Abstract: Agent technology provides a new method for understanding the features of distributed system and solving distributed application problems. After discussing the features and the problems of distributed GIS, a model of agent based distributed GIS——Geo Agents, is presented in this paper. In this model, the classifications, structure and features of GIS agent are firstly analyzed. There are three types of GIS agent: system management agent, GIS functional agent and interfacial agent. Every GIS agent is a synthetic entity which consists of control subsystem, functional subsystem, communication interface, human computer interface and data resource, and every GIS agent is deterministic, independent, autonomous, interactive and initiative. Secondly, a message mechanism is used to provide communication and coordination between GIS agents, and a set of Geo Agents message types are designed according to the properties of GIS and agent. Finally, the architecture and network distributed model of Geo Agents are proposed, and a task oriented, personalized script language——GeoScript based on agent for the user is designed. In the mean time, a network based, hierarchical spatial metadata database framework is brought forth, which guarantees GIS agent’s capabilities. The practice shows that Geo Agents not only has the general features of distributed GIS, but also can easily provide the intelligent information services for distributed spatial data, including decentralized peer computing, overpassing the client/server structure and cooperation in GIS application. Geo Agents is a brand new distributed GIS model and will have a bright future.