Linked Data and the Semantic Web
Glen Hart, Catherine Dolbear · 2013
This chapter introduces the concept of Geographic Information (GI) and is intended for those not familiar with GI or Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It describes the main types of GI and how they are used, which is an essential element in the understanding of GI. We then provide a short history of GI because it is not only necessary to understand the forms and uses that GI takes but also to understand how it has developed. This history shapes both how GI is used today and how it is viewed. For those who do not consider themselves to be GI experts, this chapter provides a necessary background for the rest of the book. For those who are knowledgeable about GI, it may still introduce them to a broader view of GI than they may be yet familiar with and will open up the opportunity to think differently about this topic.