Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is a set of techniques designed specifically for the analysis of complex problems. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) focus on spatial problem-solving and spatial analysis. The integration of these methodologies offers a powerful approach to decision making. Despite the fact that most spatial decision problems are multi-criteria problems by nature, the process of MCDM is not well established or effectively integrated into the field of spatial analysis and GIS. This research focuses on bridging the gap between MCDM and GIS. To this end, a generic MCDM extension was designed and implemented in ArcView. As a result, a first version MCDM extension is offered. The extension expands ArcView's functionality with a limited set of MCDM methods. This functionality is illustrated on two problems involved with developing the tourism potential at Coutada 16 Wildlife Reserve in Mozambique. The MCDM extension facilitates procedures that allow the evaluation of spatial problems and includes the ability to deal with both raster and vector data. This system offers a generic problemsolving environment, which can be used to evaluate geographical problems of any nature. This research identifies a number of improvements to the developed functionality and successfully illustrates the potential problem-solving capabilities associated with MCDM integrated with ArcView. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Multi Kriteria Besluitneming (MKBN) is n versameling metodes vir die analise van komplekse probleme. Geografiese Inligtingstelsels (GIS) fokus op geografiese probleemoplossing en analise. Die integrasie van hierdie twee metodologieë bied 'n kragtige benadering tot besluitneming. Ten spyte daarvan dat die meeste geografiese probleme in wese meerveranderlik van aard is, is MKBN nie effektiefbinne die raamwerk van GIS geïntegreer nie. Hierdie studie fokus op die oorbrugging van die gaping tussen MKBN en GIS. Met hierdie doel voor oë is 'n generiese MKBN-uitbreiding vir ArcView ontwerp en geïmplementeer. Die resultaat is 'n eerste- weergawe MKBN-uitbreiding. Die uitbreiding brei ArcView se funksionaliteit uit om 'n beperkte versameling MKBN-metodes in te sluit. Die nuut ontwikkelde funksies word geïllustreer aan die hand van twee probleme wat die ontwikkeling van die toerismepotensiaal vir die Coutada 16 Wildreservaat in Mosambiek aanspreek. Die uitbreiding maak voorsiening vir 'n MKBN-evaluasie van geografiese probleme en besit die vermoë om beide vektor- en roosterdata te analiseer. Hierdie stelsel verskaf 'n generiese omgewing vir probleemoplossing wat gebruik kan word om byna enige geografiese probleem te analiseer. Die studie identifiseer verbeteringe op en uitbreidings van die ontwikkelde funksies en slaag daarin om die potensiaal van probleemoplossing wat deur die integrasie van MKBN-tegnieke met ArcView moontlik gemaak word, te illustreer.