Difference between revisions of "Geoinformatics"

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'''Geoinformatics''' 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]].
[[File:Mtm-05277e 3d.png|thumb|440px|right|Geological scientists use geoinformatics tools to create 3D maps of not only Earth's surface but also, as in the case of astrogeology, the surface of other planets like Mars.]]
'''Geoinformatics''' is a multidisciplinary field of science that uses technologies supporting the processes of acquiring, analyzing, and visualizing geospatial data.<ref name="KarimiHandbook">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CQ5If9TQQ-EC |title=Handbook of Research on Geoinformatics |author=Karimi, Hassan A. |publisher=IGI Global |year=2009 |pages=481 |isbn=9781591409960 |accessdate=05 June 2014}}</ref>


==Overview==
The definition of the term "geoinformatics" varies greatly, however. For example, author G. Randy Keller, focusing on the internals of our planet, explained geoinformatics as the use of "data, software tools, and computational infrastructure ... to facilitate studies of the structure, dynamics, and evolution of the solid Earth through time, as well as the processes that act upon it and within it from the near surface to the core."<ref name="KellerGeo">{{cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=-iE1qL8Pr6sC&pg=PA3 |chapter=Chapter 1: Science needs and challenges for geoinformatics |title=Geoinformatics: Cyberinfrastructure for the Solid Earth Sciences |author=Keller, G. Randy |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2011 |pages=3–9 |isbn=9781139502634 |accessdate=05 June 2014}}</ref> Other definitions of geoinformatics dutifully extend its scope to the surface of the planet, causing more confusion as terms like "geomatics," "geographical information system," and "computational geography" are brought to the discussion from different regions around the world and are often used synonymously.<ref name="MarineGeo">{{cite web |url=http://ahabibi.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/geoinformatics-what-the-hell-is-it/ |title=Geoinformatics, what the bloody hell is it? |work=Marine geoinformatics |author=ahabibi |date=24 December 2007 |accessdate=05 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="CityUni">{{cite web |url=http://healthcybermap.org/HGeo/pg2_1.htm |title=Geomatics and GIS: Definitions and Scope |work=Health Geomatics |author=Boulos, Maged N. Kamel |publisher=City University, London |date=14 October 2002 |accessdate=05 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="GoGeoCanada">{{cite web |url=http://www.gogeomatics.ca/magazine/geospatial-or-geomatics-the-headaches-of-terminology-in-canada.htm |title=Geospatial or Geomatics: The Headaches of Terminology in Canada |work=GoGeomatics Canada |author=Thurston, Jeff |date=12 August 2013 |accessdate=05 June 2014}}</ref> Senior lecturer Jiří Šíma of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen attempts to compare "geomatics" and "geoinformatics" using [[ISO]] standards<ref name="SimaGeo">{{cite web |url=https://www.oicrf.org/documents/40950/43224/Geomatics+and+geoinformatics+in+modern+information+society+projection+of+new+trends+into+their+curricula+at+the+University+of+West+Bohemia+in+Pilsen.pdf/cc2c4efb-e866-98ce-d9af-c34ded7b7848 |format=PDF |title=Geomatics and Geoinformatics in Modern Information Society – Projection of New Trends into their Curricula at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen |author=Šíma, J. |publisher=University of West Bohemia in Pilsen |date=June 2007 |accessdate=20 March 2020}}</ref>:


Geoinformatics has been described as "the science and technology dealing with the structure and character of spatial [[information]], its capture, its classification and qualification, its storage, processing, portrayal and dissemination, including the infrastructure necessary to secure optimal use of this information"<ref>P.L.N. Raju, Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems</ref> or "the art, science or technology dealing with the acquisition, storage, processing production, presentation and dissemination of geoinformation".<ref>M. Ehlers, Geoinformatics and digital earth initiatives: a German perspective</ref>
<blockquote>According to ISO Standard 19122 'geomatics is a discipline concerned with the collection, distribution, storage, analysis, processing, presentation of geographic data or geographic information.' Its range is perfectly described by activities of the Geomatics Canada: establishing and maintainace [''sic''] of national spatial reference system, preparing, publishing and distributing of state topographical maps, aeronautical charts, aerial photographs and gazetteers, surveys on state boundaries, property surveys on federal lands, maintainance [''sic''] of national bases of geographic data for the development of geographical information systems.</blockquote>


