Abstract

The study of location and location-based phenomena is a flourishing field. Many universities have grown their research and/or services in this field (often called GIS), established centers that are primarily engaged in the research of GIS, or applying GIS technologies to support researches of other fields. Some straddle “research of” and “research with” GIS in the same center, engaging in both GIScience research, often by researchers in a department or school, and geospatial technology services, often for users across the university. We conducted an online survey to scour the landscape of such centers in universities worldwide, to understand how they are structured, managed, financed, and sustained. The survey also included units as part of a library, department, or lab. Eighty-one valid responses were analyzed, revealing these organizations’ administrative, financial, staffing, and operational status; their history, visions, responsibilities, resources, constrains, challenges, and opportunities. The result showed differences between universities with and without a geography department.

摘要

对位置和基于位置的现象的研究是一个蓬勃发展的领域。许多大学已经在该领域（通常称为GIS）中发展了他们的研究和/或服务，建立了主要从事GIS研究或应用GIS技术来支持其他领域研究的中心。有些跨越同一中心内的GIS的“研究”和“使用GIS的研究”，既是由部门或学校的研究人员进行的GIS科学研究，又是为整个大学的用户提供的地理空间技术服务。我们进行了一项在线调查，以调查全球各大学中此类中心的状况，以了解它们的结构，管理，财务和可持续性。调查还包括作为图书馆，部门或实验室一部分的单位。分析了81个有效答案，揭示这些组织的行政，财务，人员配备和运营状况；他们的历史，愿景，责任，资源，限制，挑战和机遇。结果表明，有和没有地理系的大学之间存在差异。