The Vespucci Initiative : for the Advancement of Geographic Information in Science
The importance of Amerigo Vespucci as an explorer is recognized by the naming of two continents
after him. However, equally important is that he knew he had discovered a New World, based on well founded
deductions on the circumference of the earth. By computing a near exact measurement of longitude he revolutionized
cosmography, and bridged through knowledge the Old and New Continents. He was a true Renaissance man,
with broad multi-disciplinary education, ready to use his intellect and scientific methods to question accepted notions of geography.
Location affects nearly everything we do in life: we choose where to build homes, where to eat,
where the nearest hospital is in case of emergency. Companies analyse risks and assign insurance rates,
make loans and investments, and build regional offices according to location decisions. Many of these
decisions are complicated by society’s increasing desire for mobility while maintaining instant access
to information. At the global scale, location is also at the heart of some of the world’s most pressing problems:
immigration, poverty and starvation, environmental degradation, crime and security, natural hazards and disasters.
Geographic Information Science provides formal tools and methods to represent and analyze these important problems
in a controlled (scientifically repeatable) manner. It is therefore critical to the development of the Knowledge
Economy and a just Information Society.
The objectives of the Vespucci Initiative are:
To integrate and synthesize ideas in different research fields germane to the analysis of location.
To identify emerging research directions in related disciplines.
To foster professional development for present and future practitioners in the research and applications communities.
To develop new methods and tools supporting policy, good governance, and decision-making.
To lead towards the establishment of a permanent Academy with the mission of becoming the international
research-lead environment of choice for the advancement of Geographic Information Science, and its relevance to Society.
The aim of COSIT is to bring together researchers from different disciplines for an intensive scientific
exchange.
This aim is facilitated by the presentation and discussion of a restricted number of papers
and posters — the most innovative and significant recent contributions — rather than papers covering all
advances in the field. The conference is designed as a single track meeting to ensure that all conference
participants can get involved in the discussions of the selected papers. As a consequence, many participants
will not present their own research in an oral presentation but instead will play an active role in the
discussions of the selected papers and posters.
COSIT conferences are traditionally held at somewhat remote but easily accessible sites.
The participants stay together for the full period of the meeting to promote intensive interactions
without distractions. COSIT is not backed by any particular scientific society but is organized as
an independent enterprise.
COSIT typically has had about 100-130 participants, 1/3 university professors, 1/3 researchers
from universities and industry, and 1/3 advanced students (including Ph.D. candidates).
GIScience conference series has always had a focus on fundamental research themes and questions.
GIScience strongly welcomes articles and proposals covering emerging topics and fundamental research
findings across all sectors of Geographic Information Science.
Contributions are invited on all topics spanning disciplines cognate to Geographic Information Science, including (but not limited to):
Geography
Cognitive science
Computer science
Engineering
Information science
Linguistics
Mathematics
Philosophy
Psychology
Social science
(Geo)Statistics
The mission of AGILE is: "to promote academic teaching and research on GIS at the European
level and to stimulate and support networking activities between member laboratories ".
The Association of Geographic Information Laboratories for Europe (AGILE) was established in 1998
to promote academic teaching and research on GIS at the European level and to ensure the continuation
of the networking activities that have emerged as a result of the EGIS Conferences and the European
Science Foundation GISDATA Scientific Programmes.
AGILE seeks to ensure that the views of the geographic information teaching and research community
are fully represented in the discussions that take place on future European research agendas.
AGILE also provides a permanent scientific forum where geographic information researchers can meet
and exchange ideas and experiences at the European level.
The activities of AGILE are managed by an eight person council elected by its members. Its main
tasks are to develop an organisational structure to realise the goals of AGILE, to further develop
with the help of the members a European research agenda, to instigate and stimulate initiatives
and to organise a yearly GI-conference.
The University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS)aims to be the professional
hub for the academic GIS community.
The University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) is a non-profit organization
that creates and supports communities of practice for GIScience research, education, and policy endeavors
in higher education and with allied institutions.
Our mission is to:
Advance research in the field of Geographic Information Science;
Expand and strengthen Geographic Information Science education;
Advocate policies for the promotion of the ethical use of and access to geographic information and technologies;
Build scholarly communities and networks to foster multi-disciplinary GIS research and education.
The University Consortium for Geographic Information Science emphasizes the multidisciplinary nature
of GIS and the need for balance and cooperation among the disciplines listed below, and many others.
CARTOGRAPHY, includes the analysis, design, visualization, and generation of various forms of maps,
and can take advantage of animation, user interaction, and analytical processing.
COGNITIVE SCIENCE. A significant branch of geographic information science is concerned with how people
think about their geographic surroundings.
Researchers use this knowledge to make Geographic Information Systems easier to use and to improve
the design of navigation systems for vehicles and for the visually impaired.
COMPUTER SCIENCE. The need for better methods of representing geographic information in databases and
processing it for specific purposes has led to specialization in such areas as spatial databases,
computational geometry, spatial reasoning, and digital libraries
ENGINEERING and LAND SURVEYING are the determination and physical protraction of land boundaries to
serve as a basis of real estate and taxation
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, which include disciplines such as Forestry and Soil Science, are advancing
research into the spatio - temporal relationships of phenomena in the natural and human - modified
environment, the correlation and distribution of physical and biotic resources, and the simulation
of trends and conditions under varying assumptions of environmental process.
