Space-Time Representation and Analytics

Central to the authors' premise is that how space and time are conceptualized has profound influence on the way in which spatiotemporal data are represented and analyzed. Four approaches in space-time representation are discussed based on two sets of space-time dichotomies, i.e., absolutism versus relationalism and realism versus idealism. The authors elaborate on the philosophical inquiries related to the dichotomies and discuss approaches taken in GIScience research. Since most GIS studies to date align well with the absolutism-realism approach to space-time representation, this paper discusses examples that adopt absolutism-idealism, relationalism-realism, and relationalism-idealism approaches. The authors argue that multiple perspectives of space and time can bring rich insights into understanding geographic phenomena. All four approaches of space-time representation and ensuing analytical methods should be broadly explored in GIScience research. (Publisher abstract modified)