中文摘要：

首先从地图到地理信息系统再到虚拟地理环境的演化过程,剖析发展虚拟地理环境的实际需求,从而对现阶段的虚拟地理环境进行定位;其次,从虚拟地理环境架构设计的角度,对虚拟地理环境各个组件功能设计过程中的关键难点进行阐述;最后,面向国家层面的重大需求,以虚拟地理环境与遥感技术、全球变化研究相结合为契合点,提出对虚拟地理环境发展的展望.

英文摘要：

Based on the discussion of the demands of geographic cognition, the paper first analyzes the evolutionary processes from map to Geographic Information systems（GISystems） then to Virtual Geographic Environments （ VG Es）, with positioning of VGEs in current stage. Then, in terms of the framework design, key issues of the develop- mentof each component in VGEs are discussed in detail. Finally, the prospect is proposed by taking the combina- tion of VGEs withstudies of remote sensing and global change as cases.