Spatial Computing - (MIT Press Essential Knowledge) by Shashi Shekhar & Pamela Vold (Paperback)

About the Book

"Spatial Computing is a set of ideas and technologies that transform our lives by understanding the physical world, knowing and communicating our relation to places in that world, and navigating through those places. With over a billion users, the potential for spatial computing to transform our modern lives is already evident. From Uber and Google Maps to consumer GPS devices, our society has benefitted immensely from spatial technology. We've reached the point where a hiker in Yellowstone, a Pokemon Go player in Paris, a self-driving car in California, a UAV surveying a corn field in Minnesota, and an Uber driver in Mumbai know precisely where they are, nearby points of interest, and how to reach their destinations. Groups of friends can form impromptu events via "check-in" models used by Facebook. Emergency services use it to locate not only 911-callers but also smart phones in evacuation zones or approaching tornadoes. Public health agencies use it to monitor the spread of infectious diseases to plan responses. Scientists use it to track endangered species to better understand behavior and farmers use it for precision agriculture to increase crop yields while reducing run-off and costs. Google Earth is being used in classrooms to teach children about their neighborhoods and the world in a fun and interactive way. Augmented reality applications like Pokemon Go are providing real-time place-labeling in the physical world and providing people detailed information about major landmarks nearby. These accomplishments are just the tip of the iceberg"--

Book Synopsis

An accessible guide to the ideas and technologies underlying such applications as GPS, Google Maps, Pokémon Go, ride-sharing, driverless cars, and drone surveillance.

Billions of people around the globe use various applications of spatial computing daily--by using a ride-sharing app, GPS, the e911 system, social media check-ins, even Pokémon Go. Scientists and researchers use spatial computing to track diseases, map the bottom of the oceans, chart the behavior of endangered species, and create election maps in real time. Drones and driverless cars use a variety of spatial computing technologies. Spatial computing works by understanding the physical world, knowing and communicating our relation to places in that world, and navigating through those places. It has changed our lives and infrastructures profoundly, marking a significant shift in how we make our way in the world. This volume in the MIT Essential Knowledge series explains the technologies and ideas behind spatial computing.

The book offers accessible descriptions of GPS and location-based services, including the use of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and RFID for position determination out of satellite range; remote sensing, which uses satellite and aerial platforms to monitor such varied phenomena as global food production, the effects of climate change, and subsurface natural resources on other planets; geographic information systems (GIS), which store, analyze, and visualize spatial data; spatial databases, which store multiple forms of spatial data; and spatial statistics and spatial data science, used to analyze location-related data.

About the Author

Shashi Shekhar is McKnight Distinguished Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota.

Pamela Vold is a writer and communication professional based in St. Paul, Minnesota.