Paper details
Module 3 Introduction (1 page)
Keeping the G in GIS: Why Geography Matters
“On my first day of Junior High, I was in Geography class, and the teacher asked us if anybody knew the names of the continents. And I was sooo excited. I was like, Damnit! It’s my first day of 7th grade, I’m in Junior High and I know this answer. So I raised my hand – I was the first one – and I said A-E-I-O-U!” – Jessica Simpson
The G in GIS is under attack: Location Based Services, Geospatial Technology, Geomatics. These are all names that have been given to particular swaths of the GIS industry/profession in the hopes that one will stick. While the race may be on to see who can get away from the “geography” in GIS first (and then brand the name), a fundamental truth remains. GIS, at their core, were designed to solve geographic problems, examine geographic patterns, and display geographic results. Knowledge of geographic principles remains critical to the success of GIS implementation in a public context. All the SQL in the world does you no good, if you don’t understand the impacts of scale, generalization, representation, and spatial accuracy and precision.
Next:
Read Obermeyer, N.J. & Pinto, J. K. (2007). “Keeping the G in GIS: Why Geography Still Matters”. In Managing Geographic Information Systems (pp. 40-60). New York: Guilford Press.
Read Goodchild, M. (2007). “Geography Prospers from GIS.Preview the documentView in a new window” in ArcWatch.Available: http://www.esri.com/news/arcwatch/0407/feature.html
Read Butcher, S. (2001). “GIS in Environmental Decision-Making.Preview the documentView in a new window” 5th Africa GIS Conference and Exhibition.
Discuss readings, position paper and response.
Module 4 Introduction (1 Page)
Implementing a GIS: Theory vs. Practice
“The difference between theory and practice in theory is much less than the difference between theory and practice in practice.” –Randal Schwartz
This week’s topic seeks to have students read and think about the differences between implementing a GIS in a theoretical context versus as a practical matter. Much of your time in GEOG 619 was spent discussing different aspects of GIS implementation (and subsequent management) so it will be interesting to hear everyone’s opinions about this topic. As a premature critique, it is my opinion that not enough research has been done on such an important topic as GIS implementation and theoretical context. This could be quite the opportunity for an enterprising (pun intended) GIS professional who seeks to make his/her name in the field of the critical examination of GIS implementation successes, and more spectacularly, the failures!
Next:
Obermeyer, N.J. & Pinto, J. K. (2007). “Implementing a GIS: Theory vs. Practice”. In Managing Geographic Information Systems, 2nd Ed. (pp. 81-113). New York: Guilford Press.
Innes, J.E. & Simpson, D.M. (1993). “Implementing GIS for planningPreview the documentView in a new window” In Journal of the American Planning Association, 59:2. (pp. 230-7).
Discuss readings, position paper and response.
