ABSTRACT

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are valuable for displaying and analyzing spatial data, revealing spatial patterns that may otherwise go unnoticed. The ubiquity of web and mobile platforms, used to create and share geographic information has reified the value of GIS to a wider audience bringing new popularity to GIS. As a result, GIS and Geographic Information Science (GIScience) are becoming increasingly sought after in interdisciplinary research, which often addresses multifaceted, real-world problems. To understand the necessary level of GIS expertise for a specific interdisciplinary research project, we suggest that the team early on identify the role of GIS within the research. Is it simply the use of GIS as a Tool, employing a GIS Toolmaker for bespoke applications or a GIScientist for new forms of spatial analyses and guidance on social, ethical and spatial ambiguities? To allay future challenges and miscommunication in interdisciplinary research involving GIS, three case studies are presented and common themes related to challenges for the GIScientists are shared.

摘要

地理信息系统（GIS）对于显示和分析空间数据，揭示否则可能不会引起注意的空间模式非常有价值。用于创建和共享地理信息的无处不在的网络和移动平台，已经使GIS对更广泛的受众的价值得到了确认，从而使GIS有了新的普及。结果，在跨学科研究中，GIS和地理信息科学（GIScience）越来越受到追捧，而跨学科研究通常解决多方面的现实问题。为了了解特定跨学科研究项目所需的GIS专业知识水平，我们建议团队尽早确定GIS在研究中的作用。仅仅是使用GIS作为工具，聘请GIS Toolmaker来定制应用程序，还是聘请GIScientist来进行新形式的空间分析以及有关社会，道德和空间歧义的指南？为了缓解涉及GIS的跨学科研究中的未来挑战和沟通不畅，提出了三个案例研究，并共享了与GIS科学家有关的挑战的共同主题。