Geographic Information Science

Is mobile GIS changing our ‘sense of place?’

2012-11-06T08:55:00.002-08:00

(This image was located at Digital Egypt: http://www.digitaleg.com/Digital_Egypt/Mobile/GIS-Mobile-Application.html. )

In a special section in the 27 October-2 November 2012 issue of The Economist, titled Technology and Geography, various writers discussed how mobile GIS units and geographical applications are changing individuals everyday lives, society-at-large, politics, commerce and increasing globalization and connectivity. In one particular article in this section, A sense of place Geography matters as much as ever, despite the digital revolution., Patrick Lane discusses how instead of geography disappearing it is becoming more important as more applications are becoming geographical in nature.

Increasing telecommunications capacities (i.e., the Internet, social media, cell phones, GPS enhanced mobile devices etc.) and transportation innovations (just-in-time, intermodal container use for shipping via airplanes, trains, and ships, large capacity airplanes etc.),which are being better coordinated with advanced telecommunications and spatial technologies, are transforming the global society, commerce, economics and politics. (For more information how the Internet is creating cyber communities, see the following article “Culture in the Digital Metropolis: Theoretical and Methodological Crossroads” , in Urbana: Urban Affairs and Public Policy; also found in the book The Geography, Politics, and Architecture of Cities: Studies in the Creation and Complexification of Culture.) However, it is is not making a ‘flat world’ as proclaimed by Thomas Friedman, nor is it the ‘end of Geography.’

Geography is still an inherent property in all aspects of human existence. Every person and every tangible object is located in a specific physical location. Human beings still need to eat, meet people face-to face, go shopping, go to work places, and move from one location to another. Goods and people still need to be transported at all scales (globally, nationally, and local.) Mobile GIS application and devices are making relative distance smaller in terms of time and facilitating decision-making, but are not eliminating spatial relationships. Spatial relationships or geography remains regardless because people, business, industries and building still occupy a physical location. This will not change in the foreseeable future. Time travel and teleportation are not likely to go beyond the theoretical in the 21^st Century.

Underlying spatial technologies is Geographical Information Science which is firmly grounded in the discipline of Geography which encompasses spatial cognition, representation of space (Cartography), meaning of space etc. Unfortunately, the discipline of Geography is often not referenced when there is discussion of spatial technologies.

What GIS related devises do is to facilitate is the transmission of geographical information, in some cases where it was impossible to transmit, not eliminating geography. Many taxis operate with navigational equipment sometimes linked with location of clients and destinations in a dynamic GIS. People are finding ride sharing opportunies in San Francisco and other places as referenced in the before mentioned article via mobile GIS related applications. Trucks can be monitored by GPS tracking and pick-up and delivery efficiently coordinated. There is an explosion of GIS related applications for mobile units. GIS related mobile devises are also being used in internal space such as airports. It is fairly predictable that GIS related mobile devises will become more prevalent in every part of global economies and society. The costs of this technology are decreasing to become more affordable for persons, businesses and governments. The consequences will be revolutionary in all aspects.

This special section in the The Economist talks about the wonder of GIS related mobile devises. However, the advantages are not evenly spread and demonstrate the growing divide between the ‘haves and half not’ at all scales. It is mainly a phenomenon that is happening in developed nations. Even within developed nations, the users of these devices are affluent and are not helping those that who are in the lower middle or in poverty. These mobile GIS devise are making fortunes for the manufactures and those designing the software, but are not having great economic impact in the U.S., Europe, Austrailia and other countries. The devices are made generally in China or other developed coutries where the laborers are being paid very low wages while the small amount of developers and investors in very limited location such as Silicone Valley, Austin, Banglore are making above average incomes and support relatively limited low paid services in the areas that the are located. Herein lies the delimna of a rapidly technologically developing world where income disparities are not being lessened, but increased by their growth. In the late industrial age and part of the post-industrial age, incomes rose and there was overall increased prosperity, particularly in the developed world. The technological or information age, requires only cheap labor which is generally found in developing coutries leaving the vast wealth to a limited amount of people. As Richard Florida refuting the notions of Thomas Friedman in an article concerning ‘the Creative Class stated the Internet and other technology (like mobile GIS) is not creating a ‘flat earth’ but a ‘spiked’ one where all are not on an even or flat playing field.

