NoGIS: A New Movement or a Newly Named Idea?
In this episode, the editorial team explores a recurring question within the geospatial community: when something is described as “new,” is it genuinely innovative—or simply rebranded?
The discussion centers on the term NoGIS. What does it actually mean? Does it represent a structural shift in how geographic information systems are developed and used? Or is it comparable to earlier buzzwords such as neogeography—an effort to describe emerging usage patterns rather than introduce fundamentally new technology?
Defining “NoGIS”
The term suggests a departure from traditional GIS environments. In many cases, it refers to applications and workflows where users interact with spatial functionality without recognizing it as GIS. Web-based mapping tools, location-enabled mobile apps, and embedded spatial analytics increasingly operate beneath the surface of everyday software.
From one perspective, this represents evolution: GIS capabilities have become so integrated into mainstream systems that users no longer perceive them as specialized tools. From another perspective, nothing about the underlying spatial science has changed—the branding has.
The editors examine whether NoGIS signals democratization of geospatial technology or simply reflects the maturation of the field.
New Technology vs. Newly Named Trends
Throughout GIS history, terminology has evolved rapidly. Concepts such as web mapping, neogeography, location intelligence, and spatial enablement have often described incremental shifts in interface design, accessibility, or delivery models.
The key question is whether NoGIS introduces genuinely new methodologies—or whether it highlights a cultural shift in how spatial tools are consumed. If spatial functionality becomes invisible infrastructure, does it still require a distinct label?
The conversation challenges listeners to separate substantive technological change from marketing-driven nomenclature.
Show Notes
Register for Directions OnPoint featuring Arnulf Christl, President of Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo), on April 12.
Featuring Mr. Mark Reichard, President and CEO of Open Geospatial Consortium.
As the geospatial industry continues to evolve, debates like NoGIS remind professionals to examine not only what is being built—but how it is being framed.
