GIS: old Debates between Geographers

According to the Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee, Geographical Information System (GIS) is a "system composed by hardware, software and proceedings, which afford to acquire, manage, manipulate, analyse, present and show georeference data, to solve complex problem of planning and management". GIS must be a structured system from which we can extract easily a synthetic plan for managers who take decision. All GIS present geographic information due to studying of a variable which has a geographic repartition. Besides, results are often maps. But even if the G of GIS is a reference of geography, today, many people using a GIS do not know. Geographic analysis is absent of many GIS.

Debate... by © *denis2

     Ten years ago, intensive debates animated geographers. Do these applications of GIS be predicted by different minds? 

     In the 1990s, position of GIS in geography was debated. GIS was in the scientific landscape since twenty years but growth of GIS was in 1980s. In 1990s GIS began a significant subject in geography. The first question was about future of GIS; if it was just a fashion subject or something which had a fundamental impact of geography’s discipline. It is clear that GIS introduces some consequences in geography. Conception of maps was easiness by computing. GIS helps geography’s research to analyse some complex phenomena. We can take a lot of data, a small area or the world. We can overlay different variables. We can also after a statistic treatment use another function. We can compare data from different period. So GIS is a tool which helps us in technical aspects. Why some geographer refused GIS. And why it would be problematic. GIS came in continuity with more and more computing but uses of GIS exceed theoretical borders of discipline of geography. It is a tool for all science, and the geographic distribution of a variable can be a great help to phenomenon’s explanation in a hard science or a social science. So GIS influences geography with other contributions.

     The debate to know if GIS is a tool or a science is probably not finished. The way of teaching GIS gives position of GIS. In geography studies, GIS are often taught in undergraduate level. Students work some exercises to dread one or two software. GIS course is similar to statistic course or remote detection. So student has a basic level in GIS and can use one for essay during his/her studies. Every master in geography does not have GIS courses. And a master in geography where we learn only around GIS subject is rare. But GIS is important in urban planning and other subject of planning. And more and more job opportunities request knowledge of GIS. So GIS cannot be ignored in geography. But toolmaking is not a part of the discipline of geography. GIS’ developers have knowledge in mathematics, engineering, design. Sometimes we see the word GIScience. This idea of using GIS for solve problems is particular and perhaps consequence of GIS’s use like a machine where we put variables and distributed data and we obtain at the end a solution of one problem in territory. GIS is a tool from which we cannot separate analyse and geographers have an excellent understanding of the geographic concept.

     It is not the role of GIS in geography but role of geography in GIS which have an importance. Border between science and tool is really difficult to evaluate and often it is impossible to separate these two concepts. GIS is not only for geographers and GIS becomes a big business. Toolmaking is already passed from universities to private enterprises. GIS gives opportunity to geography discipline. GIS confers rigor, precision, legitimacy for public opinion. Geography becomes more illustrated with computerize. Public see more and more map to explain phenomenon in newspapers, Internet… And the question is redefined at how geographers want participate in GIS development.

Bibliographie sélective :

HEYWOOD Ian, CORNELIUS Sarah, CARVER Steve, (2006), An introduction to geographical information systems, Pearson Education, Harlow.

JOHNSTON, R. J. (2000) “Dictionary of human geography”, Oxford: Blackwell

OPENSAW S., (1991), Commentary, in Environment and planning A, volume 23

PICKLES John, (1997) GIS, Technoscience, and the Theoretical turn, in Annals of the Association of American Geographers, volume 87, number 2

WRIGNHT Dawn J., GOODCHILD Michael F., PROCTOR James D., (1997), Demysitfying the persistent ambiguity of GIS as ‘tool’ versus ‘science’, in Annals of the Assossation of American Geographers, volume 87, number2

WRIGNHT Dawn J., GOODCHILD Michael F., PROCTOR James D., (1997), Still hopping to turn that theoretical corner, in Annals of the Assossation of American Geographers, volume 87, number 2

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Geographers and GIS in Organisations

According to the Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee, Geographical Information System (GIS) is a "system composed by hardware, software and proceedings, which afford to acquire, manage, manipulate, analyse, present and show georeference data, to solve complex problem of planning and management". GIS must be a structured system from which we can extract easily a synthetic plan for managers who take decision. All GIS present geographic information due to studying of a variable which has a geographic repartition. Besides, results are often maps. But even if the G of GIS is a reference of geography, today, many people using a GIS do not know. Geographic analysis is absent of many GIS.

Computer by © karakarton

     There are different uses of GIS. We find a part of GIS users in research and teaching in schools and universities. But today a large part of implementation of GIS is in organizations which are public or private. In these organizations, GIS users are multiple. But geographers are in minority in most of them.

