Author begins by considering the various possible definitions of GIS : GeographicInformationSystems, GeographicInformation Science, GeographicInformation Studies or merely GeographicInformation, all of which are restricted to digital
information on phenomena descriptive of earth as the home of man. He thinks geography should be the home discipline for GIS and that GIS is part of the intellectual core of geography. - (SLD)
The paper presents a commentary upon the call for a broadening of the GeographicalInformationSystems (GIS) research agenda with the development of GIS as a social technology. The reasons for the lack of transformation are explored. - (AJC)
Using GeographicalInformationSystems (GIS) for policing in South Africa : a case study in Paarl
Cartography ; Criminality ; Geographicalinformationsystem ; South Africa ; Urban area
Afrique du Sud ; Cartographie ; Criminalité ; Espace urbain ; Systèmed'information géographique
The paper assesses the potential use of GIS for policing in South Africa. A data base was developed and GIS was used to analyze and map crime data for the town of Paarl from geographical and environmental-criminological perspectives. The results
show that GIS is a useful, effective and necessary tool in combatting crime. The author concludes that the practical application of geography, aided by GIS is indispensable for policing in South Africa. - (AJC)
GIS : tool or science ? Demystifying the persistent ambiguity of GIS as tool versus science
Geographicalinformationsystem ; Geographical thought ; Philosophy of sciences ; System
Pensée géographique ; Philosophie des sciences ; Système ; Systèmed'information géographique
The AA. summarize the debate on is GIS a tool or a science ? that was conducted on GIS-L electronic listserver in late 1993. In evaluating this discussion, it becomes clear that GIS could be understood not by the two distincts positions taken
by the GIS-L discussants but as three positions along a continuum ranging from tool to science.
GIS in the public sector. The use of Geo-informations and GIS by government: findings from the Netherlands
GIS in de publieke sector. Een inventarisatie naar gebruik van geo-informatie en GIS bij de Nederlandse overheid
Geographicalinformationsystem ; Information ; Netherlands (The) ; Public sector
Information ; Pays-Bas ; Secteur public ; Systèmed'information géographique
A comprehensive study to provide a framework against which the use and experience of users of GIS in public organisations and their future perspectives towards the use of GIS is explored. - (AGD)
Negotiating technology - (Re)considering the use of GIS by indigenous peoples
Aborigines ; Cultural studies ; Geographicalinformationsystem ; Maoris ; New Zealand ; Project ; Society ; Technology
Aborigènes ; Culturel ; Maoris ; Nouvelle-Zélande ; Projet ; Société ; Systèmed'information géographique ; Technologie
The dialectical context of GIS is explored by (re)considering the opportunities and challenges of applying GIS as a cross-cultural communication device. A position is negotiated which interprets GIS as conditionally empowering provided
that indigenous peoples consider their symbolic representation in, and physical access to GIS before making an initial investment in the technology.
