Cloud　computing　is　a　new　internet-based　supercomputing　principle　and　practice,　which　supplies　dynamic,　scalable,　and　pay-per-use　services　and　has　huge　computing　and　storage　capacity　with　high　reliability　and　security.　This　paper　first　summarized　the　concept,　features　and　the　development　of　the　cloud　computing,　and　then　discussed　the　application　of　cloud　computing　techniques　in　spatial　analysis,　decision　support　and　the　storage　of　spatial　data,　and　the　impact　on　software　development　and　product　patterns　of　GIS.　Finally,　we　proposed　several　issues　about　cloud　security,　how　to　monitor　cloud　services　and　to　develop　cloud　specifications　in　using　cloud　computing　techniques.　©　2010　IEEE.