Geographic information science
Scientific discipline studying geographic information and its applications.
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Geographic information science (GIScience, GISc) is a scientific discipline at the crossroads of computational science, social science, and natural science. It studies geographic information, including how it represents real-world phenomena, how it represents human understanding of the world, and how it can be captured, organized, and analyzed. As a sub-field of geography, specifically part of technical geography, it has applications to both physical and human geography, as well as many other fields and industries.
The field was formally defined by British geographer Michael Goodchild in the 1990s, who identified its core interests as spatial analysis, visualization, and the representation of uncertainty. GIScience is distinct from geographic information systems (GIS), which are the actual data repositories, software tools, and professional practice. Instead, GIScience seeks practical ways to improve GIS data, software, and professional application, focusing on how GIS is used in real-world contexts.
The discipline is conceptually related to geomatics, information science, computer science, and data science, but claims independent status. Overlapping fields include geocomputation, geoinformatics, and geovisualization. Since its inception, the boundaries between GIScience and related disciplines have been contested, with different communities offering varying definitions.
Goodchild described it as the subset of information science concerned with geographic information. Another influential definition, by David Mark, frames it as basic research that redefines geographic concepts for use in GIS, examines GIS’s impacts on individuals and society, and draws from fields like cognitive science, statistics, and psychology. Recent developments have expanded its focus to include human dynamics in hybrid physical-virtual worlds, quantum GIScience, smart cities, and the social and environmental impacts of technological innovations, reflecting a growing intersection with contemporary societal issues.
Quick Facts
- Subfield of
- Geography (technical geography)
- Defined by
- Michael Goodchild (British geographer)
- Core interests
- Spatial analysis
- visualization
- representation of uncertainty
- Overlapping disciplines
- Geocomputation
- geoinformatics
- geomatics
- geovisualization
- Related terms
- Geographic data science, geographic information science and technology (GISci&T)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
British geographer Michael Goodchild defined geographic information science in the 1990s and summarized its core interests, including spatial analysis, visualization, and the representation of uncertainty. Since its inception, the boundaries between GIScience and cognate disciplines have been contested, with different communities disagreeing on what GIScience is and what it studies. Goodchild stated that 'information science can be defined as the systematic study according to scientific principles of the nature and properties of information. Geographic information science is the subset of/or information science that is about geographic information.' Another influential definition by David Mark describes GIScience as the basic research field that seeks to redefine geographic concepts and their use in the context of geographic information systems, also examining the impacts of GIS on individuals and society.
Reader's Guide
Geographic information science is significant as a distinct scientific discipline that bridges computational, social, and natural sciences. It focuses on improving geographic information systems (GIS) data, software, and professional practice, emphasizing real-world application rather than being a tool itself. The field has expanded to include studies on human dynamics in hybrid physical-virtual worlds, quantum GIScience, smart city development, and the social and environmental impacts of technological innovations.
Overlapping disciplines include geocomputation, geoinformatics, geomatics, and geovisualization. Related terms such as geographic data science and geographic information science and technology (GISci&T) have emerged, with corresponding job titles like geospatial information scientists and technologists. The field supports research in political science and anthropology while drawing from computer science, statistics, mathematics, and psychology.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Geographic information science (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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