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Geoinformatics
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Geoinformatics is a scientific field primarily within the domains of Computer Science and technical geography.[1][2] It focuses on the programming of applications, spatial data structures, and the analysis of objects and space-time phenomena related to the surface and underneath of Earth and other celestial bodies. The field develops software and web services to model and analyse spatial data, serving the needs of geosciences and related scientific and engineering disciplines. The term is often used interchangeably with Geomatics, although they are not exactly same. The field of geomatics is a comprehensive discipline encompassing both geodesy and geoinformatics, thus offering a more extensive scope.
Overview
[edit]In a general sense, geoinformatics can be understood as "a variety of efforts to promote collaboration between computer scientists and geoscientists to solve complex scientific questions".[3] More technically, geoinformatics has been described as "the science and technology dealing with the structure and character of spatial information, its capture, its classification and qualification, its storage, processing, portrayal and dissemination, including the infrastructure necessary to secure optimal use of this information"[4] or "the art, science or technology dealing with the acquisition, storage, processing production, presentation and dissemination of geoinformation".[5] Along with the thriving of data science and artificial intelligence since the 2010s, the field of geoinformatics has also incorporated the latest methodology and technical progress from the cyberinfrastructure ecosystem. [6][7]
Geoinformatics has at its core the technologies supporting the processes of acquisition, analysis and visualization of spatial data. Both geomatics and geoinformatics include and rely heavily upon the theory and practical implications of geodesy and cartography. Geography and earth science increasingly rely on digital spatial data acquired from remotely sensed images analyzed by geographical information systems (GIS),[8] photo interpretation of aerial photographs, and Web mining.[9] Geoinformatics combines geospatial analysis and modeling, development of geospatial databases, information systems design, human-computer interaction and both wired and wireless networking technologies. Geoinformatics uses geocomputation and geovisualization for analyzing geoinformation.
Areas related to geoinformatics include:
Research
[edit]Research in this field is used to support global and local environmental, energy and security programs. The Geographic Information Science and Technology group of Oak Ridge National Laboratory is supported by various government departments and agencies including the United States Department of Energy. It is currently the only group in the United States Department of Energy National Laboratory System to focus on advanced theory and application research in this field. A lot of interdisciplinary research exists that involves geoinformatics fields including computer science, information technology, software engineering, biogeography, geography, conservation, architecture, spatial analysis and reinforcement learning.
Applications
[edit]Many fields benefit from geoinformatics, including urban planning and land use management, in-car navigation systems, virtual globes, land surveying, public health, local and national gazetteer management, environmental modeling and analysis, military, transport network planning and management, agriculture, meteorology and climate change, oceanography and coupled ocean and atmosphere modelling, business location planning, architecture and archeological reconstruction, telecommunications, criminology and crime simulation, aviation, biodiversity conservation and maritime transport. The importance of the spatial dimension in assessing, monitoring and modelling various issues and problems related to sustainable management of natural resources is recognized all over the world.
Geoinformatics becomes very important technology to decision-makers across a wide range of disciplines, industries, commercial sector, environmental agencies, local and national government, research, and academia, national survey and mapping organisations, International organisations, United Nations, emergency services, public health and epidemiology, crime mapping, transportation and infrastructure, information technology industries, GIS consulting firms, environmental management agencies), tourist industry, utility companies, market analysis and e-commerce, mineral exploration, Seismology etc. Many government and non government agencies started to use spatial data for managing their day-to-day activities.
See also
[edit]- Organizations
References
[edit]- ^ Bello, Innocent E. (October 2023). "Critical Issues in the Methods of Data Collection in Geoinformatics and Environmental Sciences". International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research. 9 (8): 18–28. doi:10.56201/ijssmr.v9.no8.2023.pg18.28.
- ^ Krawczyk, Artur (9 November 2022). "Proposal of Redefinition of the Terms Geomatics and Geoinformatics on the Basis of Terminological Postulates". ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information. 11 (11): Krawczyk. Bibcode:2022IJGI...11..557K. doi:10.3390/ijgi11110557.
- ^ G.R. Keller, C. Baru, eds. (2011) Geoinformatics: Cyberinfrastructure for the Solid Earth Sciences, Cambridge University Press, 1st edition, 593pp.
