Innovative Software Development in GIS (Geographical Information Systems)

At a time when people use more and more geographic information and tools, the management of geographical information in software systems still holds many challenges and motivates researchers from different backgrounds to propose innovative solutions.

Representing geographical space beyond our mere perception is key to making relevant decisions, whether it is with respect to sustainable development or to the planning of everyday activities. Designing, sharing and exploiting such representations entails many challenges.

This book presents recent software design projects, led in teams, which sometimes have different backgrounds, to address these challenges. It analyzes the specificities of these projects in terms of motivation, data models and analysis methods. Proposals are also put forward to improve resource sharing in this domain.

Bénédicte Bucher is a senior scientist in geographic information science and computer science, council member for the French research cluster on geographic information methods and applications (MAGIS) and council member for the Association of Geographic Information Laboratories in Europe (AGILE). She is also in charge of the IGN (French National Mapping Agency) research department.

Florence Le Ber is a senior scientist in computer science, and also council member for the French research cluster on geographic information methods and applications (MAGIS). She is involved in several research projects with agronomists, geographers and hydrologists.