Thinking and computing spatiotemporally to enable cloud computing and science discoveries

We live in space time dimensions and all physical and social sciences are based on the dimensions. The representation and digitization of scientific phenomena into data and computation of the digitized data greatly depends on the spatiotemporal principles that govern the relationships of phenomena. The latest advancement of cloud computing is not an exception. Conducting cloud computing in a spatiotemporal fashion will help use spatiotemporal principles, which exist in all physical and social sciences, to optimize cloud computing and science discoveries. This paper 1) introduces the latest advancement of distributed computing; 2) analyzes the impact cloud computing has on GIS science, application, and education; 3) illustrates how spatiotemporal principles exist and can be utilized to enable cloud computing and science discoveries; and 4) discusses research directions and agenda for GIScience professionals in the 21st centuries.