Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Encyclopedia of Geographic Information Science, edited by Karen K. Kemp. 558p. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Reference, 2008. 978-1-4129-1313-3; 2007-29725. $150.

Encyclopedia of Geographic Information Science Geographic information systems (GIS) involve the application of computer software to manage, interpret and display any sort of geographically referenced data. As with other computer-based fields, what began with rather limited possibilities often using government data sets is now experiencing an explosion of possibilities. From GPS phones to Google Earth's web-based mapping software, the public now takes many GIS products for granted. Not surprisingly, as the range of possible applications for GIS has widened, so has the variety of disciplines making use of its tools. With users coming from education, business, computer science, demographics, cartography, anthropology, geography and many other disciplines, there is a need for agreement on basic concepts and key issues. Defining the fundamental concepts and the basic intellectual framework for geographic information science (GISci) is what this guide is all about. The editor and advisory board have long been involved in spatial analysis or computer applications in geography. They have chosen a panel of expert authors and 230 topics to introduce the field of geographic information science. From cognitive science to topology, basic concepts are explained in extended essays averaging 1,300 words. Areas of emphasis include cartography, geospatial data and analytical methods. Articles on aggregation, linear referencing, and specifications illustrate data manipulation and modeling as well as database design. Other entries present societal issues such as information access, privacy and spatial literacy. Organizations and agencies involved in GISci are also described. For the novice to the field, the only information lacking is an overview of education and certification requirements in the field. Nonetheless, this volume will serve most students and researchers as an excellent introduction to geographic information studies.

— John Lawrence