Analysis on the Fundamental Issues in the Discipline of Geographic Information Systems

Considering the immaturity of geographic information science(GISci) and the rapid increase of undergraduate programme of geographic information systems(GIS) in China's higher education institutions,the discipline training is problematic and challenging.In this paper,several fundamental issues in GISci are reviewed and discussed from multiple perspectives of philosophical ontology,epistemology,methodology and social practice.First,the relationships between geographic reality,spatial recognition and spatial representation,and the diversified natures of geographic information are systematically analyzed.Second,the concepts and meanings of GIS since 1980s are summarized from academic literatures,and the practice diversity and spatial universality inside multiple GIS descriptions are explored.Third,based on the review of the paradigm shifts in geography and the emerging of GIS in geographic research,the authors argue to develop the GIS-based problem-solving methodology as a new paradigm of geography.Fourth,critical issues such as GIS and organizational management,GIS and society and GIS applications in developing countries are introduced.The authors conclude that multidisciplinary researches on `spatial recognition and representation',`GIS-based problem solving methodology',`GIS,organization and society' will nurture geographic information science and supplement the current GIS curriculums.