Reflections and speculations on the progress in Geographic Information Systems (GIS): a geographic perspective

Great strides have been made in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) research over the past half-century. However, this progress has created both opportunities and challenges. From a geographic perspective, certain challenges remain, including the modelling of geographic-featured environments with GIS data model, the enhancement of GIS’s analysis functions for comprehensive geographic analysis and achieving human-oriented geographic information presentation. Several basic theoretical and technical ideas that follow the workflow and processes of geographic information induction, geographic scenario modelling, geographic process analysis and geographic environment representation are proposed to fill the gaps between GIS and geography. We also call for designing methods for big geographic data-oriented analysis, making best use of videos and developing virtual geographic scenario-based GIS for further evolution.     

地理信息系统学科中几个基本问题探讨

地理信息科学(GISci)尚不成熟,但中国地理信息系统(GIS)高等教育发展快速,因此GIS学科发展面临许多问题和挑战。尝试从哲学本体论、认识论和方法论角度探讨GIS学科中的几个基本问题:现实世界、概念世界、数字世界、空间认知、空间表达、空间分析与研究方法,同时从社会实践角度总结了GIS应用中的组织、管理与社会问题。1)系统总结地理空间、空间认知与信息表达的关系以及地理信息的基本特征;2)回顾GIS的概念与内涵演变,论证GIS概念的多样性与同一性,分析了几个代表性的GIS研究方向;3)在回顾地理学研究范式转变的基础上,探讨空间分析、知识产生过程以及基于GIS的地理学研究范式;4)辨析GIS与组织管理间的关系、GIS与社会间的互动关系,特别强调发展中国家GIS应用面临的问题。建议围绕“空间认知与表达”、“GIS方法论”、“GIS、组织与社会”进行跨学科研究,完善GIS学科体系。     

从地图到地理信息系统与虚拟地理环境--试论地理学语言的演变

地理学语言是人类认识地球环境和人类社会交流与传递地理信息的重要媒介。该文从传统地图、计算机制图、地理信息系统与遥感，到虚拟地理环境的发展，阐述了地理语言的演变与发展特征。作为地理语言的最新发展，笔者认为虚拟地理环境可以让地理学语言变得更为贴近地理信息的使用者，并为当今可持续发展的公众参与提供一种新的交流平台。虚拟地理环境是区域自然环境和社会经济环境的虚拟模型，它在强调地理信息使用者身临其境之感受的同时，还追求超越现实的理解。     

GIS应用中认知阶层性对地理信息有效传输的影响

GIS应用的最终目的是使其所包含的地理信息有效传递。该文从信息科学、认知科学及地理信息科学角度出发,指出认知空间和地理空间的阶层对应性是实现地理信息有效传递的基础;提出两类空间重叠区的概念,并阐明其在信息有效传递过程中的重要作用;确立认知科学在GIS应用中的两个基本原则是建立这种对应性的理论依据;强调信息制造者(制图者)是构建这种对应性的实施者,而信息接收者(用户)对认知空间分类阶层的正确识别则是构建这种对应性的出发点。     

The Pedagogical Benefits of Participatory GIS for Geographic Education

In this article, participatory GIS (PGIS) is explored and established as a powerful platform for geographic education. PGIS pedagogy can help educators meet diverse learning objectives pertaining to: (1) local knowledge and place-based thinking; (2) community engagement; (3) field mapping with geospatial technologies; (4) mixed-methods research; and (5) fostering of critical reflexivity in students. The discussion is supported with insights from multiple student-facilitated PGIS projects organized in rural Tanzania. There also is a thorough discussion of the challenges and caveats associated with involving students in PGIS projects, and a call for new research for assessing and advancing PGIS pedagogy.     

Commentaries on “Evaluating the Geographic in GIS”

In this article, four geographers who are also GIS practitioners critique “Evaluating the Geographic in GIS.” Sparked by the arguments in that article, they pose fundamental questions about how geography can best contribute to GIS practices.     