Potential for integration of social media with local government GIS to increase citizen participation in urban planning and management (revised 19 October 2012)

2012-10-17T11:28:00.002-07:00

(image located at : http://www.cio.gov.bh/cio_eng/SubDetailed.aspx?subcatid=225)

As referenced in the previous blog entry, “Maps for the Masses: GIS on the web, Neogeography, Volunteered Geography,” there is a growing involvement of citizens using geographic information embedded in GPS, mobile phones, Google Earth, etc. Concurrently, almost every municipality, county and regional agency in the U.S. and a growing number in other countries have means for citizens to view geographic information about the city they reside, usually through some form of online GIS. This increases the transparency of urban planning and local government. However, this is still ‘top-down’ government which is not improving citizen participation directly. There is an opportunity to make GIS dynamic and interactive with its integration with social media, either existing or developed by those involved in public geographic information dissemination (local governments, regional organizations, etc.)

There could be many ways to integrate GIS and social media to enhance citizen participation in local government and urban planning. Many issues in local government are location-oriented: zoning/rezoning; subdivisions, street conditions (i.e., congestion, dangerous intersections/corridors, potholes etc.) crime; urban ‘eyesores such as overgrown yards, broken windows, abandonded buildings etc.; utility problems (i.e., power outages, water shutoffs, gas leaks) and hazardous weather (i.e, hurricanes, tornadoes etc.) These would be made more accessible through making public GIS usable on mobile devises.

For example, a citizen notices that there is a rezoning notice posted in his/her neighborhood and wants to find out more about it and make a comment. The person could search on rezoning on an agency’s online GIS, in his/her neighborhood, click on a link for the rezoning case. There could be the rezoning specifics, the opinion of the planning staff and other public officials with justifications. The person could comment on the rezoning and then give an overall point value favoring or opposing the rezoning (i.e., on a 1 to 10 with 1 meaning complete opposition and 10 complete support for the rezoning.) If there were enough responding around the vicinity of the rezoning, this could be considered an additional imput into the case for or against the rezoning.

The integration of social media and mobile technologies with public GIS opens up numerous possibilities. It may require more applications being developed that would allow for local citizens to interact thorough spatial technologies, but the benefits for citizens and local government may be extraordinary, if not revolutionary. Urban planners and public officials are often requesting information concerning citizen behavior and opinions on issues. This information has mostly been collected through traditional surveys that do not involve the citizens in the process as active participants. The integration of existing social media applications (i.e. Facebook, Twitter etc.) with urban spatial technologies may give a real time measurement of people’s opinions about existing urban problems and involve urban planners and other government officials in a dynamic process between local government and the citizens that they serve. Others such as GPS tracking, which may provide valuable information on citizen movement patterns, but more information could be acquired through its integration who social media. This is an emerging issue, as seen in the below references.

For further reading:

Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (UCL), "Social media and the emergence of open-source geospatial intelligence", in GIS and Agent-Based Modeling blog, 27 January 2012.

Andrew Hunter, Stefan Steiniger and Coral Bliss Taylor, Fédération Internationale des Géomètres/Internation Federation of Surveyors (FIG), "PlanYourPlace: Merging Social Networks and Participatory GIS for Participatory Planning", Proceedings of Working Week, 6-10 May 2012.

Daniel Sui, "Three Reasons GIS Should be Understood as Social Media", in GeoPlace.com,,,
14, October 2012.

Maps for the Masses: GIS on the web, Neogeography, Volunteered Geography

2012-09-30T23:22:00.001-07:00

Maps and map/satellite image servers (static or interactive) are common place on the Internet: Google Earth, MapQuest, etc. Often, when I am trying to find out where retail stores, movies, etc. are located, I use Google Earth. This is common for many people. If you are looking for motels at a destination, for example on a popular website, hotels.com, you can pick the city and then find its location. The maps can show in detail the streets, satellite image and nearby points of interest The maps for this site are powered by Google. There are numerous other examples of this on the Internet. This can be integrated with mobile devices such that persons can use these sites to locate a motel while travelling, see the location and then book it. Navigation systems do some of the same things. Most people are not aware they are using ‘pseudo-GIS.’ They do give a talking point with people unaware of GIS.

