Distributed technology is an important direction in the field of geographic information system (GIS). However, distributed GIS is facing a number of challenges such as decentralization, geospatial data sharing, and privacy and security vulnerabilities. Blockchain technology brings the opportunities in addressing the challenges of GIS. In this chapter, we investigate the integration of blockchain technology with GIS and discuss the opportunities of blockchain GIS. Moreover, our novel architecture of blockchain GIS is proposed, while the potential applications of blockchain GIS are described in detail. Finally, we outline the open research directions in the promising area.

Chapter Contents:

• 11.1 Introduction
• 11.2 Related technologies
• 11.2.1 Introduction to GIS
• 11.2.2 Blockchain technologies
• 11.2.2.1 History of blockchain development
• 11.2.2.2 Representative system and framework
• 11.3 Blockchain GIS
• 11.3.1 Opportunities of integrating blockchain with GIS
• 11.3.2 Architecture of blockchain GIS
• 11.4 Application in GIS
• 11.4.1 Reengineering of process involving GIS
• 11.4.2 Application of geospatial data sharing
• 11.4.3 Spatial decision-making
• 11.5 Challenges and future trends
• 11.5.1 Efficiency
• 11.5.2 Privacy protection
• 11.5.3 Application of cross-blockchain GIS
• 11.6 Conclusion
• References

Inspec keywords: geographic information systems; cryptography

Other keywords: geographic information system; distributed GIS; blockchain GIS; geospatial data sharing; decentralization

Subjects: Data security; Distributed systems software; Internet software; Cryptography; Geography and cartography computing