Geographic Information and Society

Geography 594:

Geographic Information and Society

Instructors:

Meghan Cope: Web page, Email

Hugh Calkins: Web page, Email

Geographic Information and Society examines the interrelationships between GIS and the political, economic, legal, social, cultural, spatial, and institutional structures of society. Two general perspectives are reviewed: The institutional perspective focuses on GIS implementation processes and benefit/cost measures in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and equity, as well as on theories and methods for determining how spatial information influences land and policy decisions. The critical social theory perspective focuses on a critical analysis of the effects of GIS technologies on individuals and groups, including issues of representation, alternative modes of reasoning, and differential access to technology. Both theoretical and applied aspects of GIS and Society are reviewed in the context of the two general perspectives.

FACTS ABOUT THE COURSES

SPRING 2001 INFORMATION: GEO 594

TIMETABLE: Geography 592 meets once a week, Fridays, 9 am to 11:50

CREDIT HOURS: 3

GRADING: The grade will be based on three research papers.

DRAFT Course Outline

January 19 (F) Introduction: Geographic Information and Society. Overview of the GI & Society topic (Mark)

Readings:
- Sheppard, E., Couclelis, H., Graham, S., Harrington, J. W., and Onsrud, H., 1999, Geographies of the information society. International Journal of geographical Information Science 13(8), 797-823.

January 26 (F) The institutional perspective on GI and Society, 1 (Calkins)

Readings:
- Pinto, J. K., and Onsrud, H. J., Sharing geographic information across organizational boundaries: A research framework. 44-64.
- Calkins, H. W., and Weatherbe, R., Taxonomy of spatial data sharing. 65-75
- Kevany, M. J., A proposed structure for observing data sharing. 76-100.

February 2 (F) The institutional perspective on GI and Society, 2 (Calkins)

Readings:
- Dickinson, H. J., and Calkins, H. W., 1988. The economic evaluation of implementing a GIS. International Journal of geographical Information Systems 2(4), 307-327.
- Calkins, H. W., and Obermeyer, N. J., 1991. Taxonomy for surveying the use and value of geographcial information. International Journal of geographical Information Systems 5(3), 341-351.
- Onsrud, H. J., and Calkins, H., 1993. Research Initiative 4: Use and value of geographic information. Closing Report, NCGIA, Santa Barbara, CA.

February 9 (F) The institutional perspective on GI and Society, 3 (Calkins; DMM away)

Readings:

February 16 (F) Intellectual history of GIS and Geographic technologies (Mark)

Readings:
- Mark, D. M., Chrisman, N., Frank, A. U., McHaffie, P. H., and Pickles, J. 1997. The GIS History Project. Proceedings, UCGIS Summer Assembly, Bar Harbor, Maine, June 15-21. http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/ncgia/gishist/bar_harbor.html
- Mark, D. M., 1997. The History of Geographic Information Systems: Invention and Re-Invention of Triangulated Irregular Networks (TINS). Proceedings, GIS/LIS'97. http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/ncgia/gishist/GISLIS97.html

February 23 (F) Public participation GIS (Mark); First Term Paper or Research Project Due

Readings:
- Shiffer, M. J., 1998. Multimedia GIS for planning support and public discourse. Cartography and Geographic Information Systems 25(2), 89-94.
- Jordan, G., A public participation GIS for community forestry user groups in Nepal: Putting people before technology. Position paper, Varenius Workshop on Empowerment, Marginalization, and Public Participation GIS. PDF File: http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/varenius/ppgis/papers/jordan.pdf
- Harris, T., and Weiner, D., 1999. Community-integrated GIS for land reform in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Position paper, Varenius Workshop on Empowerment, Marginalization, and Public Participation GIS, http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/varenius/ppgis/papers/harris.html.
- Kingston, R., 1999. Web based GIS for public participation decision making in the UK. Position paper, Varenius Workshop on Empowerment, Marginalization, and Public Participation GIS, http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/varenius/ppgis/papers/kingston/kingston.html.
- Al-Kodmany, K., 1999. GIS and the artist: Shaping the image of a neighborhood in participatory environmental design. Position paper, Varenius Workshop on Empowerment, Marginalization, and Public Participation GIS, http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/varenius/ppgis/papers/al-kodmany.html.