- ^ P.L.N. Raju, Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems
- ^ Ehlers, M. (2008). "Geoinformatics and digital earth initiatives: A German perspective". International Journal of Digital Earth. 1 (1): 17–30. Bibcode:2008IJDE....1...17E. doi:10.1080/17538940701781975.
- ^ Ma, Xiaogang; Mookerjee, Matty; Hsu, Leslie; Hills, Denise, eds. (2023). Recent Advancement in Geoinformatics and Data Science. doi:10.1130/SPE558. ISBN 978-0-8137-2558-1.
- ^ Z. Sun, N. Cristea, P. Rivas, eds. (2023) Artificial Intelligence in Earth Science, Elsevier, ISBN 9780323917377
- ^ Bouloucos and Brown, ITC Courses in Remote Sensing, GIS and Photogrammetry
- ^ Annamoradnejad, R.; Annamoradnejad, I.; Safarrad, T.; Habibi, J. (2019-04-20). "Using Web Mining in the Analysis of Housing Prices: A Case study of Tehran". 2019 5th International Conference on Web Research (ICWR). pp. 55–60. doi:10.1109/ICWR.2019.8765250. ISBN 978-1-7281-1431-6. S2CID 198146435.
External links
[edit]Geoinformatics
View on GrokipediaIntroduction
Definition and Scope
Geoinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the science and technology for acquiring, managing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data to address problems in Earth sciences and related domains. It integrates principles from geography, computer science, information science, and geospatial technologies to handle geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and cartography. At its core, geoinformatics focuses on developing frameworks for processing spatial and temporal data, enabling the representation of real-world phenomena on Earth's surface.[1][8] The term "geoinformatics" emerged in the late 1980s, with early conceptualizations emphasizing the integration of GIS, remote sensing, photogrammetry, and cartography to solve practical problems using geoinformation. Michael F. Goodchild formalized the closely related concept of geographic information science (GIScience) in 1992, defining it as the systematic study of the nature and use of geographic information, addressing fundamental research questions beyond the technical implementation of GIS tools. Subsequent definitions, such as Manfred Ehlers' 2008 characterization, positioned geoinformatics as an integrated approach within computer science for managing geoprocesses, including spatial data structures and analysis of space-time phenomena.[9][10][11] The scope of geoinformatics extends to applications in spatial modeling, database management, human-computer interfaces for geospatial visualization, and distributed processing for large-scale data. It supports diverse sectors such as urban planning, environmental monitoring, disaster response, and sustainable resource management by leveraging technologies like GPS, web-based GIS, and sensor networks. This field prioritizes innovative computational methods to handle multidimensional data, including remote sensing imagery and spatio-temporal reasoning, while fostering advancements in areas like parallel computing and AI-driven geospatial analysis.[12][1]Historical Development
The roots of geoinformatics trace back to ancient practices of cartography and spatial representation, where early civilizations created maps for navigation, land management, and resource allocation. Babylonian clay tablets from around 2300–500 BCE depict property boundaries, cities, and fields, representing some of the earliest known spatial data records.[13] These efforts evolved through Greek and Roman advancements, such as Ptolemy's Geographia in the 2nd century CE, which introduced coordinate systems and systematic mapping principles that influenced spatial analysis for centuries.[14] By the 19th century, thematic mapping emerged as a tool for scientific inquiry, exemplified by John Snow's 1854 cholera outbreak map in London, which overlaid disease cases with water pumps to identify a contaminated source, laying foundational concepts for spatial epidemiology.[15][16] The modern era of geoinformatics began in the mid-20th century with the advent of computer technology enabling digital spatial data handling. In 1962–1968, Roger Tomlinson developed the Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS) at the Canadian Department of Forestry and Rural Development, the world's first operational GIS, which digitized land inventory data from maps and aerial photos for analysis and visualization.[6] Tomlinson coined the term "geographic information system" in his 1968 report, marking a shift from manual to computational methods for managing geospatial data.[6] The 1960s also saw the establishment of the Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics in 1965 by Howard Fisher, which produced early software like SYMAP for automated mapping.[17] Concurrently, the 1960 launch of the first successful CORONA satellite by the U.S. Air Force initiated remote sensing capabilities, providing vast geospatial datasets that integrated with emerging GIS tools.