the future of gis geographical information system great course wokgroup of gis

THE FUTURE OF GISTHE FUTURE OF GIS

Geographical Information Geographical Information SystemSystem

GREAT COURSE WOKGROUP OF GISGREAT COURSE WOKGROUP OF GIS

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1. INTRODUCTION

GIS originated in the mid 1960s

many see GIS as a phenomenon

of the late 1980s

expansion in the late 1980s

how long can growth continue?

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2. THE REMOTE SENSING

ANALOGY Remote sensing as precursor to Remote sensing as precursor to

GIS GIS major efforts began in late 1960s major efforts began in late 1960s remote sensing well funded remote sensing well funded growth of remote sensing in 1960s and growth of remote sensing in 1960s and

1970s vastly outpaced growth in GIS 1970s vastly outpaced growth in GIS GIS often seen as add-on to remote GIS often seen as add-on to remote

sensing systems sensing systems three major lessons can be learned from three major lessons can be learned from

remote sensing analogy remote sensing analogy

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ANALOGY Need for formal theory Need for formal theory

danger that GIS will suffer in the same way as danger that GIS will suffer in the same way as remote sensing from lack of formal theory remote sensing from lack of formal theory underpinning use underpinning use

much work in remote sensing has been purely much work in remote sensing has been purely empirical, limited to specific times and places empirical, limited to specific times and places

much work is on a project basis much work is on a project basis strong theoretical framework would be basis for strong theoretical framework would be basis for

greater generality greater generality difficult to generalize results from one difficult to generalize results from one

satellite/sensor to another satellite/sensor to another effects of scale are poorly understood effects of scale are poorly understood analysis of remote sensing data has not benefited analysis of remote sensing data has not benefited

from clear understanding of spatial effects from clear understanding of spatial effects the level of theoretical development in these areas the level of theoretical development in these areas

is much higher in 1980s is much higher in 1980s

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ANALOGY Excessive expectations Excessive expectations

early promise of remote sensing was high early promise of remote sensing was high in practice, numerous problems degrade in practice, numerous problems degrade

accuracy of classification accuracy of classification continuing need for basic research continuing need for basic research post-war Western society has been post-war Western society has been

fascinated with technological solutions to fascinated with technological solutions to problems problems

difficulty of defining adequate cost/benefit difficulty of defining adequate cost/benefit measures measures

at the same time, technological change at the same time, technological change can be opposed by unconvincibles, can be opposed by unconvincibles, confirmed nay-sayers, Luddites confirmed nay-sayers, Luddites

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ANALOGY Potential for new paradigms Potential for new paradigms

many have expected remote many have expected remote sensing to produce fundamental sensing to produce fundamental changes in the ways people think changes in the ways people think about geographical information about geographical information

however, even today the however, even today the magnitudes of its future effects on magnitudes of its future effects on affected natural sciences is not affected natural sciences is not clear clear

situation in GIS has similarities situation in GIS has similarities

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ANALOGY Technical advances Technical advances

both GIS and remote sensing have both GIS and remote sensing have benefited from developments in benefited from developments in workstation power and availability of dataworkstation power and availability of data

many vendors now offer the capability of many vendors now offer the capability of integrating both technologies in the same integrating both technologies in the same workstation workstation

much research and development in much research and development in remote sensing occurred in government remote sensing occurred in government laboratories - NASA, etc. - funded by laboratories - NASA, etc. - funded by government government

GIS context is very different GIS context is very different

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3. PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

Automated geography Automated geography almost all forms of use of geographical data almost all forms of use of geographical data

can now be automated can now be automated we can use digital spatial data for specific we can use digital spatial data for specific

purposes or to develop general theories purposes or to develop general theories geographical information becomes much geographical information becomes much

more powerful in a digital environment more powerful in a digital environment some have even envisioned "the death of some have even envisioned "the death of

cartography" - the "paperless map library" - cartography" - the "paperless map library" - along similar lines to the "paperless office" along similar lines to the "paperless office"

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Automated geography Automated geography geographical information is used geographical information is used

infrequently compared to text or infrequently compared to text or numerical information numerical information

but the potential of automated but the potential of automated geography may lead to much greater geography may lead to much greater levels of use - people might use levels of use - people might use geographical data more frequently if geographical data more frequently if they had better access to it, and if it was they had better access to it, and if it was easier to use easier to use

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Spatial information science Spatial information science GIS and its allied fields, e.g. remote GIS and its allied fields, e.g. remote

sensing, add up to the makings of a sensing, add up to the makings of a science of spatial information science of spatial information

spatial information is sufficiently spatial information is sufficiently distinct, theory and problems are distinct, theory and problems are sufficiently basic and difficult to justify sufficiently basic and difficult to justify unique identity, status of minor unique identity, status of minor discipline or subdiscipline discipline or subdiscipline

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Spatial processesSpatial processes space provides a framework within space provides a framework within

which to organize objectswhich to organize objects frame is useful for accessing records, e.g. by frame is useful for accessing records, e.g. by

street addressstreet addressframe is useful for accounting, e.g. totals by frame is useful for accounting, e.g. totals by

countycountyframe is basis for relating objects, e.g. by frame is basis for relating objects, e.g. by

proximity, adjacency, connectednessproximity, adjacency, connectedness

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Spatial processesSpatial processes what role does space have as a source of what role does space have as a source of

explanation and understanding?explanation and understanding? spatial coincidence or proximity may suggest spatial coincidence or proximity may suggest

explanation, e.g. coincidence of cancer cluster and explanation, e.g. coincidence of cancer cluster and asbestos mining operation asbestos mining operation

spatial proximity may be basis for prediction, e.g. more spatial proximity may be basis for prediction, e.g. more customers will go to closer store customers will go to closer store

spatial accounting is used as basis for much analysis, spatial accounting is used as basis for much analysis, e.g. county-to-county variations in employment, health e.g. county-to-county variations in employment, health statistics statistics

many processes operate in spatial frames, e.g. many processes operate in spatial frames, e.g. atmospheric, ocean dynamics atmospheric, ocean dynamics

measures of space are variables in many processes, measures of space are variables in many processes, e.g. measures of territory in ecology, measures of e.g. measures of territory in ecology, measures of market area in retailing market area in retailing

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Spatial processesSpatial processes measures of space are variables in measures of space are variables in

many processes, e.g. measures of many processes, e.g. measures of territory in ecology, measures of market territory in ecology, measures of market area in retailingarea in retailing

the future of gis geographical information system great course wokgroup of gis

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