Data Science and Engineering Seminar: A Future History of GIScience
Data Science and Engineering Seminar
Friday March 20, 1:00 pm, 336 Boardman Hall
A Future History of Geographic Information Science
Max J. Egenhofer
School of Computing and Information Science
and
National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5711, USA
max@spatial.maine.edu
http://www.spatial.maine.edu/~max/
This talk is an abridged version of the keynote address at GeoInfo 2014, which was held in Campos do Jordão, Brazil. The talk attempts to bring together a retrospective of some most critical advances in geographic information science, with a daring look into the future. The history differs from other GIS histories as it does not attempt to identify a single history (as in the history of GIS), but offers one of several possible versions. As such, both flashback and fast-forward are highly subjective, but arguments about impact will give credibility to the highlighted past events. Among the most dramatic changes envisioned are the development of a Pure Spatial Information Science, the omnipresence in tomorrow’s homes of what one currently calls 3D printers and digital looms, which will revolutionize people’s purchasing habits and social interactions, and the embracing of a Digital Ethics tailored to individuals’ spatial data.