A Geographer Looks at Spatial Information Theory

Geographic information is defined as a subset of spatial information, specific to the spatiotemporal frame of the Earth’s surface. Thus geographic information theory inherits the results of spatial information theory, but adds results that reflect the specific properties of geographic information. I describe six general properties of geographic information, and show that in some cases specialization has assumed other properties that are less generally observed. A recognition of the distinction between geographic and spatial would allow geographic information theory to achieve greater depth and utility.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2001
• Where: COSIT
• Authors: Michael F. Goodchild
• Keywords: COSIT 2001, Geographic Information, Geographic Information Theory, GIS, Spatial Information