Geography & Technology

Remember... Geographers try to answer three questions: –Where are things located on Earth? –What are the connections between people and the Earth? –How can we illustrate this information to understand it better?

Geography & Technology 1.Geographic Information Systems 2.Global Positioning System 3.Aerial Photographs 4.Satellite Imagery

Geographic Information Systems Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a technology that manages, analyzes, and disseminates geographic knowledge. Essentially, GIS is maps on computers. Each characteristic of the Earth’s surface is mapped on a layer which can be viewed independently, or in combination with other layers.

Geographic Information Systems

GIS can analyze data in many ways: Geographic Information Systems

GIS software links the location data and the attribute data: Source: ESRI Canada, What’s GIS.ppt GIS – Locations and Attributes

GIS – Why Use It? Support for decision-making based on spatial data: Visual representation of data Maintenance, manipulation of data Analyze information and the affected area(s) geographically Produce customized cartographic products

GIS – Real World Uses Management Agriculture Public Utilities Health Care Emergency 911 Real Estate Marketing

What are the effects of Global Warming? Land cover and temperature relationships are made clear when the data are seen at once using Geotechnology. GIS – Real World Uses

Is it safe to dig here? A proposed excavation, identified by address, is compared to pipelines in the area using Geotechnology. Source: ESRI Canada, What’s GIS.ppt GIS – Real World Uses

What is the fastest route to the Hospital? Geotechnology can choose the fastest route to a hospital. The GIS can take into account traffic and other impediments. Source: ESRI Canada, What’s GIS.ppt GIS – Real World Uses

What Communities are at risk from Disease? Geotechnology identifies communities at risk of River Blindness and helps determine the impact of treatment. Source: ESRI Canada, What’s GIS.ppt GIS – Real World Uses

Global Positioning System The GPS (Global Positioning System) is a "constellation" of 30 (operational) well-spaced satellites that orbit the Earth and make it possible for people with ground receivers to pinpoint their geographic location. The location accuracy is anywhere from 100 to 10 metres for most equipment. Accuracy can be pinpointed to within one metre with special military-approved equipment.

Global Positioning System GPS equipment is widely used in science and has now become sufficiently low-cost so that almost anyone can own a GPS receiver. The GPS is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Defense but is available for general use around the world.

Global Positioning System

A hand-held GPS unit

Global Positioning System An in-dash GPS unit

Aerial Photographs Google Earth is a computer program (that you can download for free!) that shows aerial photographs in a digital format, with a general purpose map on top.

Satellite Imagery Satellite images are also pictures of the Earth taken from above, but these electronic images (instead of photographs) cover very large areas but show less detail. –Landsat was developed by the Americans and uses sunlight and heat reflected from the Earth’s surface to create images –SPOT was developed by the Europeans and similar to Landsat, but it can create 3D images of the surface –RADARSAT was developed by the Canadians and uses radar signals (or microwaves) instead of sunlight and heat, so it can be used at any time of day or night

NASA Infrared Image Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2011

Laser Image LIDAR Hurricane Sandy 2012