|
|
| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
| |
| Mailing List Archives |
| Subject: | [gislist] What is happening to GIS? |
| Date: |
09/30/2005 10:40:02 PM |
| From: |
Fiona Gregory |
|
|
Internet map servers...
..spatial database engines..
..object oriented programming..
and all most end users really want to do is map our data. And maybe do a little spatial analysis. Like we learned that GIS was supposed to be for, way back in our first Intro to GIS class, except we never did get to analysis part, because we spend the whole course trying to figure out why the program kept hanging. Then when we got menus instead of command lines, we thought the age of "GIS for everyone" was dawning. And now...
Am I crazy, or is the GIS world getting way too complex? Deeper and deeper into the rarefied domain of the information technologist, and further from the grasp of the forester, wildlife biologist, land use planner, who are the ones who should be - and want to be- in command of the powers of spatial analysis and mapping in support of better environmental management strategies.
Are the huge expenditures of time, money, and professional expertise on "enterprise GIS" these days really reaching and helping these people, or more importantly, are they really the best use of the scarce resources in the strained budgets of government agencies, non-profit groups, natural resource companies?
I believe in the value of GIS, but I'm not sure I believe in most instances of how I see GIS being used, and where the GIS resources are going, in organizations that I have observed in my 10 years in the GIS/natural resources field.
Have I struck a chord with anyone? Do you agree, or am I wrong, and can you explain why?
_______________________________________________
gislist mailing list
gislist@lists.geocomm.com
http://lists.geocomm.com/mailman/listinfo/gislist
_________________________________
This list is brought to you by
The GeoCommunity
http://www.geocomm.com/
|
|
Sponsored by:
For information
regarding
advertising rates
Click Here!
|
