Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Digital Information and Geographic Information Communication

Source:


Michael F. Goodchild 
National Center for Geographic information and Analysis and Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara





In this article, the pros and cons of digital geographic information are thoroughly analyzed. Since the invention of the world wide web (WWW), the way we communicate has changed from a more traditional route, into a more convenient route. A question essentially asked in this article; Is convenient always accurate?

The solid lines represent the more traditional communication form, the dashed lines represent the digital form of communication. The first movement for digital transition was the "cartographic production process". Researchers, cartographers, and geologists found that it was more cost-effective and faster to digitally edit, draft, and compile maps. The argument is made as to whether or not traditional discovery is sufficient, as remote sensing and aerial photography have allowed GIS (geographic information systems) to explode with opportunities and allow cartographers and analysts to essentially "be in" or see a place that they have never seen with their own eyes physically. The problem with information going from these cartographers straight to users, would be the manipulation of information and the accuracy of maps made by other users. This has made the need for good quality maps skyrocket.

No comments:

Post a Comment