Development disparities in the administrative-territorial units in Romania

The paper summarizes methods, data and information used for theresearch project “OpenGIS system informational for monitoring the impact of spatial planning policies – GISTEREG”. The problems proposed for resolution refer to the current planning issues of the national territory, involving:(a) developing advanced techniques and instruments for the spatial planning of national, urban and rural areas in order to strengthen the administrative capacity of accessing structural and cohesion funds(b) utilize information technology for monitoring the level of development in Romanian spatial planning according to the development guidelines of the European Union, established through Lisbon and Gothenburg strategies. Consequently, a set of proposed indices specific to regional development accounted for the administrative units and regions were transposed in a geographic information system. Using mathematical evaluation and prognosis models (ELECTRE ranking method) “hierarchies” were established for groups of territorial indicators, displayed in charts and maps underlining the socioeconomic development disparities among different regions of Romania.