You Are Here: Geospatial Technology in the Public Domain

The Nottingham branch of the Geographical Association - School of Education and
School of Geography -  are pleased to host this seminar

Presented by Dr Gary Priestnall, Associate Professor, School of Geography

Summary

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have been used for many years to undertake analysis and support spatial decision making but their use requires specialist knowledge and training. More recently the application of digital geographic information has moved ‘beyond the desktop’ and found new uses in everyday life, thanks in part to the arrival of mobile phones equipped with positioning sensors. This opens up new opportunities for geographers to explore how such technologies can be exploited effectively, both for the display of locally relevant information and for the capture of ‘crowd-sourced’ data.

This talk will begin by summarising the capabilities and applications of GIS before considering the key technological developments that have allowed more widespread use of digital geographic information by the general public. The design, deployment and evaluation of new forms of geospatial technology will be presented through a number of case studies. These include the design of maps for mobile devices, the use of location-aware technologies in support of fieldwork, and the development of public displays based around landscape models augmented by digital projection. It is important that geographers reflect critically on the opportunities presented by geospatial technologies and engage with the research challenges that are emerging. Through careful design we have the chance to develop tools which complement and develop our sense of spatial awareness rather than letting the technology take over. 

Biography

Gary Priestnall (BSc Geography (Durham), PhD Computer Science (Nottingham)) is an Associate Professor in Geography within the School of Geography, at The University of Nottingham. His research interests focus on digital geographic representation in a range of contexts, and utilising a range of technologies including virtual and augmented realities, Geographical Information Systems and location-aware mobile devices. He developed various teaching and learning settings for digital geographic information as Director of the Nottingham arm of the Spatial Literacy in Teaching (SPLINT) Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.  He has worked on over 25 research projects funded by a number of research councils and Ordnance Survey. Recent research output has included: Projection Augmented Relief Models (PARM): Tangible Displays for Geographic Information, Proceedings from Electronic Visualisation and the Arts (2012); Spatial Frames of Reference for Literature using Geospatial Technologies in Literary Mapping in the Digital Age, Ashgate Publishing Ltd (2016). In 2015 he curated the public exhibition ‘The Grandest Views’ at Keswick Museum & Art Gallery showcasing landscape modelling techniques including the innovative reconstruction of a Victorian landscape model of the English Lake District.