation, and evaluation (among other stages)." (Wikipedia)
"Geodesign is design in geographic context"(Miller 2010), consisting of the creation or modification of an entity (e.g. a building, an urban master plan) or a process with spatial and temporal dimensions.
From the SDS perspective, GeoDesign has a broader sense and a narrower sense. In
the broader sense, GeoDesign is a process of creating solutions for geo-spatial
problems, involving design and decision making activities at various stages of the
process. Typical stages of this process include
- design goal identification and design requirement development
- design process mapping
- condition assessment including data development and domain knowledge process model
development
- suitability assessment
- design (with iterative, creative design activities supported by fast feedback on
the design through constraints, function, performance
checking models)
- impact and performance analysis of the alternative designs
- design alternative selection
- etc.
This sense is similar to Steinitz's definition above.
In a narrower sense, GeoDesign focuses specifically on the design phase of the above
mentioned GeoDesign process, focusing on the creative design activities (such as
drawing) and the associated feedback methods and technology that allows rapid design
iteration and modification. This sense is similar to Flaxman's definition.
The GeoDesign process often involves stakeholder participation and collaboration.