A "Neographical Education"? The Geospatial Web, GIS and Digital Art in Adult Education

     Every time you take a picture and post it online with your iPhone, you are unknowingly adding your part to an important part of geography that’s been rapidly expanding since the 1990’s—neogeography. Neogeography is “traditional geography as well as all forms of personal, intuitive, absurd or artistic explorations and representations of geographical space, aided by new technologies associated with the Geospatial Web” (71). So, in other words, the technology you use to express yourself with that photo is expanding geography to a whole new level that is more personal and artistic than ever before.

     But, photos are only one portion of the information that is becoming easier and easier to identify. Technology is growing, and neogeography is becoming more and more prevalent through the mediums below:

     If geography is a physical science, than neogeography can be considered the social science behind it, cataloging historical and social experiences at a personal-individual level. While this is not a new phenomenon, it’s exploded with new technology in the past years such as the ability to upload images to the internet and tag posts. This new method could even be considered an art project, as a new database is being gathered with each piece of information collected and saved, keeping geographic information linked with personal information like a rose pressed between the pages of a book. This interlinks users worldwide.

     And as we speak, technology is becoming easier and easier to use. Eventually everyone will be able to be a GIS professional, with the help of user-friendly interfaces and programs. Education of geography and its many elements will be easier than ever, and everyone will have the means to contribute to the field in the palm of their hands.


Bob. Same-place-different-time-photos-12. N.d. Photograph. Lincoln. The Chive. Resignation Media, LLC, 31 Oct. 2010. 
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Papadimitriou, Fivos. "A "Neographical Education"? The Geospatial Web, GIS and Digital Art in Adult Education." 
     International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education 19.1 (2010): 71-74. Routledge. Web. 19 Feb. 
     2013.