Abstract

GIS: A Renaissance Technology
Track: GIS Concepts and Fundamentals
Authors: Bill Hodge GISP

The term 'Renaissance man' identifies someone who has a broad range of intellectual interests and abilities, crossing academic and scientific disciplines, capable of holding his or her own with the experts in any given field. The terminology is appropriate for GIS, as it continues to mature to become 'Everything, Everywhere, for Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime.'

This discussion, by the GISP who presented 'GIS' Manifest Destiny' at the last two ESRI User Conferences, will explore GIS' unique ability to serve any industry or organization to the extent necessary to provide them with geospatial analysis appropriate to their needs. This investigation will start with a brief history of GIS, describe its current manifestations, and then move to provide a glimpse of its future.