Glossary (Version 8.4)

Any software or hardware that interacts with real-world locations. The use of spatial technologies forms the basis of many geographers’ work practice. The Global Positioning System (GPS), Google Earth, geographic information systems (GIS) and the use of satellite images are the most commonly used spatial technologies to visualise, manipulate, analyse, display and record spatial data.

The use of spatial technologies is integral to the inquiry and skills process. The spatial technology application links geographic locations to information about them so you can:

find information about places across the globe or locally

analyse relationships between locations

make decisions on the location of facilities

map the demographics of target markets

integrate maps with information from a variety of sources.