中文摘要：

阐述虚拟地理环境的形成、发展与研究现状,并从＂虚拟现实技术＂与＂虚拟现实＂的相互关系探讨虚拟地理环境基本概念。从基本思想、系统结构、在线参与者社会组织水平、与GIS/数字地球的关系等角度,分析虚拟地理环境的特征。从数据、模型、表现以及协同4个方面,讨论了虚拟地理环境系统建设的关键技术与研究前沿。尝试建立了一个虚拟地理环境基本理论初步研究框架,认为在地理哲学思想层次应该重点研究复杂性人地系统、地理虚/实关系论、地理/遥感信息本体论,在地理/地理信息科学层次需要重点研究地理认知与思维、地理相似原理、地理计算模拟;同时讨论虚拟地理环境与面向＂人＂的地理信息科学、基于虚拟地理环境地理科学方法论,以及可计算人地关系的相关理论问题。

英文摘要：

This paper explores the formation, development, and research status of virtual geographic environ- ments （VGE）, and discusses the concept of VGE in terms of virtual reality theory and techniques. A virtual geo- graphic environment （VGE） is defined as a shared virtual space into which digital geographic objects and environ- ments, as well as 3-D avatars, representing users or people in the physical environments, are transplanted. The characteristics of VGE are addressed from aspects of basic thoughts, system structure, and level of social organiza- tion of online participants. VGE systems include five kinds of spaces, namely Internet space, data space, 3-D rep- resentation space, personal perceptual and cognitive space, and collaborative and social space. In view of online users, a VGE could be taken as an experimental laboratory or a system tool to deal with geo-scientifie problems while the number of users is less, or as a virtual space or worlds in which numerous users are living and working. The relationship and differences among GIS, digital earth, and VGE are scrutinized, too. It is argued that VGE systems stern from the ultimate development of GIS and cartography, and are prototypes of Google Earth, Virtual Earth, EDUSHI, E-Urban,and Second Life. The key techniques, development of system platform, applications, and outlook of VGE are presented in terms of data, modeling, representation, and collaboration. The paper puts forward a fundamental theoretical framework of VGE from aspects of geographic philosophy and geographic sci- ences, and discusses issues related to human-oriented geographic information sciences, VGE based geographic sci- entific methodology, and computing man-land relationship.