Spatial Cognition and GIS

Abstract

As studies of geographic information systems (GIS) have shifted the emphasis from “system” to “science” since the 1990s, a close relationship between GIS and spatial cognition research has emerged. The aim of this paper is to review the findings and issues of the previous studies on spatial cognition in terms of GIS, by classifying the research topics as follows: 1) GIS as a tool for analyzing and representing spatial cognition; 2) GIS as a model of spatial cognition; 3) GIS as a source of spatial knowledge; and (4) improvement of GIS by applying the findings of spatial cognition research.
Although there have been few studies of spatial cognition employing GIS as a tool, researchers have recently directed attention to the use of virtual environments constructed by connecting virtual reality (VR) with GIS for experiments on spatial cognition. VR technologies can be also applicable to the development of GIS user interfaces.
As Golledge (1992) has aptly noted that a cognitive map is an “internalized GIS, ” GIS should become a conceptual model of cognitive mapping and elaborate the model of cognitive processing of geographic information. In particular, ideas of “spatial primitives” and “naive geography” will not only be useful for understanding cognitive mapping by comparison with GIS but also provide many suggestions for designing GIS.
On the other hand, the role of GIS as a source of spatial knowledge will become important when GItechnologies spread among people. Specifically, advanced techniques for communicating geographic information through three-dimensional views, animation, sound, and VR enabled by GIS will lead to reconsideration of the dichotomy between direct (or primary) and indirect (or secondary) sources of spatial information. Such a variation in the user interface of GIS will provide a flexible method for presenting geographic information according to the spatial abilities of users.
The results obtained by previous research on spatial cognition can be also applicable to the development of GIS. Since the output of GIS is usually represented by maps, studies on cartographic communication and geographic visualization should provide numerous suggestions for the improvement of its user interface. Language also plays an important role in user interfaces of GIS. In particular, it becomes important to study verbal descriptions of space as well as tactual maps in considering the communication of geographic information for the visually impaired.
The above-mentioned issues in spatial cognition research related to GIS must be tackled in collaboration with researchers in psychology and information science. In this interdisciplinary field of research, the important role of geographers probably lies in examination of the findings obtained by other disciplines in terms of ecological validity, paying attention to the context of using geographic information.