In GIS, what is 'spatial analysis' primarily concerned with?

Spatial analysis in GIS focuses on examining relationships and patterns in spatial data. This process involves evaluating the geographic distribution of features, understanding the interactions among entities, and detecting patterns that may not be immediately obvious. By employing various methods, such as overlay analysis, proximity analysis, and spatial statistics, spatial analysis helps in deriving meaningful insights from geographic data.

Understanding these relationships is essential for tasks such as urban planning, resource management, environmental analysis, and transportation modeling. The ability to visualize and interpret spatial patterns can assist decision-makers in formulating strategies based on the geographic context of their data, ultimately leading to better-informed decisions in various fields.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary concern of spatial analysis: analyzing geographical names focuses on nomenclature rather than spatial relationships, assessing the visual appeal of maps pertains to cartography and design, and reviewing historical documents relates to archiving and historical research rather than analyzing spatial data.