Geomatics is a similarly used term which encompasses geoinformatics, but geomatics focuses on surveying. Geoinformatics has at its core the technologies supporting the processes of acquiring, analyzing and visualizing spatial data. Both geomatics and geoinformatics include and rely heavily upon the theory and practical implications of geodesy.
However, as of at least 2012, there appears to be no official definition of geoinformatics in the ISO 19100 standards.<ref name="SimaGeo" /><ref name="KresseSpringer12">{{cite book |url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bbm%3A978-3-540-72680-7%2F1.pdf |chapter=Terms and Definitions of the ISO 19100 Standards |title=Springer Handbook of Geographic Information |editor=Kresse, W.; Danko, D.M. |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |pages=985–1040 |year=2012 |isbn=9783540726807}}</ref> One of the best definitions was published by Dietmar Grünreich, president of the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy in Frankfurt (Main): 'geoinformatics is a discipline concerned with theory of geospatial data modeling, their storage, management and processing as well as with development of geographical information systems and necessary information and communication technology.'"<ref name="SimaGeo" />


Geography and earth science increasingly rely on digital spatial data acquired from remotely sensed images analyzed by geographical information systems (GIS) and visualized on paper or the computer screen.<ref>Bouloucos and Brown, ITC Courses in Remote Sensing, GIS and Photogrammetry</ref>
==Application==
Geoinformatics can help tackle problems and tasks such as the following<ref name="KellerGeo" /><ref name="KarimiHandbook" />:


Geoinformatics combines geospatial analysis and modeling, development of geospatial databases, information systems design, human-computer interaction and both wired and wireless networking technologies. Geoinformatics uses geocomputation and geovisualization for analyzing geoinformation.
* the modeling and use of seismic data
* the construction and use of other geologically realistic 3-D models
* the production of high-quality paleogeographic maps
* the production of astrogeological 3D maps
* the measurement of Earth's gravity field
* the mitigation of hazards in volcanically active areas
* the planning and management of land use
* the reconstruction of architecture and archeological sites
* the creation of commercial maritime routes
* the management of natural resources


Branches of geoinformatics include:
==Informatics==
Scientists practicing in the earth sciences increasingly rely on digital spatial data acquired and visualized from remotely sensed images analyzed by geographical information systems (GIS). Other informatics tools include geospatial analysis and modeling software, geospatial databases, and wired and wireless networking technologies. As these types of systems and tools have become more readily available, a larger global initiative to use them for greater data integration and sharing has emerged.<ref name="SinhaGeo">{{cite journal |title=Geoinformatics: Transforming data to knowledge for geosciences |journal=GSA Today  |author=Sinha, A.K.; Malik, Z.; Rezgui, A. et al. |volume=20 |issue=12 |pages=4–10 |year=2010 |doi=10.1130/GSATG85A.1}}</ref> GEON, for example, was an open collaborative project for creating infrastructure for collecting 3- and 4D geospatial data.<ref name="GEONAboutArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.geongrid.org/index.php/about |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123044606/http://www.geongrid.org/index.php/about |title=GEON - About |publisher=Geosciences Network |archivedate=23 January 2018 |accessdate=20 March 2020}}</ref> OneGeology is another global informatics initiative attempting to compile digital geological map data for all to use.<ref name="SinhaGeo" />


<gallery>
==Further reading==
Image:Hereford_Mappa_Mundi_1300.jpg|Cartography
Image:Geoid_height_red_blue.png|Geodesy
Image:Qgis08_grass6_toolbox.png|Geographic Information Systems
Image:GPS_Satellite_NASA_art-iif.jpg|Global Navigation Satellite Systems
Image:Alpha2000.jpg|Photogrammetry
Image:Island_of_Hawai'i_-_Landsat_mosaic.jpg|Remote sensing
Image:Worldwind.png|Web mapping
</gallery>


