GIS: Tool or Science? Demystifying the Persistent Ambiguity of GIS as “Tool” versus “Science” – Wright, Goodchild, and Proctor (1997)
Wright, Goodchild and Proctor seem hung up on the status of GIS as a tool, tool-making practice, or science. To them, defining GIS is a necessity so as to improve its instruction and direction within academia. In this article they seek to answer whether it should be taught as a tool to undergraduates or as a research pursuit for graduates. In their observation, which seemingly undermines their pedagogic objective, the authors pose this question to the GIS community via an open, online forum.
At first glance I was caught up by the rigour of this method. How could this be considered legitimate? How could any meaningful insight be derived from such an informal setting? Was this in any way a scientific method to determine the existence of a science?
After reflecting on the fact that the majority of GIS users are not academic researchers, I realized that this might be an ideal question for a wide-cast, industry-based audience. Perhaps the answer should be openly sourced in this manner. ‘Open’ should not be a four-letter word when it comes to data sourcing. As we learned last class, open source data projects such as Open Street Maps have a similar accuracy to pervasive applications such as Google Maps. Furthermore, certain areas such as Mogadishu, Somalia—areas which have little commercial value to corporations e.g. Google—are more accurately portrayed on open source, collaborative platforms. What would be a better audience to ask such a question than GIS users themselves?
There are so many dimensions to analzye when considering whether or not GIS is a science. In this article Wright, Goodchild and Proctor not only recognize but also address the issue of academic esotericism. Instead of limiting the discourse to academic circles, the trio brings the discussion to all GIS users by putting it online. Going beyond the bounds of the university, the online forum also addresses the subject of biases in academia. For instance, the Faculty of Science hosts the Department of Geography, therefore, it is in the best interest of GIS researchers to frame GIS as a science.
Although I have not drawn my own conclusion as to whether or not GIS is a science as a consequence of this article, I have however become increasingly interested in the validity of openly source opinions, information, and data.
– BCBD