Text 6. INFORMATION AS A RESOURCE AND COMMODITY

1. In the late 20th century, information has acquired two major utilitarian connotations. On the one hand, it is considered an economic resource, somewhat on par (наравне) with other resources such as labour, material, and capital. This view stems from evidence that the possession, manipulation, and use of information can increase the cost-effectiveness of many physical and cognitive processes. The rise in in­formation-processing activities in industrial manufacturing as well as in human problem solving¹ has been remarkable. Analysis of one of the three traditional divisions of the economy, the service sector, shows a sharp increase² in information-intensive activities since the beginning of the 20th century. By 1975 these activities accounted for³ half of the labour force of the United States, giving rise to the so-called information society.

2. As an individual and societal resource, information has some interesting characteristics that separate it from the traditional notions of economic resources. Unlike other resources, information is expansive, limits apparently imposed only by time and human cognitivecapabilities⁴. Its expansiveness is attributable to the following : (1) it is naturally diffusive; (2) it reproduces rather than being consumed through use; and (3) it can be shared only, not exchanged in transactions. At the same time, information is compressible, both syntactically and semantically. Coupled with its ability to be substituted for other economic resources, its transportability at very high speeds, and its ability to impart advantages to the holder of informa­tion, these characteristics, are at the base of such societal-industries as research, education, publishing, marketing, and even politics. Societal concern with the husbanding of information resources⁵ has extended from the traditional domain of libraries and archives to encompass organizational, institutional, and governmental information under the umbrella of⁶ information resource management.

3. The second perception of information is that it isan economic commodity, which helps to stimulate the world-wide growth of a new segment of national economies – the information service sector. Taking advantage of the properties of information and building on the perception of its individual and societal utility and value, this sector provides a broad range of information products and services. By 1992 the market share of the U.S. information service sector had grown to about $25 billion. This was equivalent to about one-seventh of the country’s computer market, which, in turn, represented roughly 40 percent of the global market in computers in that year. However, the probable convergence of computers and television (which constitutes a market share 100 times larger than computers) and its impact on information services, entertainment, and education are likely to restructure the respective market shares of the information industry before the onset of the 21st century.

 

Notes:

1. human problem solving	решение социальных проблем
2. sharp increase	резкий скачок
3. account for	объяснять
4. limits apparently imposed only by time and human cognitive capabilities	ограничения, очевидно зависящие только от времени и познавательных способностей
5.husbanding of information resources	здесь – грамотное использование информационных ресурсов
6. under the umbrella of	под защитой

Ex. 1. Useful English. Read, translate, learn and use the following expressions in sentences of your own.

On the one hand; stem from smth; ability to do smth.; as well as; to separate from smth./smb.; unlike smth./smb.; at the same time; coupled with smth.; to take advantage of smth.; is likely to ….

Ex. 2. Answer the questions.

1. How many major utilitarian connotations does information have? What are they? 2. What can use of information increase? 3. When did an increase in information-intensive activities happen? 4. What are the main characteristics of information? 5. What does the expansiveness of information mean? 6. How has our economy changed due to creation of the information service sector? 7. What are economic trends in this sector? 8. How do you understand the term “information society”?

 

 

Text 7. INFORMATION SCIENCE

 

1. Information science², discipline that deals with the processes of storing and transferring information. It attempts to bring together concepts and methods from various disciplines such as library science, computer science³ and engineering, ⁴ linguistics, psychology, and other technologies in order to develop techniques and devices to aid in the handling⁵ – that is, in the collection, organization, storage, retrieval, interpretation, and use – of information.

The transfer of information through time requires the existence of some storage medium⁶ which is designated a document – hence the term documentation. Historically, “documentation” emerged as a distinct discipline in the early 20^th century. The discipline grew in response to the growth of the periodical and the journal as the prevalent media for scientific reports. The roots of the discipline of information science lay in three post-World War II developments: the Shannon-Weaver information theory model, Norbert Wiener’s conception of the science of cybernetics, and rapid advances in the design and production of electronic computers. These innovations pointed to a new field of study in which many disciplines could be merged under the unifying idea of “information”.

2. In its early stages, information science was primarily concerned with applying the then-new computer technology to the processing and managing of documents. Modelling studies⁷ were undertaken of the effectiveness of information storage and retrieval; modes of human-machine interaction; the effect of form on the content and comprehension of information; the processes of information generation⁸, transmission, and transformation; and the establishment of general principles that explain and predict information phenomena.

3. The applied computer technologies – and more recently, the theoretical areas of study – of information science have since permeated (распространять(ся), проникать) many other disciplines. Moreover, the utility of computer systems is greatly enhanced by their ability to communicate with one another through computer networks, provided⁹ that the proper communications connections¹⁰ have been established and the computer data files and programs have been modified to agree with a common communications protocol¹¹. All of these technological advances together have made information a new basic resource, in importance. There are, in fact, those who believe that control of information stores and processing facilities may well become more important than natural resources as a source of social and economic p

 

Notes:

1. are springing up	создаются
2. information science	информатика
3. computer science	теория вычислительных систем
4. engineering	инженерное дело; техника; строительство
5. handling	обработка; оперирование
6. some storage medium	некоторая среда для хранения информации; носитель информации
7. modelling studies	исследование, изучение моделирования
8. the processes of information generation	процессы формирования (зарождения) информации
9. provided	если; при условии, если…
10. proper communications connections	соответствующие коммуникационные связи

 

Text 8. GEOMATICS

1. Geomatics is the field of activities which uses a system approach to select the most appropriate tools and techniques to acquire, integrate, process and disseminate spatial data in a continuous digital workflow. Geomatics is the science and technology of dealing with earth measurement data, acquisition, management, planning and design, modeling, analysis and representation of spatial data and processes with specific consideration of problems related to spatial planning, land use and development and environmental issues, land division and registration, project engineering and mapping. Geomatics bridges a wide arc from the geosciences through various engineering sciences and computer science. Some examples of the disciplines and professions include planning, geography, geodesy, infrastructure engineering, agriculture, natural resources, environment, land division and registration, project engineering and mapping.

