Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/99375
In the coming age of spatial computing, GIScience and geography will assume more importance and relevance than ever. exciting research themes under the general umbrella of spatial computing. Apparently, more researchers from other disciplines, especially computer scientists, are turning their attention to the domains of GIScience and geography. The challenge for all of us in the geospatial community is this: What roles should/can GIScientists and geographers play in shaping the research agenda for the coming age of spatial computing? In the spirit of open science, I strongly believe we need to reach out and work with all those interested in topics related to geospatial information. I always learn something new by interacting with experts in other ���elds. Also, through these interactions, we need to make our work known to other communities. The research agenda as de���ned by the spatial computing workshop will have a major impact on the development of GIScience and geography in the coming years. GIScientists and geographers also can make signi���cant contributions to this emerging ���eld conceptually and methodologically. For example, Rob Kitchin and Martin Dodge (2011) made a distinction between coded space (where information is inscribed digitally that enhances the functioning of a particular environment) and code/space (where information and space are so fused that the space can���t function without the information, and there���s no uncoded, manual alternative). Their work succinctly captured the ontogenetic view of space and place as espoused by spatial computing. As demonstrated by Phil Yang and his colleagues (Yang, 2009), spatial principles will be an integral part of spatial cloud computing, from searching and accessing geospatial information to con���guring computing infrastructure to developing spatial-temporal applications. Michael Goodchild (1997) has previously demonstrated the relevance and utility of central place theory for spatial computing. Most fascinating of all, if comparing the overarching conceptual framework for spatial computing (DeHon et al, 2006) with Henri Lefebvre���s (1991) theory on the social production of space, there are striking similarities in their conceptualization of space���spatial practices, representations of space and representational spaces are an integral triad. All these examples serve as a potent reminder that in the coming age of spatial computing, GIScience and geography will assume more importance and relevance than ever. The spatial computing workshop reassured me that spatial is indeed special. For that reason alone, attending the workshop was worthwhile. References DeHon, A.; Giavitto, J-L.; and Gruau, F. 2006. ���Computing Media Languages for Space-Oriented Computation���; drops.dagstuhl. de/opus/volltexte/2007/1026. Goodchild, M.F. 1997. ���Towards a geography of geographic information in a digital world,��� Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, Vol. 21, No. 6, pages 377-391. Lefebvre, H. 1991. The Production of Space (originally published in French in 1974, Donald Nicholson-Smith translates), Basil Blackwell, Oxford, United Kingdom. Kitchin, R. and Dodge, M. 2011. Code/Space: Software and Everyday Life, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. Yang, C.; Goodchild, M.; Huang, Q.; Nebert, D.; Raskin, R.; Xu, Y.; Bambacus, M.; and Fay, D. 2011. ���Spatial cloud computing: How can the geospatial sciences use and help shape cloud computing?��� International Journal of Digital Earth, Vol. 4, No. 4, pages 305-329. ADVERTISERINDEX ADVERTISER PAGE Esri www.esri.com/geowldagol 5 GeoPlace Mobile www.geoplace.com/mobile 25 GeoWorld Emergency Management eBook www.geoplace.com/ebooks 9 GeoWorld on Facebook www.facebook.com/geoworldmag 32 GeoWorld Subscriptions www.geoplace.com/subscribe 31 D E C E M B E R 2 O 1 2 / W W W . G E O P L A C E . C O M 13