GEODETIC SCIENCE researches new and more accurate methods for determining precise positions on the
Earth's surface. GPS units, for instance, can establish their exact position anywhere on the earth
by observing the signals of satellites.
GEOGRAPHY research focuses on the development and application of geographic information theory and
technologies to the discipline's traditional goal of understanding the spatial relationships between
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. GIS technologies are aiding the design process as landscape architects
address ecological issues and the physical, biological and social characteristics of their sites.
LAW and PUBLIC POLICY research addresses ownership rights in digital spatial data, liability
associated with the creation and use of geographic information, ethical use of geographic databases,
access to the government's geographic data and records, and the effects of detailed spatial data sets on personal privacy.
REMOTE SENSING and PHOTOGRAMMETRY focus on the science of interpretation and making measurements using
images acquired from a distance. These disciplines are devising new computer-based methods for detecting
features, establishing their precise position, and undertaking analysis and interpretation of image content.
STATISTICS. Questions about the accuracy of geographic information and the uncertainties associated
with coarse-scale maps are being tackled through developments in the recognized sub-fields of spatial statistics and geostatistics
SSD/SSTD are a series of biannual symposia that discuss new and exciting research in spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal
data management and related technologies and start setting future research directions.
The primary focus of SSTD symposia is on original results in the areas of theoretical foundations, design,
implementation, and applications of spatial and temporal database technology. SSTD also welcomes experience
reports from application specialists and the commercial community that describe lessons learned in the
development, operation, and maintenance of actual systems in practical and innovative applications.
The goal is to exchange research ideas and results across academia, industry and government from
diverse geographies, and career stages.
ACM SIGSPATIAL addresses issues related to the acquisition, management, and processing
of spatially-related information with a focus on algorithmic, geometric, and visual considerations.
The scope includes, but is not limited to, geographic information systems (GIS).
Membership Dues
$15 for professional or affiliate (SIG only) and $6 for student member
Benefits Provided to the Membership
Access to the content of the flagship SIGSPATIAL Conference Proceedings, as well as proceedings of all
other conferences and workshops sponsored by or held in cooperation with SIGSPATIAL, in the ACM Digital Library
Subscription to SIGSPATIAL Newsletter in electronic format issued twice a year initially
Reduced registration at conferences sponsored by SIGSPATIAL
Reduced registration at conferences held in cooperation with SIGSPATIAL
Benefits Provided to the Community
Sponsoring the flagship SIGSPATIAL Conference
Best Paper Award at the flagship SIGSPATIAL Conference
Ph.D. Poster Session at the flagship SIGSPATIAL Conference
Reduced student registration at the flagship SIGSPATIAL Conference
Maintenance of the SIGSPATIAL.org web site
Spatial Cognition is concerned with the acquisition, organization, and utilization of knowledge
about spatial objects and environments, be it real, virtual, or abstract, human or machine.
Spatial Cognition comprises research in different scientific fields insofar as they are concerned with
cognitive agents and space, such as cognitive psychology, linguistics, computer science, philosophy, and education.
Research issues in the field range from the investigation of human spatial cognition to mobile robot navigation,
including aspects such as wayfinding, spatial planning, spatial learning, internal and external representations
of space, and communication of spatial information.
The International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling (SDH) is the premier long-running forum
in geographical information science, providing a prestigious outlet to geographers, cartographers,
computer scientists and others in this rapidly developing multidisciplinary area.
The mission of the Commission on Geographic Information Science (GISc) is to advance the study of geographical
information science internationally, and to enhance the role and contributions of geographers in the development
of Geographic Information Science and of Geographic Information Science in the development of geography.
The commission creates a network of people and research centers in geography that are related to geographical
information science and serve as a focus for the worldwide GISc education and research community.
A goal of the commission is to establish international research and educational priorities in GISc and
evaluate and promote the role of geography as a discipline. The Commission strives to promote the effective,
efficient and responsible use of geographical information in society.
Goals of the Commission
Establish international research and educational priorities in GISc
Evaluate and promote the role of geography and within geography and assess the influences of geography, as a discipline, on GISc
Expand and rationalize GISc within the geography curriculum
Address issues of certification and standards in GI practice and education
Promote effective, efficient and responsible use of geographical information (GI) in society.
The GSDI Association is an inclusive organization of organizations, agencies, firms, and individuals
from around the world.
The purpose of the organization is to promote international cooperation and
collaboration in support of local, national and international spatial data infrastructure developments
that will allow nations to better address social, economic, and environmental issues of pressing importance.
The mission of the GSDI Association is to:
Serve as a point of contact and effective voice for those in the global community involved in developing, implementing and advancing spatial data infrastructure concepts.
Foster spatial data infrastructures that support sustainable social, economic, and environmental systems integrated from local to global scales.
Promote the informed and responsible use of geographic information and spatial technologies for the benefit of society.
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