Disruptive Technologies in Geography: The Nexus to Environmental Sciences and Realization of Sustainable Development Goals

Disruptive technologies are innovations that fundamentally alter or disrupt established practices, initially attracting a small number of users before expanding to displace previously dominant technologies. The integration of disruptive technologies into the discipline of geography has fundamentally redefined its role within the environmental sciences. From high-frequency observations of nanosatellite constellations to the predictive power of GeoAI and the immersive simulations of digital twins, these technologies provide the spatial reasoning and analytical frameworks necessary to address the complex challenges of the 21st century. This research aims to investigate the transformative role of disruptive geospatial technologies specifically Geo-Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Hyperspectral Imaging and Cloud Computing within the discipline of geography as critical gateways to environmental sciences and the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While these innovations offer unprecedented capabilities for monitoring climate resilience, hydrological systems, and urban growth, they also present significant ethical challenges. This research utilizes a multi-dimensional approach to evaluate technological disruption in geography, incorporating systematic literature reviews, technical data pipelines, and case study analyses. The results indicate that geography has evolved from a system of record to a system of insight and predictive modeling. While traditional geography described where things were, disruptive technologies like Digital Twin allow researchers to simulate what-if scenarios, such as predicting the impact of a road closure on city-wide carbon emissions or sea-level rise simulations on critical infrastructure. Finally, while disruptive geospatial technologies in geography provide the eye on Earth necessary for the 2030 Agenda, they also risk entrenching new power hierarchies. The transition to applied geography must involve a commitment to bridging the digital divide and ensuring digital sovereignty for the Global South through infrastructure ownership and regional data protection frameworks.