Abstract：Human society has progressed in an information and network era. The spatial concept in geography has been changed and differentiated from the traditional one. In an information and network era, research in geography will continue research on the relationship between humankind and the nature, as well, the meaning and connotation of the research theme could be explained and defined in different ways. The geographical concept in an information era is beginning a fundamental change. With the development of geographical information technology, especially the advancement and perfect in all functions of GIS, the geographical space has been reduced and simplified into a few simple configurations consisting of point?line?surface and body which can be classified strictly. Based on these configurations, a virtual geographical space and world in a GIS can been constructed. Research on the configuration model of geographical space, research on expression of geographical and social concepts and research on differences and linkages between the human and societal expressions for the geographical concepts have became the most important bases for geographic research in the information and network era. GIS technology and geocomputation models are becoming an important tool for understanding the geographical world, for measuring and expressing space in the information era. Research on GIS and society?GIS and public participation?GIS and law will become a practical base for actual geographical cognition by GIS technologies. The themes of geographical research in an information era are also changing gradually. In order to adapt to the fast development in the era, a lot of theoretical researches on geographical theories, concepts and models are necessary. A serious of practical samples, information technology supported tools including GIS hardware and software have been progressed. Just under an effective cooperation and effort of geographers in the world, all of the subjects of research themes of geographers in an information era will be realized successfully.
刘妙龙, 杨冰, 黄佩蓓. 信息时代的地理学研究——NCGIA对若干理论问题的探索[J]. 人文地理, 2002, 17(1): 13-18.
LIU Miao-long, YANG Bing, HUANG Pei-bei. GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH IN THE INFORMATION ERA. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, 2002, 17(1): 13-18.
