Critical GIScience in Canada in the new millennium

Abstract

Critical GIS (CGIS) is an approach to evaluating GIS technology that draws upon multiple intellectual tool kits - from geography, social theory and computing science. While its roots are in the battles between human geographers and GIScientists in the 1990s, CGIS has emerged as an independent, constructive approach to enhancing the power and appeal of GIS. CGIS is also beginning to gain acceptance as a legitimate component of the broad tent that is GIScience. This short article reviews the emergence of CGIS, discusses its influence on the discipline of GIScience and finally explores the state of CGIS in Canada. © Canadian Association of Geographers.