Many real-world spatially related problems, including river-basin planning
and management, give rise to geographical information system based decision
making, since the performance of spatial policy alternatives were
traditionally and are still often represented by thematic maps. Advanced
technologies and approaches, such as geographical information systems (GIS),
offer a unique opportunity to tackle spatial problems traditionally
associated with more efficient and effective data collection, analysis, and
alternative evaluation. This paper discusses the advantages and challenges of
the use of digital spatial data and geographical information systems in river
basis management. Spatial data on social, environmental and other spatial
conditions for the study area of 451.77 km2, the Slovenian part of the Sotla
river basin, are used to study the GIS capabilities of supporting spatial
decisions in the framework of river basin management.