“Geographical information science” – Michael F. Goodchild (1992)
Written in 1992, Michael F. Goodchild’s paper, “Geographical information science” is an intriguing time capsule of how one GIS researcher characterized the discipline. Now—some 22 years later—we are in an exciting position to assess how much GIS has evolved. Unfortunately, we still “tend to treat our GIS displays as if they were virtual sheets of paper,” however, I am happy to report that technologies such as Google Earth have improved the representation of the spheroid (33). Global-scale applications such as Google Earth & Maps and open-source projects such as Open Street Maps must have been unfathomable to researcher in 1992. Additionally, three-dimensional graphics are improving steadily and filling out the z-axis, previously limited by aerial stereoscopy and elevation isolines. Three-dimensional projections are even finding their place in the abovementioned Internet applications and are being incorporated in public platforms such as YouSayCity. In “Geographical Information Science Fifteen Years Later,” Goodchild acknowledges that he completely underestimated “the impact of the Internet” (2007).
The accessibility of technology is another major way breakthrough that flew under Goodchild’s radar. Goodchild, circa 1992, mentions that a “digital field geology notebook” could be a possible future technology for research (35). Goodchild believed such a technology would be niche product for academics and industry. The capability and proliferation of smart phones was an unimaginable event that would change the ways through which people utilize geographic information. I believe Goodchild would stand by naming Google Maps the “Killer App of the 21st Century.”
On the topic of accessibility, it is interesting to point out that Goodchild addressed the ethical issue of GIS’ relationship with society. In particular he questions whether GIS will empower those already with power or if it will be used to redistribute power to those without it. It surprises me that GIS researchers were already considering this issue in 1992. I wonder what Goodchild thinks of the emergence of grassroots mapping projects.
– BCBD