==Applications==
* {{cite journal |title=Geoinformatics: Transforming data to knowledge for geosciences |journal=GSA Today  |author=Sinha, A.K.; Malik, Z.; Rezgui, A. et al. |volume=20 |issue=12 |pages=4–10 |year=2010 |doi=10.1130/GSATG85A.1}}
 
Many fields benefit from geoinformatics, including urban planning and land use management, in-car navigation systems, virtual globes, public health, local and national gazetteer management, environmental modeling and analysis, military, transport network planning and management, agriculture, meteorology and climate change, oceanography and coupled ocean and atmosphere modelling, business location planning, architecture and archeological reconstruction, telecommunications, criminology and crime simulation, aviation and maritime transport.
The importance of the spatial dimension in assessing, monitoring and modelling various issues and problems related to sustainable management of natural resources is  recognized all over the world. Geoinformatics becomes very important technology to decision-makers across a wide range of disciplines, industries, commercial sector, environmental agencies, local and national government, research, and academia, national survey and mapping organisations, International organisations, United Nations,  Emergency services, public health and epidemiology, crime mapping, transportation and infrastructure, information technology industries, GIS consulting firms, Environmental management agencies), tourist industry, utility companies, market analysis and  e-commerce, mineral exploration etc. Many government and non government agencies started to use the spatial data for managing their day to day activities.


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.opengeospatial.org Open Geospatial Consortium]
* [https://icaci.org/ International Cartographic Association] (ICA)
*[http://www.icaci.org International Cartographic Association (ICA)], the world body for mapping and GIScience professionals
* [https://www.isprs.org/ International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing] (ISPRS)
* [http://www.isprs.org International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing]
* [http://www.iugg.org/ International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics] (IUGG)
* [http://www.iugg.org/ International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG)]
* [http://www.onegeology.org/ OneGeology]
* [https://www.ogc.org/ Open Geospatial Consortium] (OGC)


==Notes==
==Notes==


This article heavily reuses content from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoinformatics the Wikipedia article].
This article reuses a few elements from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoinformatics the Wikipedia article].


== References ==
== References ==
<references/>
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}


<!---Place all category tags here-->
[[Category:Informatics]]
[[Category:Informatics]]

Latest revision as of 20:32, 20 March 2020

Geological scientists use geoinformatics tools to create 3D maps of not only Earth's surface but also, as in the case of astrogeology, the surface of other planets like Mars.

Geoinformatics is a multidisciplinary field of science that uses technologies supporting the processes of acquiring, analyzing, and visualizing geospatial data.[1]

The definition of the term "geoinformatics" varies greatly, however. For example, author G. Randy Keller, focusing on the internals of our planet, explained geoinformatics as the use of "data, software tools, and computational infrastructure ... to facilitate studies of the structure, dynamics, and evolution of the solid Earth through time, as well as the processes that act upon it and within it from the near surface to the core."[2] Other definitions of geoinformatics dutifully extend its scope to the surface of the planet, causing more confusion as terms like "geomatics," "geographical information system," and "computational geography" are brought to the discussion from different regions around the world and are often used synonymously.[3][4][5] Senior lecturer Jiří Šíma of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen attempts to compare "geomatics" and "geoinformatics" using ISO standards[6]:

According to ISO Standard 19122 'geomatics is a discipline concerned with the collection, distribution, storage, analysis, processing, presentation of geographic data or geographic information.' Its range is perfectly described by activities of the Geomatics Canada: establishing and maintainace [sic] of national spatial reference system, preparing, publishing and distributing of state topographical maps, aeronautical charts, aerial photographs and gazetteers, surveys on state boundaries, property surveys on federal lands, maintainance [sic] of national bases of geographic data for the development of geographical information systems.

