It’s a Geospatial World Out There

An Introduction to Geospatial Technologies, Geospatial Data, Geospatial Jobs, and Google Earth

Have you ever done any of the following?

• Used a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device to find your location, coordinates, or directions, or to look for the nearest restaurant or gas station?
• Used an online mapping service like MapQuest, Google Maps, or Bing Maps to find directions (and the best route) to a destination, or to print a map of an area?
• Used an in-car navigation system (say, one from Garmin, Magellan, or TomTom) to navigate to or from a destination?
• Used a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver while hiking, jogging, hunting, fishing, golfing, or geocaching?
• Used a Web resource to find a map of your neighborhood, so that you can compare nearby housing values, or to see exactly where your property ends and your neighbor’s begins?
• Used a virtual globe program (like Google Earth) or an online map to look at photos or images of your home, street, school, or workplace?

If so, then congratulations—you’ve used geospatial technologies. Anytime you’re using any sort of technology-assisted information (on a computer, smartphone, or tablet) concerning maps, locations, directions, imagery, or analysis, you’re putting geospatial technology applications to use. Geospatial technology has become extremely widespread in society, with a multitude of uses in both the private and public sectors. However, more often than not, if you tell someone you’re using geospatial technology, you’ll be asked “What’s that?”