信息时代的地理学研究——NCGIA对若干理论问题的探索

本文以美国国家基金委员会资助美国国家地理信息与分析中心(NCGIA)进行的瓦伦纽斯(Varenius)研究项目有关信息时代地理学研究的一系列中期研究报告与论文为基础,介绍了中心一些著名学者以地理学家独特的地理哲学思维,对信息时代的地理学研究若干理论问题所作的新探索与阐述,旨在为国内学者了解、追踪地理信息科学的新发展,开展地理信息科学的跨世纪研究提供借鉴。

GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH IN THE INFORMATION ERA

Human society has progressed in an information and network era. The spatial concept in geography has been changed and differentiated from the traditional one. In an information and network era, research in geography will continue research on the relationship between humankind and the nature, as well, the meaning and connotation of the research theme could be explained and defined in different ways. The geographical concept in an information era is beginning a fundamental change. With the development of geographical information technology, especially the advancement and perfect in all functions of GIS, the geographical space has been reduced and simplified into a few simple configurations consisting of point?line?surface and body which can be classified strictly. Based on these configurations, a virtual geographical space and world in a GIS can been constructed. Research on the configuration model of geographical space, research on expression of geographical and social concepts and research on differences and linkages between the human and societal expressions for the geographical concepts have became the most important bases for geographic research in the information and network era. GIS technology and geocomputation models are becoming an important tool for understanding the geographical world, for measuring and expressing space in the information era. Research on GIS and society?GIS and public participation?GIS and law will become a practical base for actual geographical cognition by GIS technologies. The themes of geographical research in an information era are also changing gradually. In order to adapt to the fast development in the era, a lot of theoretical researches on geographical theories, concepts and models are necessary. A serious of practical samples, information technology supported tools including GIS hardware and software have been progressed. Just under an effective cooperation and effort of geographers in the world, all of the subjects of research themes of geographers in an information era will be realized successfully.