Towards a decentralized geospatial web — risks and opportunities for GIScience

The application of decentralized web technologies and design principles within GIScience remains underexplored. We examine potential pitfalls and opportunities at their intersection, and propose three pillars for a decentralized geospatial web: Proof-of-Location, Verifiable Geocomputation, and Peer-to-Peer Spatial Data Management. These technologies offer cryptographically robust ways to validate location claims, ensure tamper-resistant geospatial analyses, and empower user-centric data ownership, with potential for wide-ranging impact for individuals, governments and the private sector across many application domains. Although challenges remain, from platform immaturity to reputational stigma, these pillars may pave the way for more resilient, fair, and trustworthy geospatial ecosystems.