Science is the basis for climate action planning. Esri is committed to providing resources to help create a sustainable future.

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The original "science behind the systems" continues to advance on several fronts. It intersects with computer science, analytical cartography, remote sensing, and imagery science. Some of the most important work is in developing and documenting useful datasets for science, and interoperating between these datasets and various approaches. Paramount here are effective and open analysis, modeling, and replicability and reproducibility of approaches.

Geographic information science is in our DNA

Geographic information science, also known as GIScience or geospatial data science, has been in Esri's DNA since our founding in 1969. Many of our key staff and leaders trained with legends in the field. "Father of GIScience" Mike Goodchild is a long-standing, trusted consultant to further guide and critique us, as is remote-sensing and education pioneer Dave Cowen. Chief scientist Dawn Wright is on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Geographical Information Science and Transactions in GIS. 

Advancing an evolving field

Many of our staff serve on a range of other GIScience journal editorial boards or contribute to outlets such as the Cartography and Geographic Information Science (CaGIS) Journal, the Cartographic Journal, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, and the Annals of the American Association of Geographers.

Esri database of peer-reviewed research

Search for and discover peer-reviewed publications by Esri staff.

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Explore the GIS&T Body of Knowledge

Nine Esri staff have authored chapters or edited sections in the Geographic Information Science & Technology Body of Knowledge (GIS&T Bok).

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GIScience research papers at Esri UC

Present your peer-reviewed paper at the Esri User Conference.

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Theory and applications in a post-GISystems world

Read this research article by Dawn Wright in the International Journal of Geographical Information Science.

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Integrated geospatial infrastructure

Learn about Esri’s integrated geospatial infrastructure initiatives, which both include and extend past the traditional spatial data infrastructure (SDI) concepts. This is the next evolution in the modern SDI story—moving beyond data, technology, and core spatial data science methods to embrace innovations in governance, engagement, and capacity building.

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Group on Earth Observations

Esri is now an associate member of Group on Earth Observations (GEO), a global intergovernmental partnership that improves the availability, access, and use of Earth observations for a sustainable planet. Esri is involved in GEO's flagship Biodiversity Observation Networks (BON) as well as several of GEO's initiatives—for example, Global Water Sustainability (GEOGLOWS), Blue-Planet, and Earth Observations for the Sustainable Development Goals—and community activities (e.g., Digital Earth Africa).

Learn more about GEO
BON Biodiversity Initiative

Cartography

Inspiration, resources, training, and fascinating reads on cartographic science

Maps We Love

A map can change the world, and so can you! Maps We Love is an ongoing project to find and share inspiring examples of what's possible with ArcGIS.

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Cartography MOOC training

Once, only cartographers made maps. Today anyone can. Cartographers teach how to make better maps in this free massive open online course (MOOC).

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Adventures in mapping

fascinating mapping blog by Esri's John Nelson.

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Esri Community Maps Program

Contribute your own data to Esri's beautiful basemaps, which are freely available to ArcGIS users as part of ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World.

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Spatial Data Science in Higher Education

Learn how to incorporate spatial analysis into your data science curriculum through Esri capabilities, success stories, and training.

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Geographic Information Science Resources

Explore an additional list of resources for geographic information science

View GIS Science resources

Our partners in geographic information science

  • ACM SIGSPATIAL

  • AGILE Conferences

  • American Association of Geographers (AAG)

  • American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)

  • Arizona State University SPARC

  • Association of Geographic Information Laboratories in Europe

  • AutoCarto

  • British Cartographic Society (BCS)

  • Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS)

  • Center for Geospatial Analytics, NC State

  • Center for Geospatial Sciences, University of California, Riverside

  • Center for Spatial Studies, University of Redlands

  • Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) Meetings

  • GIScience Research at Esri UC and Transactions in GIS

  • GISRUK

  • Group on Earth Observations

  • Harvard Center for Geographic Analysis

  • Harvard CGA Conferences

  • Harvard Data Science Initiative

  • Harvard Graduate School of Design

  • International Cartographic Association (ICA)

  • MGIS/MSGIS, University of Redlands

  • Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC)

  • Spatial Decision Support Consortium

  • Spatial@UCSB

  • Stanford Geospatial Center

  • The Vespucci Initiative

  • U-Spatial, University of Minnesota

  • UCGIS Symposia

  • UCSB-led Convergence Accelerator

  • University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS)

  • University of Illinois Geospatial Software Institute

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