GeoDynamics (PDF)

While remote sensing gives a surface depiction of the world, its recent convergence with GIS enables richer depictions that can be used to simulate physical processes, identify trends, and make more accurate predictions. GeoDynamics is based on specialized lectures from an international field of experts, addressing remote sensing, spatially distributed modeling of land surface processes, and urban dynamics as part of the GeoComputation conference. It focuses on this symbiotic relationship in a detailed discussion of both remote sensing and spatially distributed dynamic modeling. The book analyzes recent developments in assembling geographical information such as: the ubiquitous deployment of portable measurement devices enabled with global positioning technology and its impact on the field; the management, benefits, and challenges of modeling dynamic processes in three dimensions; the implications of temporal granularity of simulations to predictions; and the appropriate representation of human factors in GIS. It illustrates the importance of incorporating interdisciplinary sciences to hone GIS capabilities, the advantage of sharing data and representations, and effective communication through visualization. This book establishes how these integrated technologies have become a central part of building spatial representations.GeoDynamics is a lasting record of this groundbreaking conference and a valuable contribution to the growing literature on GeoDynamics for academics and practitioners alike.