2. Branches of Geomatics. Data collection techniques include field surveying global positioning system (GPS), satellite positioning, and remotely sensed imagery obtained through aerial photography and satellite imagery. It also includes the acquisition of database material scanned from older maps and plans and data collected by related agencies. An example is census data such as TIGER. Data sorting is handled through various computer programs designed to process the measurements and their attribute data such as coordinate geometry (COGO), field data processing, and remotely sensed data from aerial photos and satellite imagery analysis.

3 . Data management, planning and design are handled through the use of computer programs for engineering design, digital photogrammetry, image analysis, relational data base management, and geographic information systems (GIS). Data plotting (presentation) is handled through the use of mapping and other illustrative computer programs; the presentations are displayed on computer screens (where interactive editing can occur) and are output on paper from digital plotting devices.

Once the positions and attributes of geographic entities have been digitized and stored in computer memory, they are available for use by a wide variety of users. Through the use of modern information technology (IT), geomatics brings together professionals in the following disciplines: surveying, mapping, remote sensing, land registration, civil and marine engineering, forestry, agriculture, planning and development, geology, geographical sciences, infrastructure management, navigation, environmental and natural resources monitoring, and computer sciences.

4. Data collection, which is the foundation of geomatics, is based on the collection of geospatial data (ge or geo = earth). Geospatial data can be collected through avariety of endeavors: field surveying, air photo stereo analysis, satellite imagery analysis, digitization of existing plans and manuscripts, and global positioning system (GPS) satellites. Various demographic and geographic data can also be accessed from CD or from Internet downloads.

Historically, map and plan preparation depended on measurements taken directly in the field, whereas modern data collection practice has been expanded to include previously referenced and remotely sensed data. The concept of maps and plans has also been expanded to include electronic images. The purpose of preparing hard-copy or electronic maps and plans is twofold. First, when measurement data is displayed to scale on a map or plan, the ground data is presented as an inventory or record of the features surveyed. Second, when the presented data is used to facilitate the design of infrastructure projects, private projects, or land division, the plan or map is being used as a design tool.

Three types of basic geospatial data are collected and coordinated: a) the horizontal position of natural and constructed features or entities; b) the vertical position (elevation) of the ground surface or built features: c) attribute data describing the features or entities being surveyed.

 

 

Text 9. GEOMATICS ENGINEER

1. The Geomatics Engineer. Geomatics has been introduced worldwide in a number of institutes during the past few years, mostly by renaming what was previously called ‘geodesy’ and over the ‘surveying’ The task of a geomatics engineer¹ consists in recording, managing, designing, developing and securing the structures inherent in our living space and economic environment. In this, he/she contributes to the better understanding of the planet earth, its resources and environmental processes and directly support rational decisions concerning a future-oriented existence and a sensible sustainable development² of our environment. The geomatics engineer is a graduate with an education based on science and engineering, which enables him/her to make good use of complex, modern technology as well as to develop new models, procedures and systems for the solution of demanding problems in geodetic sciences, land development and spatial planning. This also requires fundamental education in law, economics and management.

2. Professional Field. There is a great variety of professional activities for the geomatics engineer, including positions such as: a) head of acquisition, management, analysis and representation of data for geoinformation systems for private firms and public administrations; b) expert responsible for measurement tasks in engineering offices³, industry and authorities; c) expert for development and realization of activities in planning, land management and rural engineering⁴; d) head of projects for the improvement of the rural infrastructure in developing countries; e) leader and collaborator in research and development (R& D).

Notes:

1. geomatics engineer	специалист в области геодезии и геоинформационных систем
2. sensible sustainable development	разумное и стабильное развитие в …
3. engineering offices	здесь – строительные фирмы
4. rural engineering	сельское и поселковое строительство

Ex. 1. Useful English. Read, translate, learn and use the following expressions in sentences of your own:

system approach, data collection technique; is handled through the use of…; rational decisions concerning….; the improvement of the rural and urban infrastructure; the solution of demanding problems.

 

Ex. 2. Complete the following sentences.

1. Geomatics uses …. 2. Geomatics is the science and technology of ….
3. Some examples of the discipline and profession include …. 4. Data collection techniques include …. 5. Data storing is handled through …. 6. Data plotting is handled through …. 7. Through the use of modern information technologies, geomatics brings together …. 8. Data collection, which is the foundation of geomatics, is based on …. 9. Various demographic and geographic data can also be accessed from …. 10. The task of a geomatics engineer consists of ….

Ex. 3. Answer the questions.

1. What is Geomatics? 2. What is the foundation of geomatics. 3. What are the branches of Geomatics? 4. What do data collection techniques include? 5. Data storing is handled through various computer programs, isn’t, it? If so what are they 6. How does geomatics bring together professionals from different disciplines? 7. What is the main task of a geomatics engineer? 8. What are the perspective professional activities of a geomatics engineer?

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