However, as of at least 2012, there appears to be no official definition of geoinformatics in the ISO 19100 standards.[6][7] One of the best definitions was published by Dietmar Grünreich, president of the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy in Frankfurt (Main): 'geoinformatics is a discipline concerned with theory of geospatial data modeling, their storage, management and processing as well as with development of geographical information systems and necessary information and communication technology.'"[6]

Application

Geoinformatics can help tackle problems and tasks such as the following[2][1]:

  • the modeling and use of seismic data
  • the construction and use of other geologically realistic 3-D models
  • the production of high-quality paleogeographic maps
  • the production of astrogeological 3D maps
  • the measurement of Earth's gravity field
  • the mitigation of hazards in volcanically active areas
  • the planning and management of land use
  • the reconstruction of architecture and archeological sites
  • the creation of commercial maritime routes
  • the management of natural resources

Informatics

Scientists practicing in the earth sciences increasingly rely on digital spatial data acquired and visualized from remotely sensed images analyzed by geographical information systems (GIS). Other informatics tools include geospatial analysis and modeling software, geospatial databases, and wired and wireless networking technologies. As these types of systems and tools have become more readily available, a larger global initiative to use them for greater data integration and sharing has emerged.[8] GEON, for example, was an open collaborative project for creating infrastructure for collecting 3- and 4D geospatial data.[9] OneGeology is another global informatics initiative attempting to compile digital geological map data for all to use.[8]

Further reading

  • Sinha, A.K.; Malik, Z.; Rezgui, A. et al. (2010). "Geoinformatics: Transforming data to knowledge for geosciences". GSA Today 20 (12): 4–10. doi:10.1130/GSATG85A.1. 


External links

Notes

This article reuses a few elements from the Wikipedia article.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Karimi, Hassan A. (2009). Handbook of Research on Geoinformatics. IGI Global. pp. 481. ISBN 9781591409960. http://books.google.com/books?id=CQ5If9TQQ-EC. Retrieved 05 June 2014. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Keller, G. Randy (2011). "Chapter 1: Science needs and challenges for geoinformatics". Geoinformatics: Cyberinfrastructure for the Solid Earth Sciences. Cambridge University Press. pp. 3–9. ISBN 9781139502634. http://books.google.com/books?id=-iE1qL8Pr6sC&pg=PA3. Retrieved 05 June 2014. 
  3. ↑ ahabibi (24 December 2007). "Geoinformatics, what the bloody hell is it?". Marine geoinformatics. http://ahabibi.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/geoinformatics-what-the-hell-is-it/. Retrieved 05 May 2014. 
  4. ↑ Boulos, Maged N. Kamel (14 October 2002). "Geomatics and GIS: Definitions and Scope". Health Geomatics. City University, London. http://healthcybermap.org/HGeo/pg2_1.htm. Retrieved 05 June 2014. 
  5. ↑ Thurston, Jeff (12 August 2013). "Geospatial or Geomatics: The Headaches of Terminology in Canada". GoGeomatics Canada. http://www.gogeomatics.ca/magazine/geospatial-or-geomatics-the-headaches-of-terminology-in-canada.htm. Retrieved 05 June 2014. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Šíma, J. (June 2007). "Geomatics and Geoinformatics in Modern Information Society – Projection of New Trends into their Curricula at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen" (PDF). University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. https://www.oicrf.org/documents/40950/43224/Geomatics+and+geoinformatics+in+modern+information+society+projection+of+new+trends+into+their+curricula+at+the+University+of+West+Bohemia+in+Pilsen.pdf/cc2c4efb-e866-98ce-d9af-c34ded7b7848. Retrieved 20 March 2020. 
  7. ↑ Kresse, W.; Danko, D.M., ed. (2012). "Terms and Definitions of the ISO 19100 Standards". Springer Handbook of Geographic Information. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 985–1040. ISBN 9783540726807. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/bbm%3A978-3-540-72680-7%2F1.pdf. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sinha, A.K.; Malik, Z.; Rezgui, A. et al. (2010). "Geoinformatics: Transforming data to knowledge for geosciences". GSA Today 20 (12): 4–10. doi:10.1130/GSATG85A.1. 
  9. ↑ "GEON - About". Geosciences Network. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180123044606/http://www.geongrid.org/index.php/about. Retrieved 20 March 2020. 
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