This assignment topic will examine ethics for the GIS professional. Here’s what is expected.
First, return to the readings on ethics applied to the GIS profession and the GIS Code of Ethics ( uploaded documents, page. 27-37. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Obermeyer2009.pdf, In addition, consider the readings for the Location Privacy topic, in particular page.500-510. Harvey2014.pdf.
Then create a discussion topic that contains these two elements:
1. Identify a real or hypothetical example of where a GIS professional is faced with an ethical decision.
You can consider an example from your own experience, an example from the readings, or create a hypothetical scenario. Try to come up with a scenario where there isn’t necessarily an obvious answer.
2. Describe how the GIS professional would apply the GIS Code of Ethics in the given scenario.
To what extent is the code clear enough? How easily is it to follow the code? More generally, does the code provide adequate guidance for specific scenarios for an individual GIS professional to make the “right” decision.