Teaching GIS in Geography*

Although numerous courses in geographic information systems (GIS) have been introduced into the geography curriculum over the past few years, there has been remarkably little debate over the issues involved. This paper first discusses the arguments for geography as an appropriate disciplinary setting for GIS teaching at the undergraduate level. This is followed by a discussion of the nature of GIS courses and their appropriate place in the undergraduate geography curriculum. The final section of the paper describes the NCGIA Core Curriculum project and examines its significance in this broader context.     

Geographic Education and Careers in Geography

Abstract

Disciplinary concern with career options and opportunities has fluctuated over the years. Not surprisingly, geography continues to be incorrectly stereotyped as a field of study offering limited employment prospects. While geographic education has long focused on content, it must also embrace the importance of educating instructors, students, and career counselors concerning how the field opens doors to viable careers. This article presents a program that can be implemented by college and university departments to raise awareness and disseminate information about career opportunities in geography. The program emphasizes an integrated approach that includes partnerships with alumni, campus placement offices, and employers.     

Using the Internet to Integrate Thematic and Regional Approaches in Geographic Education

Geographers have long debated the superiority of regional versus thematic approaches to geographical analysis and geographic education. While most acknowledge that these two approaches are complementary, the task of implementing both approaches in a single introductory course remains challenging. “Global Change, Local Places,” an Internet–based course offered at Florida State University, attempts to fuse thematic and regional approaches using methodological and pedagogical techniques that emphasize student–centered learning and Internet technologies. Results of a student survey and analysis of student assignments suggest that this format was successful. Students expressed a high level of satisfaction with course content, and, although attainment of skills and knowledge was particularly hard to measure given the structure and goals of the course, students appear to have gained country–specific knowledge as well as skills in critical analysis using thematic concepts.     

30 years of IJGIS: the changing landscape of geographical information science and the road ahead

The International Journal of Geographic Information Science (IJGIS), established in 1987, is the first academic journal devoted solely to Geographical Information Science (GIS) research. This editorial highlights milestones of the journal development and its influences on the field. IJGIS research articles and special issues have been effective in publishing the state of the art and emerging research accomplishments. In light of the changing landscape of GIS, IJGIS welcome papers on meta-analysis studies, literature reviews, and research foresight. This editorial outlines the underlying thinking and expectations for these papers in future volumes. IJGIS aspires to publish research of high novelty and broad interest that pushes the boundary of fundamental and applied GIS. As an independent, multidisciplinary journal driven by the community of authors, reviewers, and readers, community support is key to realizing the aspiration of a major influence on GIS research.     

GIS在卫生与健康领域的应用探索——中国鼠疫医学地理信息系统的设计与建立

应用医学地理与GIS方法建立中国鼠疫医学地理信息系统,分析病情分布时空结构及其与环境及社会经济因素的相关性,在确立对病情定量评估方法的基础上,建立病情动态监测与预报模型, 为有效防治疾病的发生、流行提供科学依据, 为建立以多种疾病为基础的中国环境--疾病信息系统做理论及实践探索。     

A Pedagogic Framework to Link GIS to the Intellectual Core of Geography

Abstract

This paper aims to develop a new pedagogic framework for teaching GIS at the college and university level using Berry's geographic matrix. By synthesizing different schools of thought, this paper argues that GIS education essentially involves two aspects—how to teach about GIS and how to teach with GIS. Berry's geographic matrix can be used to tie these dual aspects of GIS education together neatly. As an abstract representation of geographical phenomena, the geographic matrix embeds all three entities of GIS—location, attribute, time—and thus can help GIS instructors teach about GIS. As a synthesis of geographical approaches, the geographic matrix can assist GIS instructors teach with GIS. This paper demonstrates that GIS is actually an implementation of Berry's geographic matrix. Furthermore, the 10 approaches to geographical analysis, originally proposed by Berry for the geographic matrix, can be executed routinely in a GIS environment. By incorporating Berry's geographic matrix into GIS education, teachers can enable students to surpass technical issues and to appreciate the conceptual and functional linkages between GIS and geography's intellectual core.     

A Time-Sensitive Framework for Including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Professional Development Activities for Classroom Teachers

This work shares a time-sensitive framework for teaching GIS to educators of all levels and disciplines. Existing relationships with teachers enabled the addition of GIS content in professional development activities. The amount of time devoted to GIS-related content varied depending on time made available for interaction with the audience. Content audiences included geography, history, social studies, science, agriculture, religion, and math teachers. The framework was developed, tested, and refined over a period of six years, during thirty-six trainings, and with 580 educators. Use of this framework emphasizes that not one size fits all in GIS education and that GIS can work for any teacher, their content, their classroom, and their time availability.     

