What are spatial objects?

a critical data infrastructure paradigm shift

The goal of the presentation is to showcase an example of a critical data infrastructure, ontological, paradigm shift. To show what this kind of shift is, and how the shift can radically change both our understanding, and the associated data infrastructure foundation. The example chosen: ‘geospatial coordinate reference systems’ links to a broader pattern that solves the puzzle of what a spatial object is and how it is dependent upon a spatial reference system. Also, stepping back, it gives us an idea of what critical data infrastructure, ontological, paradigm shifts are.

Presentation Structure:

• Framing ontological, data infrastructure, paradigm shifts
• Current geospatial coordinate reference systems paradigm
• Shifting to the new paradigm
• constructing a physical basis for the coordinate system
• adding the coordinate reference system gauge freedoms
• Summary