Geoinformation
Encyclopedia
Geoinformation is an abbreviation of geographic information. Geographic information is created by manipulating geographic (or spatial) data (generally known by the abbreviation geodata) in a computerized system. Systems can include computer
s and networks, standards and protocols for data use and exchange between users within a range of different applications. Typical applications are land registration
, hydrology
, cadastral, land evaluation, planning
or environmental observation. Geodata comes in many different forms, such as map
s or images taken from the air or from space, i.e., remote sensing
data. Geodata may be stored in a database
, which may possibly have special extensions for storing, handling, and manipulating spatial data. Geoinformation is the useful output, produced by analyzing data with a kind of computer program called a "geographic information system
", or GIS. The environment in which a GIS operates (machines, people, networks) is called a "spatial information system", and is designed and created to respond to the strategic spatial information needs of people or organizations.
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s and networks, standards and protocols for data use and exchange between users within a range of different applications. Typical applications are land registration
Land registration
Land registration generally describes systems by which matters concerning ownership, possession or other rights in land can be recorded to provide evidence of title, facilitate transactions and to prevent unlawful disposal...
, hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
, cadastral, land evaluation, planning
Planning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
or environmental observation. Geodata comes in many different forms, such as map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
s or images taken from the air or from space, i.e., remote sensing
Remote sensing
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of propagated signals Remote sensing...
data. Geodata may be stored in a database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
, which may possibly have special extensions for storing, handling, and manipulating spatial data. Geoinformation is the useful output, produced by analyzing data with a kind of computer program called a "geographic information system
Geographic Information System
A geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
", or GIS. The environment in which a GIS operates (machines, people, networks) is called a "spatial information system", and is designed and created to respond to the strategic spatial information needs of people or organizations.
See also
- CartographyCartographyCartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
- DemographyDemographyDemography is the statistical study of human population. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic human population, that is, one that changes over time or space...
- GeoinformaticsGeoinformaticsGeoinformatics is the science and the technology which develops and uses information science infrastructure to address the problems of geography, geosciences and related branches of engineering.-Overview:...
- Geographic information systemGeographic Information SystemA geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
s - GeoportalGeoportalA geoportal is a type of web portal used to find and access geographic information and associated geographic services via the Internet...
- GeoreferenceGeoreferenceTo georeference something means to define its existence in physical space. That is, establishing its location in terms of map projections or coordinate systems. The term is used both when establishing the relation between raster or vector images and coordinates, and when determining the spatial...
- InteroperabilityInteroperabilityInteroperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
- MetadataMetadataThe term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
- Physical geographyPhysical geographyPhysical geography is one of the two major subfields of geography. Physical geography is that branch of natural science which deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment like the atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere, as opposed to the cultural or built environment, the...
- Spatial analysisSpatial analysisSpatial analysis or spatial statistics includes any of the formal techniques which study entities using their topological, geometric, or geographic properties...
External links
- International Cartographic Association (ICA), the world body for mapping and GIScience professionals
- GSDI 11 World Conference: The Geo-Spatial event of 2009, Rotterdam The Netherlands
- GIS Lounge
- Additional information from GISuser.com
- Petition against European INSPIRE initiative on public geodata
- GITTA - Geographic Information Technology Training Alliance is a webbased GIS eLearning course based on the eLMLELMLThe eLesson Markup Language is an open source XML framework for creating electronic lessons. It is a "spin-off" from the GITTA project , a Swiss GIS eLearning project, and was launched in spring 2004. The eLML project is hosted at Sourceforge and offers all the regular tools that you might...
XML framework. - United Nations Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management