Geospatial Technology and the Role of Location in Science

Far from causing the 'death of geography', Globalization has instead led to an intensified need to manage and understand geographical phenomena. This book examines the impact geospatial technology has had on the way we view spatial behavior and processes.

Globalisation has not led to the 'death of geography'. Intensified relations between communities in different parts of the world have only highlighted the need for understanding and managing phenomena on a variety of geographic scales. From global warming to credit crunch, and from epidemics to terrorism, causes and solutions are sought on local, regional, national as well as inter-continental levels. With the advent of Geospatial Technology, scholars, policymakers and entrepreneurs have valuable tools in hand to proceed.

This book offers the first systematic account of the science behind this mental and technological revolution. Tracing the adoption and dissemination of Geospatial Technology in a range of disciplines, it examines the impact this technology has had, and is likely to have, on the explanation of spatial behaviour, phenomena and processes. At the same time, stressing innovative usage, it explores scientific contributions to technology advancement.

Combines subject-specific contributions with essays aimed at synthesis Integrates evolutionistic and evolutionary models of technology integration Brings together the insights of internationally renowned Geospatial Technology scientists, educationalists and science-technology-society scholars

Inhalt
Geospatial Technology and the Role of Location in Science.- Location across Disciplines: Reflections on the CSISS Experience.- Location Awareness 2020: Addressing Auto-identification and Location in the 2020s.- Visualising Landscapes: Do Pictures Represent Theory or Data?.- Past in Place: The Role of Geo-ICT in Present-day Archaeology.- No Place in History Geo-ICT and Historical Science.- Geo-ICT in Demography: The Impact of Developments in Geoinformation and Geotechnology on the Discipline of Demography.- The Adoption of Geo-ICT in Economics: Increasing Opportunities for Spatial Research in Economics.- Spatial Planning and Geo-ICT: How Spatial Planners Invented GIS and Are Still Learning How to Use It.- Geo-ICT: Connecting Physical and Virtual Geographies.- The Role of Place and Time in the Epidemiology of Tropical Diseases.- Real Crimes on Virtual Maps: The Application of Geography and GIS in Criminology.- Geo-ICT for Risk and Disaster Management.- Geo-ICT in Transportation Science.- Geographical Information Systems and Geography Teaching.- Synthesis: Geospatial Technology and the Role of Location in Science.