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Geographic Information Science

The original "science behind the systems," also known as spatial data science

The original "science behind the systems" continues to advance on several fronts. It intersects with computer science, analytical cartography, remote sensing and imagery science. Some of the most important work is in developing and documenting useful datasets for science, and interoperating between these datasets and various approaches. Paramount here are effective and open analysis, modelling, and replicability and reproducibility of approaches.

Geographic information science is in our DNA

Geographic information science, also known as GIScience or geospatial data science, has been in Esri's DNA since our founding in 1969. Many of our key staff and leaders trained with legends in the field. "Father of GIScience" Mike Goodchild is a long-standing, trusted consultant to further guide and critique us, as is remote-sensing and education pioneer Dave Cowen. Chief scientist Dawn Wright is on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Geographical Information Science and Transactions in GIS

Advancing an evolving field

Many of our staff serve on a range of other GIScience journal editorial boards or contribute to outlets such as the Cartography and Geographic Information Science (CaGIS) Journal, the Cartographic Journal, Journal of Geography in Higher Education and the Annals of the American Association of Geographers.

Esri database of peer-reviewed research

Search for and discover peer-reviewed publications by Esri staff.

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Explore the GIS&T Body of Knowledge

Nine Esri staff have authored chapters or edited sections in the Geographic Information Science & Technology Body of Knowledge (GIS&T Bok).

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GIScience research papers at Esri UC

Present your peer-reviewed paper at the Esri User Conference.

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Theory and applications in a post-GISystems world

Read this research article by Dawn Wright in the International Journal of Geographical Information Science.

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Featured Collaboration

Esri and the Space and Time for Knowledge Organisation (STKO) Lab of Professor Krzysztof Janowicz and his students are pursuing joint research projects of mutual benefit and interest in the areas of Linked Data, semantic search, data-mining-based metadata enrichment and geo-ontology. This includes experimenting with the ArcGIS ingestion of ontologies and Linked Data for data queries and the associated issues of user experience (UX), semantic search, automatic interpretation, web analytics and more.

Visit the STKO Lab website

Imagery

Imagery as data and remote sensing as science power today's modern GIS. Rapidly changing developments that combine imagery and spatial analyses are opening up new chapters in the history of GIS, as society awakens to the power of geography and the intuitive understanding that imagery helps us "see" in all its forms. As we like to say, "the map of the future is an intelligent image."    

Learn more about imagery
Sentinel Explorer app

Cartography

Inspiration, resources, training, and fascinating reads on cartographic science

Applied Data Science Initiative

Data Science and Python

Watch Esri's ArcGIS API for Python Lead Developer Rohit Singh discuss data science and python capabilities across the ArcGIS platform.

Cartography books

  • Esri Press

    Cartography.

    This lavishly illustrated reference guide by Esri's Ken Field is an inspiring and creative companion along the journey toward making a great map.
  • Esri Press

    Connections and Content: Reflections on Networks

    Behind every great map is a network and behind every great network is a map.
  • Esri Press

    Map Use: Reading Analysis, Interpretation

    This definitive textbook, coedited by Esri's Aileen Buckley, is a comprehensive, foundational treatise designed for the college curriculum.
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