The theory,map tools and development directions of geographic spatial cognition

Focused on the geographic spatial cognition, this paper introduces the origination, the current situations, the four classical geographic spatial cognition theories and the difference between two factions. In the following, for the important role of map in spatial cognition, the function and research methods are concluded. Especially, the eye-tracking technology are paid more attention to, for its advantages in evaluation and interaction. Eventually, three developing directions and the characters of geographic spatial cognition in new AI era are discussed. With a focus on theoretical issues of geospatial cognition, this paper addresses at first their origin in psychology and the state of the art. The classical theories of geospatial cognition and their impacts are then introduced. Meanwhile, the fundamental difference between the geospatial cognition and geospatial sensing is pointed out. Although both are supported by the Artificial Intelligence (AI), the former is targeted to the understanding of how human brain works for spatial tasks, whereas the latter aims to maintain a dynamic digital twin of the geospace based on sensory technology and computer vision. The role and research methods of maps as a two-way tool for spatial cognition are discussed, with emphasis on eye-tracking experiments as well as their advantage in interactions. Three development trends of geospatial cognition in the era of AI—computational semantic cognition, cognitive mechanism of the mind and embodied cognition are summarized. The parallel development and characteristics of map-based spatial cognition in this same period are outlined.