Like many professors teaching Geographic Information Science, I have also used Google Earth to illustrate some aspects of GIS, Remote Sensing and Cartography. Google Earth and others can be very useful in all geographically-oriented courses (i.e., urban planning, urban geography, physical geography, economic geography, etc.) For students, it is very accessible and can be used with minimal instruction. Also, if used in a laboratory, it encourages participatory learning. Some of the skills can be readily transferred to GIS, such as zooming, scales, legends, spatial proximity, boundaries, labels, orientation etc.

There are also some serious efforts to bring the power of GIS to the public, such as MapSrver . This is one example of open source GIS, but some have a higher degree of usability than others. Others ‘GIS on the web’ websites are providing geographic information for public inclusion and transparency in government, such as redistricting information for Wisconsin. These maps are created with ArcGIS Online. There are many more examples of online GIS of government and non-profit organizations

Now, the general population is becoming involved in their own map making: OpenMap, Wikimapia etc. Amateur ‘map making’ has been categorized by those in GIScience as ‘Neogeography’, or by Goodchild’s term, Volunteered Mapping. A special issue of Future Internet (2011) has academic articles concerning neogeography. Some think of the discussion of neogeography as trendy, maybe even vapid. It is interesting and hopefully giving a higher profile to spatial technologies and Geography.

Geographic Information Science is not just about spatial technologies, programming and making maps, but how geographic information is used. The use of maps and geographic information on the Internet is confusing, nebulous, non-structured, self-organizing and emerging. It is on the edge of chaos, which is where all areas of studies that are technology related are located. This is what makes GIScience diverse, dynamic, exciting and challenging. Trying to confine the definition of GIScience doesn’t work, as what is included is always shifting.

Personal Robots: a new development in Spatially-Aware Autonomous Mobile Robots (SAAMRs)

2012-09-30T13:13:00.001-07:00

(Image located with the article l "Personal Robots on the Horizon: A Robot Operating System.”
on the webpage of The Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis.)

In the past blogs, I have been exploring the rapidly developing SAAMRs.industry and Geographic Information Science. The Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis recently posted an article on personal SAAMRs, “Personal Robots on the Horizon: A Robot Operating System.”
Open source software is being developed that will further accelerate the development of SAAMRs. Within the near future they may be commonplace.

The implications of personal SAAMRs as they become more embedded in our society is revolutionary. These are directly related to the confluence of Geographic Information and technology. One of the first perceivable impact would be for those that are mentally or physically disabled. Within the house, the robot could get items, clean house, warn others about the status of the person (i.e. having trouble breathing, heart attack or general well-being), and with other SAAMRs drive the person to doctor’s appointment, help in shopping etc. The more able-bodied could use them as personal assistants.

Other possibilities such as using these robots instead of workers in factories would be foreseeable in the future as well. The social and economic impacts of this would restructure economies around the world. The cheapest labor would not be peasants in developing countries, but those countries that possessed high technology and the infrastructure for this. Even some professors could be replaced by robots.

All these tasks are dependent on spatial analysis, spatial technology, artificial intelligence and Geographic Information bringing them into the realm of Geographic Information Science. As such, these are ideas that should be contemplated upon by those in the field. I welcome comments on this subject.

Spatially-Aware Autonomous Mobile Robots (SAAMRs) and Adaptive Mapping

2012-09-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

The above video by the sFly project funded by the European Union is to demonstrate the capability of micro-aerial SAAMRs to map areas. The ultimate purpose is to assist in search and rescue, property inspection and environmental monitoring.

The element that transforms robots into SAAMRs and makes them extraordinary, going far beyond merely remote-controlled mobile machinery, is the ability of these mobile robots to sense and map their environment in real time so as to be able to explore new terrains and adapt to them.--Adaptive Mapping.

As shown in the above video.micro-aerial SAAMRs can also be utilized to collect geographic information, if they are equipped with geo-referenced cameras, GPS and other spatial technologies. This would greatly facilitate such tasks as creating an up-to-date urban GIS (particularly in those areas where there is none, as in developing countries), an environmental GIS for specific areas, detailed mapping of areas that are remote or inhospitable areas, at presumably at a much lower cost than using other methods.

