Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

I express a bit of angst over the use of “geo.”

This post may mean nothing to everyone else in the world, but I have to get it out of my system.

I have been overwhelmed with the use of the term geo the past ten years. Just my personal problem, but his is my personal blog, so here goes.

Definition: geo, relating to the earth. Okay. Got that. No problem with that.

Let’s try the term geolocate. That means to locate something on the earth, which is otherwise known as “locate.” Why do folks say “geolocate?” I guess they sound smarter and are paid more money for saying “geolocate.”

Next we have geospatial.

Definition: spatial, relating to or occupying space.

Okay, let’s combine geo and spatial to have occupying space on the earth. Hmm, I am geospatial as I sit here in the coffee shop typing these words. Good for me.

Then we go to geospatial intelligence or GEOINT. Everyone does GEOINT. If you don’t have 20 years experience in GEOINT you can’t get a job in some neighborhoods. So GEOINT is intelligence or knowledge about occupying space on the earth. In other words, where are you?

Why don’t we just ask, “Where are you?” Again, GEOINT sounds smarter and causes more money to flow.

Again, my blog—my rant.