The Impact of Geospatial Science on the 21st Century Geography - Essay Example

Introduction: Geospatial science involves the study and application of information technology, and statistical inquiryto information that has a geographic or geospatial characteristic.This study involves applications of software’s that have the capability of processing and producing a geospatial representation. This study also involves the application of analytical methods to geographical data bases, by use of tools such as geographic information systems (GIS), and global positioning system, (GPS). Geospatial science does not only concern itself with spatial statistics and mapping operations, it also involves network and surface analysis. In surface analysis, geospatial engineers examinecharacteristics of physical surfaces such as their visibility and gradient (Hunt and Miyake, 2006). In network analysis, geospatial engineers analyze the features of artificial and natural geographic networks for purposes of understanding the conduct of flow that occurs around and within such networks. Engineers analyzing the network of a specific geographical location can provide advice on how a new road should be routed, the location of an institution or the positioning of a mobile phone mast.Geospatial engineers concerned with this area of geospatial science mostly use geographic information system as their tool of analysis. Geospatial engineering also concerns itself with geovisualization. This refers to creating and manipulating geographic images, charts, diagrams and other related datasets (Bailey and Grossardt, 2010). Geographic Information System is also an important tool used by geospatial engineers to create these images. Bailey and Grossardt (2010) concur with this notion and denote that it is because of its capability to provide tools that show a statistic and rotational view. In view of these arguments, this paper analyzes the role of geospatial science in the study of the 21st century geography. This paper specifically analyzes the role of the geographic information system, and the global positioning system in the study of the 21st Geography. Geographic Information System: The geographic information system is useful in geography because it has the ability to manipulate, capture, store, and to analyze all geographical information and data.The GIS technology applies the use of digital information for purposes of creating a digitized data. The process of creating this kind of data involves the use of a hard copy which is then taken to a digital medium by the application of the CAD program. This process is called digitalization. Digitalization is the main process in which geospatial scientists extract geographical information. This is because satellite and Ariel technology has made it possible for geospatial scientists to extract geographic data, through a digitization process referred to as heads up digitizing (Klinkenberg, 2007). This is a 21st century geographical shift from the traditional methods of extracting data which involved locatinggeographic information on a different digitalization tablet, to this modern aspect of extracting information referred to as the heads up digitizing. Geographic information system also helps in relating information that is difficult for geographers and geospatial scientists to relate with other information. This is because it has a key index variable, known as the location. To relate this information, with other data in question, GIS may use earth space time, and this is always denoted by the terms time/ date of the event occurring. Geographers can use GIS tools to identify the longitude, latitude, and elevation of a place through the use of coordinates. Coordinates are always denoted by letters such as x, y and z. Through use of these tools therefore, Geographers gain the capability to project a future geographical occurrence, or analyze a past geographic occurrence. This can help in making decisions that would influence mining, exploration, and other related geographical activities.The Geographical Information System can be used to denote the characteristics of the earth’s surface, atmosphere, and its sub face by analyzing either it’s two dimensional characteristic, or its three dimensional characteristics (Goodchild, Fu and Rich, 2007). Geographers have the capability, by using a GIS tool to produce a map that shows the contour lines, and the isopleths for purposes of measuring the amount of rainfall in different places (Golledge, Marsh and Battersby, 2008). This is a great stride in measuring rainfall, because traditional methods of measuring rainfall such as the use of rain gauge do not produce an accurate result, as compared to the use of a GIS tool. The GIS tool also makes it possible to gather data that reflects real geographical objects such as trees, rivers, lakes, roads, elevations, etc.In the 21st century, the GIS methodology of storing data involves the identification of point clouds that have a combination of RGB information, with a three dimensional point. This has the capability of creating a 3D colored picture.Because of these elements of data storage by the GIS tool, the maps created are highly descriptive, as compared to those of the later centuries. This is a great stride in geography. Global Positioning System: This is a satellite navigation tool that is based at the space. Its main function is to provide information that touches on time and location during any weather condition, or at any place on earth. This will apply if the locations under consideration have more than four GPS satellites, and unobstructed line of sight. This system assists military, civilian and commercial operations The GPS system is used in navigation to denote time and location. It achieves this by calculating the position of an object by timing the signals that a GPS satellite directs above the Earth atmosphere (Goodchild, Fu and Rich, 2007).These satellites, on a constant basis, transmit messages that portraythe time of message transmission, and the position of the satellite when the message was transmitted. The GPS receivers then use the message transmitted to determine the time of transition for purposes of calculating the distance of the satellite by using the speed of light. The distance found and the locations of the satellite are then used to determine the location of the GPS receiver by using the navigation equation.Through this process therefore, a GPS tool has the capability of proving information such as speed, direction and location of an object. This is a great stride in the 21st century geography, because it provides accurate and reliable results (Marsh, Golledge, and Battersby, 2007). The system is also used by surveyors to create persons, and identify and mark boundaries. Other uses are in creating time signals in the clock synchronization process, and locating and maintenance of contact with a fleet of vehicles. All this are geographical aspects because time and location are involved, and therefore geographers can reliable use the GPS tool to determine location and time, with the highest degree of accuracy. These aspects were not possible before the last century, because Geographers used traditional methods of determining direction and time, such as observation of the weather patterns. Conclusion: In conclusion, global positioning system, and geographic information system have created a big impact in the study of geography and its application. For instance,it’s now possible to get geographic information through the process of heads up digitizing. This process involves the use of Ariel and satellite tools to trace geographic information above Arielimagery. This replaces the less efficient traditional way of gathering geographic data termed as the heads down digitization. This involved tracing geographic objects on different digitization tablets. This is attributed to the technological innovations that involve the use of global information system tools. Global positioning system was invented for military use, but as time advanced, the system was made available for commercial and civilian use. This system is accessible to any individual who has a GPS receiver, and can be used to denote time, and location of an object. It provides an accurate figure, when used to calculate location, and distance of an object. The use of this system in the 21st century is a shift from the traditional methods of identifying location and time, which were sometimes based on weather patterns, and the direction of the sun.These methods were in accurate, and not reliable. References: Bailey, K., & Grossardt, T. (2010). Toward Structured Public Involvement: Justice, Geography and Collaborative Geospatial/Geovisual Decision Support Systems. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 100(1), 57-86. Golledge, R., Marsh, M., & Battersby, S. (2008). A Conceptual Framework for Facilitating Geospatial Thinking. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 98(2), 285- 308. Goodchild, M., Fu, P., & Rich, P. (2007). Sharing Geographic Information: An Assessment of the Geospatial One-Stop. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 97(2), 250-266. Hunt, R., & Miyake, B. (2006). Comparison of Stocking Rates from Remote Sensing and Geospatial Data. Rangeland Ecology & Management,, 59(1), 11-18. Klinkenberg, B. (2007). Forum: Geospatial Technologies and the Geographies of Hope and Fear. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 97(2), 350-360. Marsh, M., Golledge, R., & Battersby, S. (2007). Geospatial Concept Understanding and Recognition in G6-College Students: A Preliminary Argument for Minimal GIS. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 97(4), 696-712. Read More