Further implications of SAAMRs, once they become more affordable and pervasive in our society will be revolutionary such as: self-driving automobiles, truck and mining vehicles; automated ships, cargo and passenger planes, non human security monitoring, search and rescue, etc. There are several companies already manufacturing SAAMRs and it is expected their numbers will increase. Other implications are beyond the scope of this blog entry, whose main purpose is to introduce the potential of SAAMRs.

In the previous blog entry, I focused on the linkage between Geographic Information Science and the Mars Rover ‘Curiosity.’ However, the discussion should be broadened to consider the inclusion of SAAMRs under the umbrella of GIScience, which is the category one would place the Mars Rover ‘Curiosity' and other terrain based planetary SAAMRs.. As other outer space ventures, their technology advances have the potential to transform other technological areas , such as the increased sophistication of earth bound SAAMRs and other technological changes that can not be anticipated now.

Rovers, Robots and Rockets: the Mars Rover “Curiosity” and the symbiotic relationship of GIScience and spatially-oriented machinery (19 September 2012)

2012-09-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

(The image to the left is an artist's rendition of the Mars Rover "Curiosity" located within
the article,

" Curiosity rover to touch down on Mars: Car-sized probe targets red planet surface in $2.5 billion mission. (5 Aug. 2012)."_ on the website of MarketWatch.

On 6 August 2012, The Mars Rover “Curiosity” landed on the surface of Mars. This could be counted as among one of the world’s greatest technological achievements. However, it would not have been possible without centuries of cartographic knowledge development (coordinate systems, spatial visualization, manipulation of space etc.), Geography’s role in enabling spatial cognition and most recently the development of spatial technologies (Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing and Global Positioning Systems.) The symbiotic relationship between Geographic Information Science (GIScience), spatial technologies and the deployment of Curiosity on a planet millions of miles from earth has gone unnoticed by the popular press and apparently academics and professionals involved with GIScience.

The landing of Curiosity was flawless resulting in a fully-functional Mars Rover on the Red Planet’s surface equipped with digital cameras, sophisticated sensing devices, and specially designed wheels, that will under the guidance of N.A.S.A. engineers start to further explore it; delineating the forces that shaped it and perhaps finding life forms (not Martians with antennae, but perhaps cellular organisms.) However, the discovery process will be scientifically rigorous and naturally slow because Curiosity and other Rovers were built not for speed, but for longevity, efficiency, exploration and precision. For the news media, this does not render news for 'sound bites' or sensation. But, each day holds the promise for the advancement of science that could be far more important to society than the trivial scandals of gece-celebrities*. (For a daily report on the progress and findings of Curiosity, go to the N.A.S.A. Misson website )

Computers, advancements of robotic and advanced communication technologies enabled the successful landing of the latest Mars Rover and will further enable it to explore. However, Geographic Information Science (coordinate systems, geodetics, cartography, spatial mathematics, spatial analysis/congnition, spatial disciplines (physical geography, geology) etc.) and associated experts in physical geography, GIS ,Remote Sensing, climatology are the base foundation of spatial movement and geospatial accuracy.

The news media focused on this dramatic event for a brief moment and likewise the public has moved on to other media generated news such as Snookie’s baby, the British Royalty showing some flesh or the ongoing daily political events. However the consequences of this lastest venture will have a lasting impact on the human race, while the other previously mentioned events, being totally vapid of substance, will fade away into the footnotes of history.

Just like the moon missions, which were enabled by the symbiosis of GIScience and technology, which provided the foundation that lead to such innovations as transistors, the computer chip, the personal computer and the Internet which have now changed human society forever, we can not predict the outcomes of this latest forary into outer space.

"Curiosity" may accelerate spatially oriented ‘stuff, which resemble musings in Popular Science, such as:
agricultural equipment that automatically plows, fertilizes, plants and harvests corn, soybeans, sugar cane, wheat etc.; completely automated self-propelled ‘intelligent’ vehicles for transportation of people and goods; remote resource extraction, such as mining or drilling for oil or natural gas; and other unmanned helicopters that could be dispatched to rescue victims in remote places without the need of human inhabited bases. The Mars exploration also means that one day we will be able to use the resources of Mars and even inhabit it in the not too distant future. While these may seem like fantasies, our ancestors at the turn of the last century would not have thought of cell phones, televisions, jet planes, rockets, computers, shopping ‘online’ texting, jet planes, or other technology that we not rely.

