Spatial dimensions of big data: Application of geographical concepts and spatial technology to the internet of things

Geography can be considered an important binding principle in the Internet of Things, as all physical objects and the sensor data they produce have a position, dimension, and orientation in space and time, and spatial relationships exist between them. By applying spatial relationships, functions, and models to the spatial characteristics of smart objects and the sensor data, the flows and behaviour of objects and people in Smart Cities can be more efficiently monitored and orchestrated. In the near future, billions of devices with location—and other sensors and actuators become internet connected, and Spatial Big Data will be created. This will pose a challenge to real-time spatial data management and analysis, but technology is progressing fast, and integration of spatial concepts and technology in the Internet of Things will become a reality.