Geoinformatics in Theory and Practice: An Integrated Approach to Geoinformation Systems, Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing (Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment)

Geoinformatics is dedicated to the development and application of methods and concepts of computer science for the solution of space-related problems with special consideration of the spatial reference of information. It deals with the collection or acquisition, with the modeling, with the processing and above all with the analysis as well as with the presentation and the distribution of geodata.  

The work is intended as a broad, methodical introduction to geoinformatics. Ten central areas are treated:

- Approach and tasks of geoinformatics

- Basic concepts and general principles of information processing

- Basics from computer science

- Spatial objects and reference systems

- Digital spatial data: data mining, geobasis data and VGI

- Standards and interoperability of spatial data

- Visualization of spatial information

- Data organization and database systems

- Geoinformation systems

- Remote sensing and digital image processing.

The result is a comprehensive handbook for study and practice that brings together the contents of geoinformatics in an application-oriented manner and also provides a wide range of background information. Norbert de Lange has updated and significantly expanded this fourth edition. New additions include content on the development of apps, graphical presentations on the web, geodatabases, and modern classification methods. Many examples have been added, taken from seminar courses, which have proven useful in illustrating the methods.

This book still presents the only integrated presentation of geoinformatics in the German language.

This book is a translation of the original German 4^th edition Geoinformatik in Theorie und Praxis by Norbert de Lange, published by Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature in 2020. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation. Springer Nature works continuously to further the development of tools for the production of books and on the related technologies to support the authors.

Norbert de Lange studied geography and mathematics in Bochum, taught and conducted research at the Institutes of Geography at the Universities of Münster and Osnabrück (including a focus on quantitative methodology in geography). In 2005, he was involved in founding the Institute for Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing at the University of Osnabrück, which has since merged with the Institute for Computer Science, where he has been Professor of Environmental Informatics and Municipal Planning since 2016. His main research interests are GIS applications in urban and regional planning.