Based on the spatial character of environmental variables and their relationship to land rating the authors have developed a automated method of urban land rating. The method first analyses the procedures of land rating in applying GIS

and then presents a set of spatial analysis models for the derivation of rating values. These models consisted essentially of spatial interpretation

digital terrain model

buffer and overlay analysis. The study revealed that the key technique of automated method is to establish a practical and efficient information system of urban land rating under the penetrating analysis of "Rules of Urban Land Rating" and the main steps of establishing this system are to manage the rating factors and design the analysis models.