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Information Infrastructure

Geography

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Building A Global Knowledge Network Among Geospatial Specialists, Harlan Onsrud Dec 2011

Building A Global Knowledge Network Among Geospatial Specialists, Harlan Onsrud

Harlan J Onsrud

This presentation discusses the idea for, progress made and challenges confronted by the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure Association in pursuing development of the Geographic Information Knowledge Network found at http://www.giknet.org Objectives and goals of the network are explained as well as suggestions for supporting the network.


Towards Voluntary Interoperable Open Access Licenses For The Global Earth Observation System Of Systems (Geoss), Harlan Onsrud, James Campbell, Bastiaan Van Loenen Dec 2009

Towards Voluntary Interoperable Open Access Licenses For The Global Earth Observation System Of Systems (Geoss), Harlan Onsrud, James Campbell, Bastiaan Van Loenen

Harlan J Onsrud

Access to earth observation data has become critically important for the wellbeing of society. A major impediment to achieving widespread sharing of earth observation data is lack of an operational web-wide system that is transparent and consistent in allowing users to legally access and use the earth observations of others without seeking permission from data contributors or investigating terms of usage on a case-by-case basis. This article explores approaches to supplying a license-based system to overcome this impediment in the context of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems. It discusses the benefits and drawbacks of the explored approaches and …


Pervasive Location Tracking: A Privacy Protection Perspective, Harlan Onsrud Mar 2009

Pervasive Location Tracking: A Privacy Protection Perspective, Harlan Onsrud

Harlan J Onsrud

A laudable goal of ubiquitous computing is to enhance our day-to-day living by invisibly embedding sensors and computing platforms in our stationary and mobile surroundings. Sensors being developed and deployed within distributed computing networks include those able to see (ranging from automated detection of light to identification of specific individuals and objects), hear (detection of specific sounds to transcribing language), smell (detection of specific gases), feel (detection of specific motions, temperature, humidity, etc) and communicate. Sensors in and on our bodies will communicate through our phones, cars, offices, homes, transportation infrastructure, and with objects along our travel paths. Numerous visions …


Liability For Spatial Data Quality, Harlan Onsrud Dec 2008

Liability For Spatial Data Quality, Harlan Onsrud

Harlan J Onsrud

Liability in data, products, and services related to geographic information systems, spatial data infrastructure, location based services and web mapping services, is complicated by the complexities and uncertainties in liability for information system products and services generally, as well as by legal theory uncertainties surrounding liability for maps. Each application of geospatial technologies to a specific use may require integration of different types of data from multiple sources, assessment of attributes, adherence to accuracy and fitness-for-use requirements, and selection from among different analytical processing methods. All of these actions may be fraught with possible misjudgments and errors. A variety of …


Research And Theory In Advancing Spatial Data Infrastructure Concepts Dec 2006

Research And Theory In Advancing Spatial Data Infrastructure Concepts

Harlan J Onsrud

At a high level, the term “spatial data infrastructure” (SDI) is largely self-explanatory. Yet when applied in practice, the concept is complex and has attracted varying definitions in different institutional, social and national contexts. In many nations the assumption is that an SDI is the geographic information technology component of electronic governance. In these nations there may be a strong focus on government itself actively supplying or at least facilitating the creation and maintenance of each of the above elements in order to achieve government objectives. In other nations, government may consciously take a much more passive role in regard …


Public Commons Of Geographic Data: Research And Development Challenges, Harlan Onsrud, Gilberto Camara, James Campbell, Narindi Sharad Chakravarthy Dec 2003

Public Commons Of Geographic Data: Research And Development Challenges, Harlan Onsrud, Gilberto Camara, James Campbell, Narindi Sharad Chakravarthy

Harlan J Onsrud

Across the globe individuals and organizations are creating geographic data work products with little ability to efficiently or effectively make known and share those digital products with others. This article outlines a conceptual model and the accompanying research challenges for providing easy legal and technological mechanisms by which any creator might affirmatively and permanently mark and make accessible a geographic dataset such that the world knows where the dataset came from and that the data is available for use without the law assuming that the user must first acquire permission.