论地理信息系统概念与内涵的演变

简要论述了GIS的基本概念以及几个与GIS相关的概念,并进一步讨论了GIS与组织和社会的关系:如空间数据基础设施、地理图书馆、地理计算、地理信息科学、OpenGIS规范、数字地球等,着重阐述了GIS的组织属性和社会属性,并进一步从第三世界GIS应用、技术传播的角度指出GIS面对的挑战。作者认为:(1)学者对于GIS的认识非常多元化,其概念与内涵也处于不断演化之中;(2)在信息社会,地理信息系统仍然是一个充满未知的、值得深入研究的领域,GIS研究仍面临科学的、实践的挑战;(3)超越技术,从更宽的视野观察和研究GIS,如从GIS与组织、GIS与社会、技术传播等角度研究GIS,对于中国和发展中国家的GIS事业既有学术价值,又具备实践意义;(4)考虑到组织和制度因素的重要性,有必要站在中国的社会背景中,重新审视地理信息的概念、内涵和其社会属性。

On the Evolution of GIS and Its Meanings

The meanings of GIS and related topics are briefly reviewed and discussed in this paper. First,10 definitions of GIS from academic,industrial and governmental leaders since the late 1980s are briefly summarized. Second,several GIS-related topics,such as the National Spatial Data Infrastructure,GeoLibrary,GeoComputation,Geographic Information Science,OpenGIS Specifications and Digital Earth,and their academic background are introduced and analyzed. Third,considering the widespread of GIS technology and the emerging awareness on GIS and society,the author tries to investigate the close relationships among GIS,people,organization and society in the information era. Forth,GIS diffusion and several researches on GIS application in developing countries are emphasized. Besides geographic information technologies,it seems that there are quite a few economic,organizational and managerial challenges in GIS development in China and other developing countries.Based on the review of GIS concept and related issues,the author argues that: 1) The definition of GIS is diverse and the meanings of GIS have constantly evolved since the late 1980s. Nevertheless,spatial is special! The geospatial element is highlighted in all of the GIS definitions. On the other hand,the organizational and societal issues are becoming increasingly important in understanding GIS implementation,application,diffusion and utilization. 2) The field of geographic information is still new and immature in the context of information society. The contemporary technological and societal factors have begun to reshape GIS. Consequently,there exist quite a few scientific and empirical challenges in GIS research. 3) Along with the evolution of GIS,it is necessary to examine GIS from a broad socio-technical perspective. Researches on GIS and society,such as GIS and organization,GIS diffusion and utilization,are critical for GIS applications in developing countries. 4) The geographic information technology and knowledge are mainly developed in only some developed countries and embedded by their organizational and cultural traditions. Consequently,for GIS development in China,it is crucial to reexamine GIS meanings from social perspectives.