This argument ties directly into whether GIScience programs should be myopically focusing on training GIS technicians which know how to program, make applications for the spatial technology industry, which driven by fickle market demand-driven capitalism pervading globally? Or, do we teach classes related to Geographic Information Science along with technical courses so that GIScience, which also allow for students to also use their spatial skills with spatially oriented robotics, intelligent vehicle systems, and other challenging aspects of our rapidly developing ‘New Economy.’ The leaders in GIScience, from within academia and in the spatial technology industry, will be those that clash against and disrupt rigid and trudging hierarchies found in institutions of higher learning and the private sector , form cooperative ventures from creative professional from many professions and viewpoints, and have the vision to see that dreams can become reality.

*I am coining this word based on the Turkish word gecekondu, which means a self-built structure made of 'garbage' which is built over night, hence the use of the Turkish word, gece. Subsequently, a gece-celebrity would be one with little substance that has appeared over night and will like disspear just as quickly.

Consider advertising on this blog

2012-09-08T14:33:00.001-07:00

Is your company or organization involved in the growing spatial technology field (GIS, Remote Sensing, GPS etc.)? Are you seeking to promote your business or organization?

Consider advertising on this blog.

My blog entries are provocative, timely and ‘go beyond the pale.’ All posts are original, not spun versions of entries on related webpages or blogs.

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The crooked and forked road of geographic information science education

2012-09-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

(image located at shutterstock.com )

Yogi Berra, the baseball player and trickster, stated, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” This appears to be exactly the direction that geographic information science (GIScience) education is taking. (For more 'yogisms', go toBrainyQuotes)

Instead of moving toward the ultimate goal of the creation of an accreditation of GIScience programs, there is still a fragmented, inconsistent and divergent approach to GIScience education.

Some of the underlying nagging questions concerning GIScienc programs in my mind are:
-What are students learning?
-Are they preparing them to be competitive to enter the job market?
-After completion of the courses, are the students able to perceive comprehensively GIScience, instead of being myopic GIS technicians?

In 2008, I published a paper “A road map for the development of an interdisciplinary GIScience Program at higher education institutions”. In it, I surveyed the existing GIScience programs and proposed a method of creating a ‘road’ to a development of effective and comprehensive GIScience programs. While there has been progress since the publication of this article, there is still not a consensus concerning about what makes up an quality GIScience program.

What are the reasons behind the persistent nebulous nature of GIScience programs?

Is it due to the?:
-complex and confusing world of technology which GIScience and spatial technologies are entwined;
-divergent views about what constitutes a GIScience program in higher education;
-competitive job market which appears to be driving programs to be geared toward creating GIS programmers instead of analysts;
-complex nature of GIScience;
-decreasing budgets of universities causing academicians to have less time to think about quality;
-academicians in GIScience being 'stuck in the mud' and narrowly focused on their own research and university program;
-lack of transprency for detailed evaluation of the programs; or
-combination of some of the above and other factors.

GIScience has certainly matured with very active programs across the globe and the academic, a signifiant literature and ‘brain-power’ to move GIScience education toward moving toward a consensus about a consistency and quality of GIScience programs. Yet, there is a constant ‘churning in the vortex’ in this area with increasing complexity, but no resolution. Why?

I will continue to explore this subject in later blog entries and possibility an updated paper on this subject. I would also be interested in the views of others involved in GIScience education.

Urbana: Urban Affairs and Public Policy is now listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ.)

2012-09-07T12:13:00.001-07:00

Urbana: Urban Affairs and Public Policy is now listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ.)

Please consider publishing in Urbana: Urban Affairs and Public Policy if you have manuscripts that have an urban focus.

Manuscripts related to the application of spatial technologies (GIS, Remote Sensing, GPS) within urban areas are welcome

Urbana: Urban Affairs and Public Policy is a peer reviewed, multidisciplinary open-access scholarly journal focusing on urban issues at an international level, exploring all aspects of cities and urbanization including urban planning, economics, history, politics, international relations and literature.