Epistemology ; Geographicalinformationsystem ; Geographical thought ; Practice of geography ; Spatial analysis
Analyse spatiale ; Epistémologie ; Pensée géographique ; Pratique de la géographie ; Systèmed'information géographique
Entrikin, chair of the UCLA Geography Department, is concerned with the conflict between Herbert Mead's I, an autonomous agent, and the me, the self defined by others. GIS is increasingly the me of geography that threatens to overwhelm the I
, particularly in small departments. He argues that GIS is central to advancing spatial analysis, but that it is not the central form of though for geography. - (SLD)
Biogeography ; Concept ; Data base ; Geographicalinformationsystem ; Habitat ; Land use ; Model ; Spatial variation
Base de données ; Biogéographie ; Concept ; Habitat ; Modèle ; Systèmed'information géographique ; Utilisation du sol ; Variation spatiale
In this report, the acronym GIS refers to geographicalinformation science, reflecting the GIS paradigm. This article is a review of GIS activities for the year of 1996 only. 4 specialist areas are identified and discussed in turn : geosciences
Analyse van transportnetwerken in GIS voor social-geografisch onderzoek
Analysis of transportation networks in GIS for research in human geography
Geographicalinformationsystem ; Methodology ; Spatial analysis ; Transport ; Transport network
Analyse spatiale ; Méthodologie ; Réseau de transports ; Systèmed'information géographique ; Transport
The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the usefulness of techniques for network analysis in the context of socio-spatial analysis using GIS, and into the technical and practical aspects of the application of network analysis within GIS
A recent effort is to implement several spatial segregation measures as additional GIS tools in a popular desktop GIS package so that researchers and practitioners not savvy in GIS can use these tools to compute spatial segragation indices
A pedagogic framework to link GIS to the intellectual core of geography
Geographicalinformationsystem ; Spatial representation ; Teaching material ; Teaching of geography ; United States of America
Enseignement de la géographie ; Etats-Unis ; Matériel pédagogique ; Représentation de l'espace ; Systèmed'information géographique
Synthesizing different schools of thought, this article argues that GIS education essentially involves two aspects: how to teach about GIS and how to teach with GIS. The geographic matrix (as derived from Berry) embeds all three entities of GIS
- location, attribute, and time - and this enables teachers to surpass technical issues to appreciate the conceptual and functional linkages between GIS and the intellectual core of geography. - (DWG)
The year 1991 saw further developments in the use of geographicalinformationsystems (GIS) for research in physical geography and the environmental sciences. There is now arguably a subfield within physical geography and environmental science which
can be characterized as Environmental GIS. The methodological problems and applications of this subfield have resulted in a huge number of new publications: this review contains details of a few dozen out of around 200 papers surveyed.
This report will focus on a few topics that have received recent attention in GeographicalInformation (GI) science. This includes the topics of knowledge discovery and data mining that are drawing on developments outside geography but that may
significantly help the advancement of geographical science. First, however, attention is focused on a perennial issue of uncertainty.
Enquête ; Entreprise ; Information ; Pays-Bas ; Secteur privé ; Systèmed'information géographique ; Technologie
The growing interest in GIS has recently led to a diffusion of GIS in the private sector. This study presents the findings of a survey of an exploratory nature amongst private organisations in the Netherlands. The discussion examines the results
Geographicinformation abstractions : conceptual clarity for geographic modeling
Data bases;Data banks ; Geographicalinformationsystem ; Graphics ; Model ; Urban transport
Banque de données ; Modèle ; Représentation graphique ; Symbole ; Systèmed'information géographique ; Transport urbain
Geographicinformation abstractions can be used to provide a comprehensive description of geographic reality in a geographicinformationsystem. The geographicinformation abstraction types are : classification, generalization, aggregation
, and association. They are used to structure a descriptive GIS database model by using an example from urban transportation.
Boundary objects and the social construction of GIS technology
Geographicalinformationsystem ; Social group ; Technology
Groupe social ; Systèmed'information géographique ; Technologie
The AA. examine several instances of how GIS technology involves social negotiation by using a construct of boundary objects developed in a social constructivist framework. Boundary objects stabilize relationships through the negotiation of flexible
GeographicalInformationSystems and humanitarian demining
Geographicalinformationsystem ; Humanitarian aid ; Society ; Third World ; War
Aide humanitaire ; Déminage ; Guerre ; Société ; Systèmed'information géographique ; Tiers-Monde
The global landmine crisis was one of the most prominent humanitarian issues of the 1990s. Towards the end of the decade there was increasing concern to quantify and specify the nature and extent of the problem. Given the geographical nature
of the crisis, GIS technology is perceived as playing a progressive role in demining. The paper examines the plans for implementation and the debates around GIS and society. - (AJC)
Geographical renaissance at the dawn of the Millennium
Computing ; Education ; Geographicalinformationsystem ; Geography ; Information ; South Africa
Afrique du Sud ; Education ; Géographie ; Information ; Informatique ; Systèmed'information géographique
The aim of this paper is to present an overview of the latest developments in GIS, and to assess the influences of these trends on the sub-discipline in South Africa. Major developments in the public and private sectors are presently underway
that are driving GIS locally. Special attention is devoted to the educational situation and how it is evolving. - (AJC)