Version 1
: Received: 20 October 2022 / Approved: 21 October 2022 / Online: 21 October 2022 (10:04:08 CEST)
How to cite:
López-Vázquez, C.M.; Gonzalez-Campos, M.; Bernabe-Poveda, M. Further Steps against Scientific Gerrymandering: A New Definition of Geographic Information Science. Preprints2022, 2022100328. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202210.0328.v1
López-Vázquez, C.M.; Gonzalez-Campos, M.; Bernabe-Poveda, M. Further Steps against Scientific Gerrymandering: A New Definition of Geographic Information Science. Preprints 2022, 2022100328. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202210.0328.v1
López-Vázquez, C.M.; Gonzalez-Campos, M.; Bernabe-Poveda, M. Further Steps against Scientific Gerrymandering: A New Definition of Geographic Information Science. Preprints2022, 2022100328. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202210.0328.v1
APA Style
López-Vázquez, C.M., Gonzalez-Campos, M., & Bernabe-Poveda, M. (2022). Further Steps against Scientific Gerrymandering: A New Definition of Geographic Information Science. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202210.0328.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
López-Vázquez, C.M., María-Ester Gonzalez-Campos and Miguel-Angel Bernabe-Poveda. 2022 "Further Steps against Scientific Gerrymandering: A New Definition of Geographic Information Science" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202210.0328.v1
Abstract
Sometimes there are clear and natural limits to the scope of action of a science, and in other cases they are simply convenient ones. Geographic Information Science (GISc) is a transversal science, with contacts with all geosciences but also with various formal sciences such as Mathematics, Logic and Computer Science. A first approach to specifying the limits of a science is through its definition. Definitions of GISc are often so expansive that they have been rightly criticized for practicing gerrymandering, in particular with the rest of the geosciences. To avoid this, an operational definition is proposed that places GISc among the sciences that handle Data and not Information. This solves the gerrymandering problem without really implying a significant cut of what is usually considered within GISc. As an unforeseen consequence, this delimitation will allow it to be characterized as Formal Science, leaving it as the only geoscience with this characteristic.
Keywords
Geographic information science; gerrymandering; formal science; empirical science; spatial data science; DIKW paradigm; Metascience
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Other
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment:
Let's start with a question about the absolutely basic functions of an "information system" such as input, processing, output. These three functions are what every information system has. They can be more broadly described as follows: Input which is the acquisition or retrieval of data, Processing which is the management of data, analysis and storage of data, and Output which is the visualization of data, the sharing of data or the formation of data representations. It should be borne in mind that there are more detailed functions describing the features of an information system. Together they form a kind of pattern defining an information system.
Let's look at the definition proposed by the authors of the publication, and highlight these functions.
"Geographic Information Science is a formal science that studies the methods to capture, store, analyze, model, represent, exchange and manage N-dimensional spatial data. "
You can see that the authors are using a template from the definition of an information system, which makes the definition actually an definition of a Geographic Information System. In my opinion, this is not a good way to define science or even the term itself.
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment:
The next problem is related to language. What do the authors define in their definition - a concept consisting of 3 words. And then they popularise the rather peculiar abbreviation GISc to replace the inconvenient three words. Geographic Information Science is a formal science that studies the methods to capture, store, analyze, model, represent, exchange and manage N-dimensional spatial data
My question is - What sense does it make to define a multi-word concept? Why not use another abbreviation for the word Science, e.g. "sci" GISci or better GIsci because there is no reason to capitalize letter S in science here.
What do we call GISc scientists?
We have mathematics and mathematicians.
Meanwhile, the Canadians invented the term geomatics and it is quite easy to construct the name geomaticians.
It is worth thinking about language, onomastics before constructing a new term.
See more https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/11/11/557
Terminological postulate No. 3
Commenter:
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Let's look at the definition proposed by the authors of the publication, and highlight these functions.
"Geographic Information Science is a formal science that studies the methods to capture, store, analyze, model, represent, exchange and manage N-dimensional spatial data. "
You can see that the authors are using a template from the definition of an information system, which makes the definition actually an definition of a Geographic Information System. In my opinion, this is not a good way to define science or even the term itself.
See more https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/11/11/557#metrics
Terminological postulate No. 7
Commenter:
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Geographic Information Science is a formal science that studies the methods to capture, store, analyze, model, represent, exchange and manage N-dimensional spatial data
My question is - What sense does it make to define a multi-word concept? Why not use another abbreviation for the word Science, e.g. "sci" GISci or better GIsci because there is no reason to capitalize letter S in science here.
What do we call GISc scientists?
We have mathematics and mathematicians.
Meanwhile, the Canadians invented the term geomatics and it is quite easy to construct the name geomaticians.
It is worth thinking about language, onomastics before constructing a new term.
See more https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/11/11/557
Terminological postulate No. 3