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Abstract
GIS Education Roadmaps: None, One or Many?
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Josef Strobl
Email: josef.strobl@sbg.ac.at
Abstract
Looking at current developments like the 'mainstreaming' of GIS into ICT and the 'takeover' of some traditional GIS assets by the database community, it might be argued that there are very little core GIS specifics left to be learned beyond some training in reference systems and generic mapping skills. Shouldn't we either work with well-founded computer science graduates or individuals aware of the specifics of the application logic in a given domain? This presentation makes a case for a core set of qualifications centered on the skillset of "Geographic thinking" (i.e. spatial awareness). Starting from the importance and 'value added' of an explicit spatial perspective, a unique methodology of spatial analysis is identified at the capstone of GIScience. While successful GIS applications will always be based on inter-disciplinary collaboration, there is a strong rationale for educating generalists bringing a clearly defined 'spatial point of view' into project teams. While many GIS curricula today emphasize a technical development perspective or GI handling skills for various application disciplines, it is argued that the core geographic competences of 'spatial information integration', 'spatial analysis' and 'spatial communication' have the highest potential for generating substantial new insights and high levels of new information.