Introduction to Computing and Computational Issues of Distributed GIS

Abstract

1082-4006/05/1101-1$5.00 ©2005 The International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Science (CPGIS) “GIS is only a technology and the remaining issues for GIS are to market it and make it more widely adopted.” We often encounter such a challenge while we present research issues of GIS in various occasions. Is the challenge a valid one? If GIS refers to the traditional system according to the definitions of GIS found in many introductory GIS textbooks and with years research from various places (such as the NCGIA led by Goodchild), then the challenge could be a valid one, as the technology for desktop GIS has reached a reasonable level of maturity. But if we go beyond just using commercial GIS products and start realizing the intersections between GIS and related disciplines, there are still a large number of research issues that need to be addressed. These issues are multidisciplinary issues that can only be addressed thoroughly through the collaborations between researchers in GIS and related disciplines.