Final answer:
Heuristic forecasts are useful for making quick estimates when dealing with historical data in situations of information overload, limited time, or when precision is not critical. They enable efficient decision-making by utilizing mental shortcuts or rules of thumb. While not always exact, heuristics are valuable in prompting a more detailed analysis by experts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heuristic forecasts are particularly useful for historical data that involve complex systems or situations where information is limited, the time is constrained, or the decision at hand does not require precision. These mental shortcuts are valuable for allowing decision-makers and geographers to quickly identify where trends align with the variables used in the analysis and where deviations occur. They are not always the most rational or accurate method, but they are employed when there is either an overload of information, a tight time frame for a decision, a decision of low importance, minimal information available, or when an appropriate heuristic comes to mind spontaneously. Experts utilize heuristics effectively, often obtaining a sense that their initial estimates are close to the mark before conducting any detailed analysis. This helps them identify possible mistakes and prompts a more thorough evaluation of the data.
Heuristics serve as a powerful tool in making quick, efficient, yet not always perfect, forecasts. They enable one to draw from experience and execute a 'rule of thumb' when more calculated methods are not feasible or necessary.