Some users just need to see analysis’ results and search an easily comprehension of the software. But others need complete software with an important number of functions. They use this software everyday and do not have difficulties with comprehension. They are also users who sometimes work with simple GIS, they just want simple software which offers few functions but easy to remember. Today implementation of GIS in an organization is more often a replacement from an old to a new system than a real implementation in enterprise. Often it is the same enterprise which installs software and helps for conversion of old documents and it is also its which has a work of maintenance. Here geographers are absent of this part of GIS. It is the world of engineer and specialist of hardware and software. And conception of GIS is an engineering work. So geographer are absent from an important part of GIS use.

Bibliographie sélective :

HEYWOOD Ian, CORNELIUS Sarah, CARVER Steve, (2006), An introduction to geographical information systems, Pearson Education, Harlow.

JOHNSTON, R. J. (2000) “Dictionary of human geography”, Oxford: Blackwell

OPENSAW S., (1991), Commentary, in Environment and planning A, volume 23

PICKLES John, (1997) GIS, Technoscience, and the Theoretical turn, in Annals of the Association of American Geographers, volume 87, number 2

WRIGNHT Dawn J., GOODCHILD Michael F., PROCTOR James D., (1997), Demysitfying the persistent ambiguity of GIS as ‘tool’ versus ‘science’, in Annals of the Assossation of American Geographers, volume 87, number2

WRIGNHT Dawn J., GOODCHILD Michael F., PROCTOR James D., (1997), Still hopping to turn that theoretical corner, in Annals of the Assossation of American Geographers, volume 87, number 2

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Welcome to Stockholm's Arlanda-airport

no idea what to title this by Amberkim

     Nils Holgersson est un jeune garnement de 14 ans transformé en tomte alors qu’il multiplie les bêtises dans la ferme de ses parents. Martin Jars est le grand jars blanc de la ferme et à chaque printemps, les prétentieuses oies sauvages le narguent lors de leur remontée vers la Laponie. Cette année, il est bien décidé à rejoindre le vol d’Akka de Kebnekaïse et ce, même en compagnie de cet affreux chenapan. Le Merveilleux voyage de Nils Holgersson à travers la Suède est un ouvrage écrit par Selma Lagerlöf, répondant à une commande de l’éducation nationale. L’initiative rappelle Le Tour de la France par deux enfants d’Augustine Fouillée.

     Découvrir la Suède à dos d’oie est somme toute agréable ! Les paysages se déroulent sous vos pieds. Les légendes de chaque terroir vous sont contées par les plus vieilles oies, ces baroudeuses. Ces contrées nordiques, froides et stériles, terres d’Ikea et d’HM se dévoilent du Sud vers le Nord. Selma Lagerlöf utilise l’arbre afin de définir des ensembles physiques cohérents : un climat, un sol, un couvert végétal, un régime hydrographique associé à une morphogenèse. Les occupations humaines traduisent les diversités du sol, du relief, l’existence de saisons intermédiaires, etc. comme un semblant d’harmonie si propre à l’idylle suédoise. Seule la ville de Stockholm est décrite.

     Quelque illustration : Il était une fois… un géant qui aimait se rendre à la pêche. Le Blekinge se situe au Sud de la Suède aux bords de la mer Baltique. Afin d’approcher cette mer si riche en saumons, le géant empruntai un escalier de trois marches < des failles pardi > aux paysages distincts. La première marche est constamment balayée par les vents du Sud. Le sol composé de moraines en est profondément altéré et la végétation qui souffre également de l’apport de sel est halophile et xérophile. Un cordon côtier résiste néanmoins avec ces arbres et arbustes rabougris – le port en drapeau. La seconde marche est celle de la transition, c’est donc la plus riche mais aussi la plus fragile (un peu comme un estuaire entre fleuve et mer). Les glaciers se sont attardés sur la troisième et dernière marche. Ils y ont déposé leurs moraines constituant un sol épais, moutonné, percé de quelques lacs. La forêt y a prit ses aises. A la fin de sa vie, le géant se déplaçait fort mal. De rage, il lança un jour d’énormes blocs de pierre qui composent aujourd'hui ces îlots de la côte du Blekinge. C’est pourquoi, les saumons si effrayés remontèrent les cours d’eau – les fjords. 

     L’écriture est fluide, le ton pertinent, le voyage est passionnant. Et c’est ainsi que je rejoins ma terre d’accueil, la Suède et le département de géographie humaine de l'université de Stockholm.

Bibliographie sélective :
BRUNET Roger dir., (1995), Géographie universelle : Europe médiane - Europe du Nord, Reclus-Belin : Montpellier
LAGERLÖF Selma, (1906), Le merveilleux voyage de Nils Holgersson à travers la Suède, traduction française chez Actes Sud
COSMOPOLIS, (du 4 au 17 février 2008), La Quinzaine nordique, Cosmopolis : Nantes

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