GEOG 350&550 - Introduction to Geographic Information Science

Introduction GIS is a convergence of technological fields

and traditional disciplines GIS has been called an "enabling technology"

because of the potential it offers for the wide variety of disciplines which must deal with spatial data

each related field provides some of the techniques which make up GISmany of these related fields emphasize data

collection - GIS brings them together by emphasizing integration, modeling and analysis

as the integrating field, GIS often claims to be the science of spatial information

GISystems, GIScience and GIStudies

GISystems– Emphasis on technology and tools

Geospatial technologies– Emphasis on use of GIS and associated technologies

GIScience– Fundamental issues raised by the use of GIS and

related technologies (e.g.)• Spatial analysis• Map projections• Accuracy• Scientific visualization

Computer Science

• Software• Databases• Networks• Programming

Desktop GIS

Client-server GIS

Centralized Desktop GIS

Centralized Server GIS

The Mobile User

• It is increasingly possible to obtain the services of a GIS through hand-held and wearable devices– Some cellphones can now be used to

generate maps• Such maps can be centered on the user's current

location

Map showing WiFi hotspots in the area surrounding the user's current location (the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC)

Virtual Reality

• Use of digital technology to create an artifical visual and auditory environment that simulates the actual environment elsewhere– User and subject are in different locations– Technology allows the user to explore a

remote location

Augmented Reality

• The user is in the subject location– Technology is used to augment the user's

senses– Information from a database can be displayed

directly in the user's field of view• Superimposed on what is actually seen

A wearable computer in use. The outfit consists of a processor and storage unit hung on the user's waist belt; an output unit clipped to the eyeglasses with a screen approximately 1 cm across and VGA resolution; an input device in the hand; and a GPS antenna on the shoulder. The batteries are in a jacket pocket. (Courtesy: Keith Clarke)

The system worn here by Reg Golledge (a leader of the development team) uses GIS and GPS to augment the senses of a visually impaired person navigating through a complex space such as a university campus. (Courtesy: Reginald Golledge)

Location-Based Services

• An LBS is an information service provided by a device that:– Knows where it is– Modifies the information that it provides

accordingly

How Does a Device Know Where It Is?

• GPS on board– Many current cellphones– Increasing numbers of vehicles

• Fixed device, location established when device installed– Point-of-sale systems

• Location deduced from Internet address

InfoSplit's business is based on determining the locations of Internet users, allowing Web services to determine where their users are located

Distributing the Software

• A GIService is a GIS process provided remotely– A user can send a request and receive a

result• A gazetteer service will accept a placename and

return that location's coordinates• A geocoding service will accept a street address

and return the house's coordinates

Advantages of GIServices

• Users do not need to obtain and install expensive software

• Only one version of the service software need exist– It is always the latest version

• Data used in the service can be kept constantly up to date

Hand-held

Field-based GIS

• Lightweight hardware

• Extension of desktop

• Limited capabilities

• Data collection

• Mobile mapping

$500

GIS and the Internet

• Internet becoming integral part of society– Internet is the network infrastructure– World Wide Web is the software that allows

us to connect and

• Distributed computing environment– Move beyond individual desktop workstations– Allows for sharing of data and analyses

• Access to GIS data and mapping remotely

Web-based GIS

• Often used in Participatory GIS

• Allows for broad access

Multimedia GIS

• Integrate other types of media into GIS

• Qualitative information

Where is Internet GIS heading?

• Geospatial Web

• Digital Globes

• LBS/Mobile GIS

• Virtual Worlds/metaverse?

Beyond data capture

• Now moving to greater data access

• Information for the masses

• Open ‘commercial’ access to global, often high resolution, information– Google Earth– Google Local– Virtual Earth– Yahoo! Maps

Web Services

• Services-Oriented Architecture (SOA)

• Client-server schema

• Services can support– Data access, processing, analysis

• Geoprocessing services turn IMS to IGS– ArcGIS Server– OGC Geo Processing Workflow (GPW)

Open Standards

• Interoperability is key to success of distributed GIS

• Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)

What is the Geospatial Web?

• Web 2.0– AJAX & ATLAS

• Web Services– XML driven data and processing

• Web-based mapping– Commercial and OpenSource

• Collaborative mapping– Mash-ups

The basis of the Geospatial Web

• History– MapQuest, IMS, WebMap, MapServer

• Today (2006)– Where 2.0

• Introduction of mapping applications• Mash-Ups

– Ambient Findability (2005)• Links information science and geospatial tech

Web mapping and GIS functionality

• Free Web Mapping Applications not true GIS– Only display maps and offer simple geocoding – No real data management or spatial analysis

• Move toward incorporation of GIS functions– Developer applications that offer basic GIS functions– Microsoft Virtual Earth now includes heads-up

digitizing capability

Web 2.0 mapping sites

• Shared features– Free, ‘easy-to-use’ API– Collaborative mapping/Mash-ups

• Google Maps– First in market with hybrid (road and raster)

• Virtual Earth– MapCruncher – wizard for creating simple web

mapping applications

• Yahoo! Maps– Flash and AJAX interfaces

Social Networking

• Tied to the Web 2.0 phenomenon• Links social interaction through location

– geotagging

• WikiMapia• Outside.in

Democratizing spatial data

• Spatial data issues:– Expensive– Limited availability – Collected for a specific purpose– Usually tied to a specific software

• Opening access to data– Web democratizes data– Free, open access

Digital globe initiatives

• Google Earth– KeyHole

• World Wind• Skyline Globe and similar commercial• Leica Virtual Environment• ArcGIS Explorer• ArcScene• ArcGlobe• Scientific use of Virtual Globes conferences

Google Earth as Multimedia GIS

• Feature Content functionality– Upload photos, video, and audio

• User-driven, collaborative

• Google’s “Geographic Web”

Web-based Immersive Environments

• Virtual Worlds– Second Life

• Metaverse Roadmap– “What happens when video games meet Web

2.0? When virtual worlds meet geospatial maps of the planet? When simulations get real and life and business go virtual? When your avatar becomes your blog, your desktop, and your online agent? What happens is the metaverse”

Geospatial Semantic Web

• Semantic web attempts to create a universal schema for information exchange

• The Geospatial Semantic Web seeks to develop schema to support spatial information exchange– GML– GeoRSS

• OCG’s GSW Interoperability Experiment

GIS for everyone?

• The geospatial web is:– moving the idea of mapping forward

• New map makers creating mash-ups

– broadening the user-base of geospatial info– repositioning the balance of geospatial tech

• Traditional industry leaders are pressed to keep up with new trends

• The trend is toward mapping for everyone– GIS will remain professionally driven