If you have questions about your manuscript before you submit it, or need further information about the submission process please contact Jesús A. Treviño C. at jtrevino41@hotmail.com or Michael A. McAdams at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com .

Please submit your manuscript to either of the editors, Jesús A. Treviño C. at jtrevino41@hotmail.com or Michael A. McAdams at michaelamcadams@yahoo.com as a Word attachment. The guidelines for the manuscript are found within the webpage under the tab Manuscript Submission.

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2012-09-06T23:35:00.002-07:00

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2012-09-04T13:48:00.003-07:00

For those who are visiting this blog for the first time, you may want to follow future blog entries that I might publish. Blog entries are published at least twice a week.

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A Sampling of Opinions concerning ArcGIS Online

2012-08-23T10:49:00.005-07:00

Here is what others online have stated concerning ArcGIS Online:

One the website, People.Partners.Projects., associated with Towson University (Maryland), Michael Bentivegna comments that:

In the world of media mashups, the publishing of new GIS data and applications is expected in a few weeks, if not days, and updates are expected to be nearly instantaneous.

For GIS professionals, Esri’s ArcGIS Online comes to the rescue or further enables this trend (depending upon your perspective). This platform enables the discovery, sharing, and display of GIS data in a free cloud-based software-as-a-service, social GIS ecosystem. In plain speak, it allows you to create map data mashups with great Esri hosted/developed basemaps and lots of national and global scale GIS data. http://tuoutreach.com/2011/12/13/guest-blog-a-time-to-give-arcgis-online-research-leads-to-volunteerism-mapping-application/
(Published 13 December 2011)

-On the blog, AnyGeo - GIS, Maps, Mobile and Social Location Technology, it is stated:

ArcGIS Online (AGO) is a ready to use, simple, cloud solution and is the ideal way to reach your users and potential users. AGO provides users and web administrators with effortless sharing via the web, mobile Internet, and even social media.
http://blog.gisuser.com/2012/07/28/arcgis-onlin1e-at-the-2012-esriuc-and-geography-as-a-platform-top-features-from-esriuc/
(Published 28 July 2012)

Thomas Fisher, Professor and dean, College of Design at the University of Minnesota in stated in his his blog post titled “Mapping Our Future” in the Huffington Post stated:

The world's largest data mapping company --Esri -- has recently made its databases and mapping software available online and accessible to the public, and our politics will never be the same.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-fisher/mapping-our-future_b_1731067.html
(Published 2 August 2012)

A somewhat different view of ArcGIS Online is presented on the blog, Spatially Adjusted:

Basically Esri’s ArcGIS Online is Google My Maps, but with $10,000 client software. Creating a map to share with Esri’s online APIs doesn’t make it content management. There is no geneology of data, no lifecycle to the product. Just some simple polygons or pushpins on a map that at its core isn’t what customers want. The biggest reason why Esri is pushing ArcGIS Online so much is that Google Earth Builder is a direct play toward some vision that Esri has to where GIS may go in 2012/2013.
(Published 6 January 2012)

From this cursory sampling of the content on the Internet, the reviews of ArcGIS Online are very positive as its use as a vehicle for sharing of spatial data. The only critical review is the last one which notes that ESRI is in competition with Google Earth to provide maps ‘on-the-fly’ and is lacking many features of good content management. For my earlier ‘rough’ review on ArcGIS Online, go to http://geographicinformationscience.blogspot.com/2012/08/arcgis-online-rough-review.html

Does ESRI or other GIS software developers have the ability to create a fully functional online GIS? I don’t think it is a question of ‘Is this a possibility?’, but ‘When will it happen?’ Is open source GIS software and spatial databases ‘in the cloud’ a possible trump that will send all GIS software companies into panic?

If you have not tried ArcGIS Online, go to
http://www.esri.com/landing-pages/software/agol/email.html?page=cloud&utm_source=google&utm_medium=remarketing&utm_content=728x90_Cloud&utm_campaign=arcgis-online&gclid=CIrNr9qI8rECFULktgoduwEANg

ArcGIS Online: A Rough Review

2012-08-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

As discussed in the previous blog entry, ESRI has now introduced a new product, ArcGIS Online.
I have now registered for the free trial and started to explore the different options that this new online software has to offer. I assume that many of you are also doing the same.

