Overspace: Observing Virginia’s Environmental Resources From Space”

OVERspace Observing Virginia’s Environmental Resources from Space”

“

What is GIS?

arbara Murray VERspace Project Director [email protected]

Virginia Space Grant Consortium Educational Programs Manager

The goal of the OVERspace project is to develop and implement for Virginia’s educators , a state-wide professional development program and network for using remotely sensed data, GIS, and GPS as effective teaching and learning tools.

Geographic Geographic Information Information Systems Systems

A A Definition Definition of of GIS GIS GIS is a System of computer software, hardware and data, and personnel to help manipulate, analyze and present information that is tied to a spatial location – • spatial location – usually a geographic location • information – visualization of analysis of data • system - linking software, hardware, data • personnel – a thinking explorer who is key to the power of GIS-

• A method to

visualize, manipulate, analyze, and display spatial data to study the world

• “Smart Maps”

linking a database to the map, creating dynamic displays

Five Five Data Data Layers Layers “Alike” “Alike” Features Features

Rivers

Capitals

Roads

States Lakes

Some Ways GIS is Used  Emergency Services

 Environmental  Natural Disasters  Education  Government  Medical  Industry, Businesses  Defense

• GPS – Global Positioning System • A static map – paper or digital – Maps are often a “product” of a GIS – A way to visualize the analysis • A software package

Database Database “Not “Not Easy Easy to to Interpret” Interpret”

Visualization Visualization “Worth “Worth a a Thousand Thousand Words” Words”

Multiple Databases can be Linked and Related

12 OVERspace GIS related lesson plans in development include: 1.

Upper Roanoke River Watershed-A Learning Adventure

2.

Nifty Fifty! – (Studies of VA provinces and regions)

3.

Water, Water Everywhere, But not a Drop to Drink! (Water supply issues)

4.

Medical Geography- Vaccination in the U.S. -( Mapping disease spread)

5.

Colonial Economics and Immigration- (Mapping historic sites & battles)

6.

Living Life on the Edge! -(GIS uses in natural disasters )

7.

Light My Fire! -(Studies of controlled burns and wildfires & satellite data))

8.

A Bird’s EyeView -( Studies of the NASA SATS aircraft with GPS)

9.

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring! -( Studies of precipitation and its impacts)

10. Virginia Physiography -( A study of the specific provinces of VA) 11. MicroClimates - (Student data collection and analysis of climate types) 12. Healthy Chesapeake? -(Studies of Virginia’s watersheds)

Geographic Geographic Information Information Systems Systems “GIS” “GIS” @ @ your your school school • Science – ES.1, ES.2, ES.3, ES.9 • Social Studies • Computer Technology • Math skills • English (communications) – 8.5, 9.2, 9.6, 10.1, 10.7, 10.9

 GIS helps learners of any age think critically, learn in an integrated fashion, and exercise multiple intelligences.  The infinite variations possible in topic of study, scale of exploration, data engaged, analyses used, and questions asked help teachers model the importance of being a lifelong learner.

Data - Data - Data We all ‘got data’ • Location Data – How Many – What Kind – Where • Scale of Data – Local to Global • Data Presentation – Words, Charts, Graphs, Tables, or Maps Exploring data using GIS turns data into information into knowledge

3D Mine with Well Data

Combining Various Display Methods

Modeling Modeling of of Future Future Trends Trends

GIS @ your school • You need: – Computers – Software (free or commercial) – Some experience – Lots of enthusiasm – Applicable lesson plans for integration in current curriculum

GIS @ your school • You could use: – – – – –

Digital cameras More software GPS equipment Satellite/aerial images (Remote Sensing) Identify a question (tap into local people/organizations)

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. department of Defense.  GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use.  GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.

• Set of GPS units for classroom use is available for use, through VSGC. •VDOE provided grant for 1st class set. Other grants will provide for more equipment •OVERspace teachers were provided with a high quality GPS unit •Future plans: 8 classroom sets in Virginia for loan in teaching students