New publication: Miller, H.J. (2020) “GIScience, fast and slow – Why faster geographic information is not always smarter,” Progress in Human Geography, 44, 129-138.
Abstract. The growing maturity and deployment of low-cost georeferenced sensors, navigation systems, fast wireless communication, cyberinfrastructure and the Internet of Things (IoT) is accelerating the speed of geographic data flowing from the environment and our capabilities for reacting quickly to geographic information, often automatically and in real-time. This is leading to the rise of real-time GIS and smart cities technologies. While reacting quickly to changing circumstances has value, there are potentials for unintended consequences and rebound effects resulting from our inability to build geographic knowledge quickly and the selective acceleration of societal processes. This report discusses why these unintended outcomes may occur, and suggests technical and scientific approaches for understanding and managing the potential impacts of fast geographic data.