computer science

Geocomputation

Geocomputation is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Geocomputation rather than just read about it. In short: Geocomputation (also spelled GeoComputation) is a field of study at the intersection of geography and computation. See also Geoinformatics Geomathematics Geographic information system Bibliography Openshaw, S., and R.

Key takeaways

Geocomputation belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Geocomputation to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Geocomputation from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Geocomputation (also spelled GeoComputation) is a field of study at the intersection of geography and computation.

See also Geoinformatics Geomathematics Geographic information system

Bibliography Openshaw, S., and R. J. Abrahart. (1996). “Geocomputation.” In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on GeoComputation, 665–6, edited by R. J. Abrahart. Leeds, U.K.: University of Leeds Longley, P. A., S. M. Brooks, R. McDonnell, and W. D. Macmillan. (1998). Geocomputation: A Primer. Chichester, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons Gahegan, M. (1999). “Guest Editorial: What is Geocomputation?” Transactions in GIS 3(3), 203–6. Brunsdon, C., and A. D. Singleton. (2015). Geocomputation: A Practical Primer. London: Sage Harris, R., D. O’Sullivan, M. Gahegan, M. Charlton, L. Comber, P. Longley, C. Brunsdon, N. Malleson, A. Heppenstall, A. Singleton, D. Arribas-Bel, and A. Evans. (2017). “More Bark than Bytes? Reflections on 21+ Years of Geocomputation.” Environment and Planning B 44(4), 598–617.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Geocomputation

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Geocomputation claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Geocomputation before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Geocomputation ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Geocomputation

In research: Geocomputation appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Geocomputation in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Geocomputation is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computational fields of study, Geographic data and information fields of study, Geography stubs, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Geocomputation outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Geocomputation in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Geocomputation means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Geocomputation out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Geocomputation in simple terms?

Geocomputation (also spelled GeoComputation) is a field of study at the intersection of geography and computation. See also Geoinformatics Geomathematics Geographic information system Bibliography Openshaw, S., and R.

Why does Geocomputation matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Geocomputation?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Geocomputation.