Spatial data mining consists of the use of database information and manipulation through algorithms to process spatial information as effectively as possible. it is able to use available information to infer other pieces of information through dependancy between variables. Thus, it can relate to aspects of spatial privacy by using personal information voluntarily provided to determine additional information about people that might otherwise not be divulged (or areas for the use of this paper).
To be upfront, spatial data mining is a topic that I was rather intimidated to look into. Since I have a basic understanding of computer science and was confused by the majority of the more technical information presented in the paper. However, I thought the paper did a good job at conveying how the concepts are used and why they are applied; I understood the logic behind the algorithms and how information is mined. effectively, i believe that the paper caters to a wide audience thanks to its combination of technical and conceptual information.
The article explicitly covers the basics of spatial data mining; basic operations and concepts used in the area of study. This raises the question “what are the complex and advances methods of spatial data mining?”. If this paper was written in 1997, the field has probably made considerable advances since and what new methods might be on the horizon. However for the purpose of this article, the basics were very well introduced to provide a range of readers to learn about the field of spatial datelining though knowledge discoveries in databases.