Studies on application of cloud computing techniques in GIS

Cloud computing is a new internet-based supercomputing principle and practice, which supplies dynamic, scalable, and pay-per-use services and has huge computing and storage capacity with high reliability and security. This paper first summarized the concept, features and the development of the cloud computing, and then discussed the application of cloud computing techniques in spatial analysis, decision support and the storage of spatial data, and the impact on software development and product patterns of GIS. Finally, we proposed several issues about cloud security, how to monitor cloud services and to develop cloud specifications in using cloud computing techniques.