Abstract

This proposal outlines an effort to develop and promote a unified agenda for Spatial Computing research and development across US agencies, industries, and universities. Spatial Computing is a set of ideas and technologies that will transform our lives by understanding the physical world, knowing and communicating our relation to places in that world, and navigating through those places.
The transformational potential of Spatial Computing is already evident. From Google Maps to consumer GPS devices, our society has benefitted immensely from spatial technology. We’ve reached the point where a hiker in Yellowstone, a schoolgirl in DC, a biker in Minneapolis, and a taxi driver in Manhattan know precisely where they are, nearby points of interest, and how to reach their destinations. Large organizations already use Spatial Computing for site-selection, asset tracking, facility management, navigation and logistics. Scientists use GPS to track endangered species to better understand behavior and farmers use GPS for precision agriculture to increase crop yields while reducing costs. Google Earth is being used in classrooms to teach children about their neighborhoods and the world in a fun and interactive way. Augmented reality applications [25] are providing real-time place-labeling in the physical world and providing people detailed information about major landmarks nearby.

Date

September 22, 2025

Authors

Peggy Agouris, Walid Aref, Michael F Goodchild, Santa Barbra, John Jensen, Craig A Knoblock, Richard Langley, Ed Mikhail, Shashi Shekhar, Ouri Wolfson, May Yuan

Pages

1-11