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The geometry of environmental knowledge

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Theories and Methods of Spatio-Temporal Reasoning in Geographic Space

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 639))

Abstract

Theoretical and empirical work on the geometry of environmental knowledge is discussed. Certain patterns of distance and directional estimates collected from humans have been interpreted as being due to non-metric or non-Euclidean spatial knowledge. I argue that attempts to determine this geometry are inconsistent with existing theoretical models of human knowledge storage and use. Spatial estimation data are more parsimoniously explained as resulting from: (a) measurement error and ambiguity, (b) multiple and uncoordinated long-term memory representations, and (c) processes taking place when spatial knowledge is activated and used.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of California, 93106-4060, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

    Daniel R. Montello

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  1. Daniel R. Montello
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Editor information

A. U. Frank I. Campari U. Formentini

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Montello, D.R. (1992). The geometry of environmental knowledge. In: Frank, A.U., Campari, I., Formentini, U. (eds) Theories and Methods of Spatio-Temporal Reasoning in Geographic Space. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 639. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55966-3_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-55966-3_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-55966-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47333-6

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