Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Geographic Information Technologies

1
Introduction to Geographic Information Science
and Geographic Information Technologies
2
Vermeer's-The Geographer
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Definition of Geographic Information Science
(GIScience)the long one

• Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is
  the basic research field that seeks to redefine
  geographic concepts and their use in the context
  of geographic information systems. GIScience also
  examines the impacts of GISon individuals and
  society, and the influences of society on GIS.
  GIScienc re-examines some of the most fundamental
  themes in traditional spatiallyoriented fields
  such as geography, cartography, and geodesy,
  while incorporating more recent developments in
  cognitive and information science. It also
  overlaps with and draws from more specialized
  research fields such as computer science,
  statistics, mathematics, and psychology, and
  contributes to progress in those fields. It
  supports research in political science and
  anthropology, and draws on those fields in
  studies of geographic information and
• society. (Mark, 2000)

4
Alternative Definition of Geographic Information
Science (GIScience)well not as long, but still
verbose (wordy)

• Geographic Information Science is the
  foundation, theory, methodology and necessary
  for the analysis of spatial information and
  phenomena (McAdams 2007).

5
What are Some of the elements of GIScience?

• Mathimatics (statistics, cellular automata,
  fractal analysis etc.)
• Cartography and visualization
• Geodesy
• Spatial Analysis technics (e.g., buffering,
  overlay, etc.)
• Information science
• Computer science
• Applications
• Social Impacts

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Structure of Geographic Information Science
GIScience
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Spatial Technologies

• Spatial technologies are computer assisted tools
  utilized in the understanding of phenomena that
  have a spatial dimension.
• The spatial technologies are generally accepted
  as Geographic Information Systems, Remote
  Sensing and Global Positioning Systems
• They are separate and distinct technologies, but
  highly related.
• Dependent upon the elements of Geographic
  Information Science

8
Relationships of Spatial Technologies
Geographic Information Systems
Remote Sensing
Global Positioning Systems
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Example of Uses of spatial technologies

• Agriculture
• Site Location (commercial, industrial,
  residential)
• Geology
• Urban Planning
• Transportation
• Environment
• Utilities
• Business
• Logistics

10
Uses in Agriculture?
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Office Location
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Residential Location
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Transportation
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Urbanization
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Archeology
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Environment
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Conclusion

• In this class, we will learn about Geographic
  Information Technologies and their relationship
  to helping us as Geographers spatial
  relationships.
• We will also be looking at the relationship
  between GIScience and spatial technologies.
• We will view the technologies not as ends in
  themselves, but as tools in greater spatial
  understanding.
• Later classes, we will learn how to use the
  tools.