ArcGIS Online is a map server for companies, government agencies, educational institutions and consultants that wish to share their maps on the Internet. In essence, ArcGIS Online is an upgrade/hybrid of their free software program ArcExplorer without embedded analysis tools.

ArcGIS is not full-blown cloud oriented GIS. Therefore, its name is somewhat deceiving. I was expecting a a fully functional online GIS, but was disappointed. The name of the product should be termed ArcGIS Online Map Server.

Although, It is being widely promoted by ESRI and others in the industry, I found it lackluster, clunky and does not ‘wow’ the user. Don’t get me wrong, I think it has promise and the sharing feature is intriguing. However, it not a ‘revolution’ in the field of Geographic Information Science as ‘spun’ by ESRI.

There are several specific problems with this software:
-there is no freedom to change the colors in the maps
-the applications and tools seem to be difficult to access and install
-there is no ability to see the databases supporting the maps
-the user cannot make new thematic maps from the one served
-metadata is not easily accessible
-other usability issues (to be discussed in a forthcoming blog entry)

On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest to 10 being the highest, I rank ArcGIS Online, a 6.

I would appreciate any comments from those that have used the trial version or the full-blown version of ArcGIS Online or on spatial technologies and cloud computing. I will post all comments and then summarize and analyze them.

I must remind my readers that this is merely one evaluation of ArcGIS Online from one who is associated with the field of spatial technology. You may have completely different and valid opinions concerning some of issues raised here.

The ultimate purpose of this blog entry and other posted on this blog is to create a dialog that will progress Geographic Information Science to better serve the needs of the GIS community and the society at large.

If you have not tried ArcGIS Online, go to http://www.esri.com/landing-pages/software/agol/email.html?page=cloud&utm_source=google&utm_medium=remarketing&utm_content=728x90_Cloud&utm_campaign=arcgis-online&gclid=CIrNr9qI8rECFULktgoduwEANg .

ArcGIS in the Clouds

2012-08-18T14:12:00.005-07:00

ESRI has now introduced a new product, ArcGIS Online. I will be evaluating the program and will report back soon on my findings. I would appreciate any comments’ from those who are also evaluating the trial version of this software. I will post all comments, except spam.

If you have not tried ArcGIS Online, go to http://www.esri.com/landing-pages/software/agol/email.html?page=cloud&utm_source=google&utm_medium=remarketing&utm_content=728x90_Cloud&utm_campaign=arcgis-online&gclid=CIrNr9qI8rECFULktgoduwEANg .

Occupy the Internet! Oppose SOPA and PIPA

2012-01-18T06:25:00.000-08:00

Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S.

Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA.

The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late.

Go to:https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Public Participation and GiS

2011-11-23T17:26:00.001-08:00

Many local governments around the world have put GIS portals available for citizens and non-citizens of their jurisdiction. You can explore many cities by going on their on-line GIS pages. The flexibility of these on-line GIS sites are getting more powerful. What needs to be done is to make them interactive vehicles for citizens to see such items as rezoning requests, new subdivision applications, abandoned properties, planned roads and other public facilities. This may be being done by some GIS departments, but I am not aware of it. This would give the public the chance to review possible changes that may negatively affect their cities or their neighborhood such as environmental problems, traffic problems, lack of pedestrian facilities for new developments, etc. Along with this should be classes and online tutorials provided by the GIS department to help citizens how to use these enhanced applications. It should be further noted that they should be made portable so that they can be used on mobile devises such as cell phones, Ipad’s etc., not just on a lap top or desk top. I would apprecitate any comments on this topic.. I will be doing further research on how cities are trying to engage citizens through their on line GIS applications.

