Geographic information science (GISc) and systems (GIS) have grown rapidly in recent decades, increasingly on a separate track from geographic thought. As geography's "big ideas"--such as space, place, boundaries, scale, process, and relationality--have evolved, what does this mean for their computational representation? This book considers how key concepts have developed in geography and are represented (or not) in GISc, with a view to bridging gaps between the two. David O'Sullivan shows how revisiting the theoretical underpinnings of geography offers insights on enduring GIS challenges--including map projections, the modifiable areal unit problem, scale and map generalization, and the nature of space and place--while also enriching geographic thought. The book uses examples from across geography's subdisciplines to promote understanding. Chapters are self-contained essays that can easily form the basis of classroom discussions.
David O'Sullivan, PhD, is Professor of Geography and Geospatial Science at Te Herenga Waka--Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He has previously held positions at Penn State, the University of Auckland, and the University of California, Berkeley. He has published extensively on novel approaches to the simulation of change in urban and ecological systems and the implications of different representations in giscience in relation to wider currents in geographical thought. He is an associate editor of the International Journal of Geographical Information Science and serves on the editorial boards of the Annals of the American Association of Geographers and Transactions in GIS.
"A masterpiece--one of the greatest steps forward in computational geographic thinking since Waldo Tobler's and William Bunge's seminal work of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautifully illustrated and carefully constructed, this book offers both a panoramic view of past achievements and an accessible guide into future thinking."--Danny Dorling, PhD, Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography, University of Oxford, United Kingdom "Examples from different subdisciplines (geomorphology, biogeography, urban geography, critical social geography, and others) are included to promote understanding. Everyday examples that can be understood by an even broader audience are sprinkled in as well. The author delves into each topic by reviewing relevant literature from both geography and GISc. Quotations, personal reflections, and effective figures keep the reader engaged throughout."--John Kostelnick, PhD, Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, Illinois State University "This book offers an exciting synthesis of major strands of thought in GISc and geography, centered on the analysis of space and place. It is comprehensive and authoritative, yet accessible and enjoyable to read. O'Sullivan weaves together abstract concepts and concrete examples in order to illuminate the gaps and the bridges between GISc and geography. A 'must read' for anyone working with spatial concepts."--Steven M. Manson, PhD, Department of Geography, Environment, and Society, University of Minnesota "Centering the concerns of geography in the work of GISc, this book is of great professional utility. The fact that the author is a GIScientist underlines the impact of the work. O'Sullivan's way of 'doing GIS' generously invites critical human geography into productive discussions with computational geography. His openness to allowing these fields to mingle and remain unsettled provides a welcome bridge."--Matthew W. Wilson, PhD, Chair and Professor of Geography, University of Kentucky-