March 2: AAG Meeting, New York City, GEO 594 cancelled

March 9 Spring break, no classes

March 16 (F) Latour and Social Practice (Mark)

Readings:
- Chrisman, N. R., 1999. Speaking Truth to Power: An Agenda for Change In K. Lowell and A. Jaton, editors. Spatial Accuracy Assessment Land Information Uncertainty in Natural Resources Ann Arbor Press, Chelsea MI. pp. 27-31. (PDF Format; about 3700 words)
- Chrisman, N., unpublished. Full Circle: More than just Social Implications of GIS Unpublished manuscript, not to be quoted without author's permission. (PDF Format; about 9000 words)

March 23 (F) Space, culture, indigenous peoples, and tribal GIS

Readings:
- Rundstrom, R., 1995. GIS, Indigenous Peoples, and Epistemological Diversity. Cartography and Geographic Information Systems, 22 (1): pp 45-57.
- Winchell, D. G., Goodman, J. M., Jett, S. C., and Henderson, M. L., 1989. Geographic research on native Americans. In: G. L. Gaile and C. J. Wilmott, editors, Geography in America, Columbus: Merrill Publishing Company, pp. 239-255.

First Nations Mapping and GIS
Intertribal GIS Council Home Page
Indigenous Lands and Power Mapping in the Americas (search for "Power Mapping")
Pueblo of Jemez web site

March 30 (F) Legal and ethical aspects of GI and Society (Mark)

Readings:
- Onsrud, H. J., 1999. Basic readings in GIS law
- Onsrud, H.J., 1997. Ethical Issues in the Use and Development of GIS Proceedings of GIS/LIS'97.
Promoting Access to and Use of Government Scientific and Technical Data-- An Assessment of Legal and Policy Options

April 6 (F) The critical social theory perspective on GI and Society, 1 (Cope); Second Term Paper or Research Project Due

Readings:
- Pickles, J., 1995. Representations in an electronic age: Geography, GIS, and democracy. In Pickles, J. (editor) Ground Truth: The Social Implications of Geographic Information Systems. New York: Guldford press.
- Sheppard, E., 1995. GIS and Society: Towards a research Agenda. Cartography and Geographic Information Systems, 22 (1): 5-16.
- Miller, R., 1995. Beyond method, beyond ethics: integrating social theory into GIS and GIS into social theory. Cartography and Geographic Information Systems, 22 (1): 98-103.

April 13 (F) The critical social theory perspective on GI and Society 2 (Cope)

Readings:
- Mitchell, W. 1995. City of Bits: Space, Place, and the Infobahn. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Introduction (pp. 1-5) and Chapter 5 "Soft Cities" (pp. 107-131).
- Castells, C., 1996. The Rise of the Network Society. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishers. Prologue (pp. 1-28) and Chapter 6 "The Space of Flows" (pp. 376-428).

April 20 (F) The "GIS: Tool or Science" mini-debate (Dan Weiner and his seminar from West Virginia University; Cope and Mark)

Readings:
- Goodchild, M., Egenhofer, M., Kemp, K., Mark, D., and E. Sheppard (1999). "Introduction to the Varenius Project." International Journal of Geographical Information Science," 13(8): 731-745.
- Wright, D., Goodchild, M., and J. Proctor, (1997). GIS: Tool or Science? Demystifying the Persistent Ambiguity of GIS as 'Tool' versus 'Science.' Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 87 (2): 346-362.
- (also read: Wright, D., Goodchild, M., and J. Proctor, (1997). "Reply: Still Trying to Turn that Theoretical Corner." Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 87 (2): 373.)
- Pickles, J. (1997). "Tool or Science? GIS, Technoscience, and the Theoretical Turn." Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 87 (2): 363-372.
- Schuurman, N., (1999). "Lessons in Constructing a Science: Promises and Pitfalls of GIS." Cartographica, 36(4): 23-49.

April 27 (F) The critical social theory perspective on GI and Society 3 (Cope)

Readings:
- Baudrillard, J. 1994. Simulacra and Simulation. University of Michigan Press. Chapter 1"The Precession of Simulacra".
- Haraway, D. 1997. Modest_Witness@Second_Millenium.FemaleMan Meets OncoMouse (TM): Feminism and Technoscience. New York: Routledge. Chapter 2.1 "Semantics: Modest_Witness@Second_Millenium" (pp. 23-45)

May 7 (M) Third Term Paper or Research Project Due

Web sites related to the course:

Last updated on January 15, 2001

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