[17] The 1970s and 1980s brought commercialization and institutionalization, expanding geoinformatics beyond government applications. In 1969, Jack and Laura Dangermond founded Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri), initially focusing on land-use planning before releasing ARC/INFO in 1981, the first major commercial vector-based GIS software.[15][16] The Harvard Lab's ODYSSEY GIS, developed in the mid-1970s, introduced vector data structures and interactive graphics, influencing subsequent systems.[16] By 1988, the U.S. National Science Foundation established the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA), formalizing GIS as a scientific discipline through research consortia at universities like UC Santa Barbara.[18] The 1972 launch of the first Landsat satellite further advanced data acquisition, enabling global-scale remote sensing integration.[15] The term "geoinformatics" emerged in the late 1980s to describe the interdisciplinary science integrating GIS, remote sensing, cartography, and information technology for geospatial data management. Introduced in Sweden in 1988 and formalized by Michaël-Charles Le Duc in 1992, it was defined by Manfred Ehlers in 1993 as the science of acquiring, storing, processing, and disseminating geoinformation across these domains.[7] This period saw rapid growth, with the 1994 formation of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standardizing data exchange, and the achievement of full operational capability by GPS in 1995 enhancing positional accuracy.[17] By the 2000s, geoinformatics incorporated web-based systems and open-source tools, such as the 2005 release of Google Maps, democratizing access and fueling applications in environmental monitoring and urban planning.[15]Fundamental Concepts
Spatial Data and Models
Spatial data in geoinformatics encompasses geographic information linked to specific locations on Earth's surface, enabling the representation, analysis, and visualization of spatial phenomena. These data are abstracted through models that capture both locational attributes (e.g., coordinates) and descriptive attributes (e.g., feature properties). Fundamental to geoinformatics, spatial models facilitate the integration of diverse datasets for applications ranging from urban planning to environmental monitoring.[19] The two primary spatial data models are vector and raster, each suited to different types of geographic features. Vector models represent discrete objects using geometric primitives, while raster models depict continuous surfaces via a grid of cells. These models form the basis for most geographic information systems (GIS), with choices depending on data characteristics, analysis needs, and computational efficiency.[20]Vector Data Model
Vector data models geographic features as points, lines, and polygons defined by precise coordinates. Points represent singular locations, such as the position of a landmark, using a single (x, y) coordinate pair; lines depict linear features like roads or rivers through connected sequences of points (vertices); and polygons outline areas, such as land parcels, by closing line segments. This structure allows for high accuracy in representing discrete entities and supports attribute linkage via relational databases.[21][22] Advantages of vector models include compactness for storage, scalability without loss of detail, and inherent support for topological relationships, making them ideal for network analysis and precise boundary delineation. However, they are less effective for modeling continuous phenomena like elevation gradients, as they require approximation and can become computationally intensive for large datasets. Seminal work by Burrough and McDonnell emphasizes vector models' role in maintaining spatial integrity for analytical operations.[20][23]Raster Data Model
Raster data models the world as a regular grid of cells (pixels), where each cell holds a single value representing a phenomenon at that location, such as temperature or land cover. This approach is particularly suited to continuous data, like satellite imagery or digital elevation models (DEMs), where spatial variation is gradual. Cell size determines resolution, with finer grids providing greater detail but increasing data volume.[24][21] Key strengths of raster models lie in their simplicity for overlay and algebraic operations, compatibility with remote sensing data, and efficiency in processing continuous surfaces. Drawbacks include larger file sizes, potential loss of precision at boundaries, and challenges in representing discrete features accurately. For instance, rasterization of vector data can introduce errors if cell size is inappropriate. Burrough and McDonnell highlight raster models' utility in terrain analysis despite these limitations.[20][23]| Aspect | Vector Model | Raster Model |
|---|---|---|
| Representation | Points, lines, polygons with coordinates | Grid of cells with values |
| Best For | Discrete features (e.g., buildings) | Continuous phenomena (e.g., elevation) |
| Storage Efficiency | Compact for sparse data | Larger due to full grid coverage |
| Analysis Strengths | Topology, scaling | Overlay, image processing |
| Limitations | Poor for gradients | Resolution-dependent accuracy |
