Explain the History of GIS.
Answers
Esri is now the world's leading experts in GIS software development and it has played a key role in the history of GIS. At this point in the history of GIS, it also gained steam with some of the first conferences and published work. The first GIS meeting in the UK was in 1975. It included a small crowd of academics.
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Answer with Explanation:
A GIS (geographic or geospatial information system) is a modern extension of traditional cartography with one fundamental similarity and two essential differences. The similarity lies in the fact that both a cartographic document and a GIS contain examples of a base map to which additional data can be added. The differences are that there is no limit to the amount of additional data that can be added to a GIS map and secondly the GIS uses analysis and statistics to present data in support of particular arguments which a cartographic map cannot do. Cartographic maps are often extremely simplified as there are limits to the amount of data that can be physically and meaningfully stored on a small map.
There have been four distinct phases in the development of Geographic Information Systems. Phase one, between the early 1960s and the mid 1970s saw a new discipline being dominated by a few key individuals who were to shape the direction of future research and development. The second phase, from the mod 1970s to early 1980s saw the adoption of technologies by national agencies that led to a focus on the development of best practice. Phase three, between 1982 until the late 1980s saw the development and exploitation of the commercial market place surrounding GIS whilst the final phase since the late 1980s has seen a focus on ways of improving the usability of technology by making facilities more user centric.
Information regarding the uptake and development of GIS, particularly by National departments is patchy. Currently, no widespread research into this area has been undertaken. Where it has, some government functions, including the UKs Ordnance Survey have actively refused to release information about how technology has been adopted and deployed.
It also seems likely that the early stages of GIS development in the 20th century were characterized by individuals who were pursuing disparate goals in the field of GIS and that there was no single direction agree for research to follow. At that time the Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics, the Canada Geographic Information System, the Environmental Systems Research Institute and the Experimental Cartography Unit in the UK were the major influences in the field. A single direction did not appear until the field became the focus of intense commercial activity as satellite imaging technology meant that mass applications could be created for business and private use and at the time Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) became the dominant organisation in the field.