Development of a Geographic Information Science Undergraduate Curriculum, Part I

2011-10-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

During the last twenty years, the concurrent development of technology and greater access to information could only be called a revolution. It has transformed almost every spectrum of activities in the developed and to a lesser extent in the developing countries. The development and the increase sophistication, availability and usability of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) is intrinsically linked with the technological changes that occurred in the last twenty years. A large amount of literature and applications are found related to spatial technologies. Its development is dynamic and the blurring of lines the GIS and the related technologies gets hazier as it becomes easier to integrate them into cell phones, mobile GIS units, the Internet etc. They are now becoming essential to the study of any spatial phenomena. Environmentalism because of its inherent spatial nature is finding spatial technologies indispensable for inventory, planning/management and environmental emergency management. Despite the promise, there is a real need for properly trained environmental analysts with expert skills in spatial technologies.

When GIS and Remote Sensing were first being taught in institutions of higher education, teaching these technologies were considered as ‘addons’ and specialties and not part of the basic courses of the different departments. At this time, if one took a couple of courses in GIS then you were considered by many to be a GIS professional. Since this time, instruction in spatial technologies has grown due to the great demand for those that are suitably trained in the spatial technologies either as a specialist in GIS, Remote Sensing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or as an expert user who will use it as a tool in various in various disciplines such as urban planning, environmental analysis or geographic education.

What should be the recommended undergraduate curriculum for education in Geographic Information Science?

In the upcoming blog entries, I would like to introduce a discussion on the continuing development of a Geographic Information Science undergraduate curriculum.

Comments and guest blog entries are welcome on this topic.

Cloud Computing and Spatial Technologies within Geographic Information Science

2011-05-29T11:48:00.001-07:00

The advancement of computing directly affects the development of spatial technologies such as GIS, Remote Sensing and GPS. Within this context, there must be some thought given to how this affects the science, ethics, and philosophy behind the transmittal, referencing and manipulation of geographic information which are the concerns of Geographic Information Science. Those employed by firms or public agencies which have a major spatial technology component of their work are often ‘blinded’ by developments in technology. Although these are emerging relationships, it is an appropriate time to contemplate the meaning of the fast developing world of spatial technologies.

Cloud computing potentially is a revolutionary development in technology. The ability to easily access information and programs/applications within the Internet or ‘the cloud.’, presents a situation which is changing the existing relationship between hardware and software. With the rapidly developing industry of technological devises that preform many of the tasks that were formally done by laptops or desktop computers, such as the iphone, ipad and other similar devises and their integration with the communication web and the Internet, the notion of cloud computing is not just a promise, it is here. Data within spatial technologies such as GIS, Remote Sensing, and GPS increasingly flows seamlessly from one program to another often integrated with the Internet. It is natural that these programs are being linked to cloud computing. However, geographic information has some distinct characteristics which make it different from other data. Hence, the combination of cloud computing with spatial technologies should make those whose profession is related to spatial technologies to stand back and contemplate the creation, transferal manipulation, ethics, science and philosophy of geographic data.

In the next blog entry, I would like to explore the developing field of cloud computing. Followed with other entries on the relationship and emerging nature of spatial technologies integrated with cloud computing. Finally, I will conclude this ‘thread’ by summarizing the findings and contemplating the future of cloud computing and spatial technologies within the context of geographic information science. Comments are always welcome.

Spatial Technologies "in the Clouds"

2011-05-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Cloud computing could probably be one of most potentially ground-breaking innovations that has emerged in computing over its short history. But, is it just a bunch of hype? Since spatial technologies are inexplicitly tied to the growth of computer and communication technologies, there could be a major impact on them.

In the following blog entries, I would like to explore some the aspects of cloud computing and spatial technologies. In the meantime, if the readers of this blog have any comments on this subject, please post any comments to this entry.

Using GIS to Map Inequalities

2011-04-18T09:03:00.001-07:00

Using GIS to Map Inequalities in Communities from U of A Extension on Vimeo.

The Long Anastasian Wall

2011-04-13T09:56:00.001-07:00

This clip uses 3-D design of the Anastasian Wall over a generated terrain and with a backdrop of a sattelite image.

Geospatial Intelligence for Military Uses

2011-04-13T09:44:00.001-07:00

The Power of GIS... the Power Behind the Map

2011-04-13T09:38:00.001-07:00

Using GIS for Crime Analysis

2011-04-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

GIS and the GeoWeb

2011-04-13T09:31:00.001-07:00