From GPS and Google Maps to Spatial Computing

Topics Covered:
Module 1 - Introduction

Course Introduction
Defining Spatial Computing
Course Structure
Interviews with Johannes Schöning, Loren Terveen and Martin Raubal

Module 2 - Spatial Query Languages

What is a Query? Query Language?
An example database with 3 tables
SQL overview
SELECT statement with 1 table
Multi-table SELECT statement
Why spatial extensions are needed
1-table spatial queries
Trends

Module 3 - Spatial Networks

Motivation, Societal use cases
Example spatial networks
Conceptual and mathematical models
Need for SQL extensions
CONNECT statement
RECURSIVE statement
Storage and data structures
Algorithms for connectivity query
Algorithms for shortest path
Interviews with Dev Oliver and Betsy George

Module 4 - Spatial Data Mining

Motivation, Spatial Pattern Families
Spatial data types and relationships
Limitations of Traditional Statistics
Location Prediction model
Hotspots
Spatial outliers
Colocations and Co-occurrences
Summary: What is special about mining spatial data?

Module 5 - Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI)

Introduction to Volunteered Geographic Information
Producing VGI
Pros and Cons of VGI
Interview with Michael Goodchild

Module 6 - Positioning

Introduction to Positioning
Overview of GPS
Overview of Wifi and Cellular Positioning
Introduction to Content-based Positioning
Geoparsing
Location-field Positioning

Module 7 - Cartography

Introduction to Cartography
Overview of Maps and Mapping
Reference Maps
Thematic Maps
Spatialization

Module 8 - Future Directions

Introduction
Spatial Databases: Representative projects
Data Mining: Representative projects
Advances in Cartography
Advances in Positioning
Interviews with Vipin Kumar, Wan Bae, Mohammed Mokbel and Len Kne