Cloud Computing and Spatial Technologies within Geographic Information Science

The advancement of computing directly affects the development of spatial technologies such as GIS, Remote Sensing and GPS. Within this context, there must be some thought given to how this affects the science, ethics, and philosophy behind the transmittal, referencing and manipulation of geographic information which are the concerns of Geographic Information Science. Those employed by firms or public agencies which have a major spatial technology component of their work are often ‘blinded’ by developments in technology. Although these are emerging relationships, it is an appropriate time to contemplate the meaning of the fast developing world of spatial technologies.

Cloud computing potentially is a revolutionary development in technology. The ability to easily access information and programs/applications within the Internet or ‘the cloud.’, presents a situation which is changing the existing relationship between hardware and software. With the rapidly developing industry of technological devises that preform many of the tasks that were formally done by laptops or desktop computers, such as the iphone, ipad and other similar devises and their integration with the communication web and the Internet, the notion of cloud computing is not just a promise, it is here. Data within spatial technologies such as GIS, Remote Sensing, and GPS increasingly flows seamlessly from one program to another often integrated with the Internet. It is natural that these programs are being linked to cloud computing. However, geographic information has some distinct characteristics which make it different from other data. Hence, the combination of cloud computing with spatial technologies should make those whose profession is related to spatial technologies to stand back and contemplate the creation, transferal manipulation, ethics, science and philosophy of geographic data.

In the next blog entry, I would like to explore the developing field of cloud computing. Followed with other entries on the relationship and emerging nature of spatial technologies integrated with cloud computing. Finally, I will conclude this ‘thread’ by summarizing the findings and contemplating the future of cloud computing and spatial technologies within the context of geographic information science. Comments are always welcome.

Spatial Technologies "in the Clouds"

Cloud computing could probably be one of most potentially ground-breaking innovations that has emerged in computing over its short history. But, is it just a bunch of hype? Since spatial technologies are inexplicitly tied to the growth of computer and communication technologies, there could be a major impact on them.

In the following blog entries, I would like to explore some the aspects of cloud computing and spatial technologies. In the meantime, if the readers of this blog have any comments on this subject, please post any comments to this entry.