Neogeography and the Structural Effect (Chris North)

New technologies and new approaches can have a profound impact on any industry or organization, and GIS is no exception. In recent years, the 'traditional' GIS practitioner has been presented with a rapid shift in technology brought about by so-called 'neogeography' tools and the rapid adoption of consumer mapping tools and services.  These new tools, and more importantly the widespread popularity of the capabilities they provide, have created a kind of parallel ecosystem to the traditional GIS industry. The impact of this on GIS as we know it today is profound, and promises to fundamentally change not only the GIS is 'done', but also the very purpose for having a GIS. This presentation will examine the impact of neogeography, and present some thoughts on how GIS practitioners can leverage its promised strengths, and avoid its potential pitfalls.