Ontological Foundations for Geographic Information Science

In McMaster Robert & Usery E. Lynn (eds.), A Research Agenda for Geographic Information Science. CRC Press. pp. 335-350 (2004)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

We propose as a UCGIS research priority the topic of “Ontological Foundations for Geographic Information.” Under this umbrella we unify several interrelated research subfields, each of which deals with different perspectives on geospatial ontologies and their roles in geographic information science. While each of these subfields could be addressed separately, we believe it is important to address ontological research in a unitary, systematic fashion, embracing conceptual issues concerning what would be required to establish an exhaustive ontology of the geospatial domain, issues relating to the choice of appropriate methods for formalizing ontologies, and considerations regarding the design of ontology-driven information systems. This integrated approach is necessary, because there is a strong dependency between the methods used to specify an ontology, and the conceptual richness, robustness and tractability of the ontology itself. Likewise, information system implementations are needed as testbeds of the usefulness of every aspect of an exhaustive ontology of the geospatial domain. None of the current UCGIS research priorities provides such an integrative perspective, and therefore the topic of “Ontological Foundations for Geographic Information Science” is unique.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive

External links

  • This entry has no external links. Add one.
Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Geographical Categories: An Ontological Retrospective.Barry Smith & David M. Mark - 2001 - International Journal of Geographical Information Science 15 (7):507–512.
A Taxonomy of Granular Partitions.Thomas E. Bittner & Barry Smith - 2001 - In Thomas Bittner (ed.), Spatial Information Theory. Foundations of Geographic Information Science. Lecture Notes in Computer Science 2205. pp. 28-43.

Analytics

Added to PP
2017-04-28

Downloads
1,214 (#12,687)

6 months
147 (#27,475)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Barry Smith
University at Buffalo

Citations of this work

A science of topography: Bridging the qualitative-quantitative divide.David M. Mark & Barry Smith - 2004 - In David M. Mark & Barry Smith (eds.), Geographic Information Science and Mountain Geomorphology. Chichester, England: Springer-Praxis. pp. 75--100.

Add more citations