GIS在历史、文化地理学研究中的应用及展望

通过对文献的综合分析,总结了GIS应用于历史地理学、文化地理学、考古和文化资源管理以及空间社会科学的研究进展,并介绍了我国历史文化地理信息系统的建设实践。尽管在历史地理和文化地理研究中GIS应用仍面临一些问题,但它拥有巨大的潜力。因此,国内历史地理和文化地理学者应该重新认识GIS的作用,开发适合的GIS应用软件,搭建跨学科的合作研究平台,争取将GIS在历史文化研究中的应用纳入数字城市计划之中。     

Integrating GIS into the Undergraduate Learning Environment

Abstract

Despite the promise of GIS, substantial barriers have prevented its widespread use in geographic education. Among the key factors are technical impediments stemming from software complexity, pedagogic issues related to the lack of experienced faculty and the shortage of curriculum materials, and systemic issues associated with faculty motivation. This case study describes strategies that were employed for addressing each of these barriers in a large enrollment, multisection world geography course. Successful implementation of those strategies has enabled large numbers of students in classes taught by instructors with no formal GIS experience to spend a substantial amount of time learning geography with the help of simple, easy-to-use GIS software applications.     

Geographic information systems and health: An educational resource

Abstract

The use of geographic information systems to analyze spatial dimensions of health care and disease ecology is becoming a realistic prospect for investigators in the social sciences. This review of the literature, bringing together a diverse collection of professional and academic journals, can be grouped into four categories: potential, cautionary, preliminary, and application. Enough references have been collected and reviewed to provide instructors with material for a classroom unit about 1) using GIS in a medical geography class: 2) medical applications in a GIS class; or 3) using GIS in classes which have a health and disease component.     

GIS和地理本体在岷江上游干旱河谷范围界定中的应用研究

基于地理本体应用模型,从干旱河谷自然本底特点及其形成机制入手,利用本体建模软件protege 4.1构建岷江上游干旱河谷领域本体模型,利用该区域基础地理数据分类提取出DEM、坡度、相对高程、土壤、裸地分布数据,在ArcGIS平台下实现基于地理本体的干旱河谷特征数字化表达,并利用栅格计算器定量界定出岷江上游干旱河谷区面积为118 515hm2。研究表明,利用地理本体深入剖析干旱河谷概念特征,在GIS技术支持下定量界定干旱河谷区域范围的方法具有一定的可行性,为相关领域边界范围的科学界定和形象化概念分类表达提供了一种全新的解决思路。     

虚拟地理实验概念框架与应用初探

从实验科学与实验地理学的角度,结合空间信息与虚拟地理环境技术,讨论"虚拟地理实验"概念、特征及研究理论与框架.以辽宁浑河沈阳城市段防洪为案例,介绍虚拟地理实验在城市洪水模拟和防洪工程规划中的应用.     

地理表达研究进展

地理表达是地理学的一个基本问题,也是地理信息科学研究面临的一个重大挑战.从地理表达机理、内容和形式的角度,对近期地理表达研究进行了总结.本质上,地理表达是一个空间认知、信息转换与信息传输的交互过程.地理表达内容涉及地理实体及其空间关系、不确定性、地理动态及地理本体等方面.地理表达形式经历了从自然语言、地图到GIS的演变...     

美国大学区域地理教育的发展与变迁--以亚洲地理教育为例

区域地理是地理学教育与研究的一个重要组成。在当今经济与环境的全球化过程中,对区域地理课程的需求有了明显上升。区域地理教育的重要性也引起了方面的重视。美国大学区域地理教育的发展与变迁主要受两方面的影响：一是地理教育在国民教育中的地位;二是某个区域在国际事务中的重要性以及与美国的关系。在过去３０年中,随着近年来亚洲经济的高速发展和它在国际中的地位日益提高,以及亚洲与美国贸易额的的迅速增长,亚洲地理课在