Explain the various technological changes that have enabled different types of geospatial products and services over time.
The modern geospatial information market involves traditional maps, but has evolved to include Geographic Information Systems, and an expanding array of (often digitized) geographic information. First through the advent of computers, then through the growth of the Internet, and now through GPS-enabled smartphones, the geospatial information market is increasingly global in scope, interconnected with other forms of data, and embedded in people’s daily lives. While this presents enormous economic potential, it brings new risks and challenges (from surveillance to cybersecurity), requiring careful and collaborative management, governance, and regulation from private and public actors across scales and locales.