Curtin (2007)

As with many of the topics covered in class, though I have used network analysis, I never read much background on the subject, because I mostly used it as a tool in various GISystems applications. For instance, I had not ever thought of the origin of the shape file, or some of the positive/negative attributes beyond the fact that I use shape files for some things, and not for others. Once again, this shows the shortcomings of using GIS strictly as a tool, and some of the important background and concepts that are lost when used in this way.

One thing that particularly stood out in this article by Curtin (2007) was the discussion of the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP), and how solutions are heuristic, and the problem/ abstraction from “true” solutions not properly or completely understood. To me, this links back to the what I feel I am getting out of this course, which is a deeper understanding of the background, importance, and shortcomings of various GIScience concepts which is truly lacking in other GIS courses I have taken. As Curtin (2007) mentions, network analysis is now mostly used in route mapping like MapQuest (once upon a time) and Google Maps, without most people having any background knowledge on how those routes are computed or the algorithms used. This is something that the author touches on briefly, but doesn’t explore fully, and something I feel is very important in the broadening use of GIScience in everyday life.

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