Monthly Archives: August 2010

Khan Academy

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While this isn’t geography specific, I think it’s an important resource to mention for those interested in online resources for education. Khan Academy was recently reviewed on CNN’s Money website citing Bill Gates praise for the innovative website.

Topics covered on the website are vast and include a wide variety of Mathematics, Science, and even some Social Science. Watch the video embedded below from PBS NewsHour to get an overview of how Sal Khan has leveraged the power of online education resources!

Geospatial Training Opportunities from UConn’s CLEAR

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Are you looking for an opportunity to learn more about geospatial technologies? If so then be sure to check out the late summer/fall 2010 geospatial training courses offered from our colleagues at UCONN’s Center for Land use Education and Research (CLEAR).

Geospatial Technologies at Work: An Introduction to GIS – August 31-September 2

An intensive three-day course that introduces students to basic GIS concepts through the use of ESRI’s desktop GIS software. Course fee $300

Pictures, Points and Places: An Introduction to GPS – September 16-17

A two-day hands on course that covers a wide variety of topics from planning data collection activities to the incorporation of GPS data into geographic information systems and “earth viewers” such as Google Earth. Participants will also learn how to integrate and georeference digital photographs in their mapping projects. Course fee $150

Mashup Madness: Using Google Tools to Create Maps on the Web – October 19

NEW COURSE! This one-day course introduces students to the basics of creating simple mapping “mashups” – interactive, online maps using free tools including Google Maps and Google Earth. Topics explored include Google Maps “My Maps” and creating KML in Google Earth as well as techniques for sharing online maps through email and embedded content. Course fee $100

Creating and Using Geospatial Models: An Introduction to ModelBuilder for ArcGIS – November 23

A one-day course that introduces ArcGIS users to the capabilities and uses of ModelBuilder, a tool which allows users to create geoprocessing models to automate repetitive tasks within ArcGIS. Some working knowledge of ArcGIS is strongly recommended. Course fee $100

Developing Custom Geoprocessing Tools: An Introduction to Python Scripting – December 8-9

A two-day course which introduces ArcGIS users to the basics of writing and integrating Python scripts in ArcGIS. Python is a scripting language supported by ESRI. This course aims to provide students with the foundation and resources necessary to develop proficiency with automating geoprocessing tasks with Python scripts. This is an advanced course, individuals should be familiar with ArcGIS, ArcToolbox and geoprocessing tools. Course fee $150

* Note: All GIS training courses are currently taught using ArcGIS 9.3. ArcGIS 10 courses will begin in early 2011.

For more information about course content and registration, please visit: http://clear.uconn.edu/geospatial.

Did You Know? #30 International Conference on Crisis Mapping 2010

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The International Conference on Crisis Mapping will be held in Boston, MA October 1-3, 2010. The goal of this conference is to bring together engaged practitioners, scholars, software developers, and policymakers at the cutting edge of crisis mapping with focus on crisis mapping applications in the disaster response to Haiti and beyond. If you are interested in learning more about crisis mapping applications, be sure to check out the ICCM 2010 Conference Website for more details.

Did You Know #31 – Natural Earth

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Did you know you can get free GIS Data in both Vector and Raster format for the entire world?  Natural Earth Data provides three scales of data at:

1:10,000,000
1:50,000,000
1:110,000,000

These might seem like really small scales (and they are!), but if you’re mapping global data it’s more than suitable!  Additionally all the data is in the same format/projection.  Featured data themes include:

Cultural Vector:

  • Countries
  • Disputed territories
  • First order administration
  • Populated Places
  • Urban Places
  • Parks and Protected Areas
  • Pacific Nation Groupings
  • Water boundaries
  • Railroads!

Physical Vector:

  • Coastline
  • Land
  • Ocean
  • Minor islands
  • Reefs
  • Physical Region Features
  • River and Lake Centerlines
  • Lakes
  • Glaciated Areas
  • Antartic Ice Shelves
  • Bathymetry 
  • Geographic Lines
  • Graticules
Additionally, there are some very nice elevation rasters! 
 So what are you waiting for!? Go check out Natural Earth Data’s website!  Also Preview the data in their web mapping platform.

Did You Know? #29 Location Sharing Technologies and Your Privacy

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With a wide range of location sharing enabled applications for mobile devices (e.g. Gowalla, Foursquare) users may be wondering how privacy is impacted by all of these location enabled applications. On July 27, 2010 EDUCAUSE hosted a webinar titled “Location-Sharing Technologies – Privacy Risks and Controls” with Lorrie Faith Cranor from Carnegie Mellon University which discussed several issues related to privacy with location based information. This webinar broadcast was recorded and can be viewed in its entirety at the EDUCAUSE Live! Archive.

What are your concerns with privacy and location sharing enabled applications? Let us know by commenting on this blog.