PrintDiscussion Activity
Answering the question, "What are environmental applications of geospatial technology?" is perhaps more complicated than it first seems. This is due in part to the diversity of application areas, purposes, and audiences for geospatial analysis projects that deal with spatial data and the physical environment. This discussion activity is our opportunity to start engaging in environmental geospatial technology by talking about what it is before we get into the nuts and bolts of how we commonly implement it in later lessons.
First, read through the three scenarios on the previous page and think about how each of them represents an environmental application of geospatial technology.
Deliverables for this week's lesson:
- Write a post in this week's discussion forum that answers the question, "What are environmental applications of geospatial technology?" You are welcome to approach this question in any way that you'd like so that it gets you thinking and generates conversation with your classmates. You may include any or all of the three scenario examples in your post. Here are some things to consider to help address what it is about environmental applications of geospatial technology and spatial data that makes them unique relative to other applications:
- What is it about these scenarios that make them "environmental?"
- How was geospatial technology used in the scenarios, or, if geospatial technology wasn't used much, how could it have been employed effectively?
- What types of spatial data and geospatial operations could be used, and are there any commonalities across the scenarios?
- Who is the audience for the output in these scenarios, and what are some potential challenges in communicating the information? (I'm thinking of an audience that may be too informed or not informed enough, perhaps results that are difficult to present on a map, a diverse audience that has variable interests and needs, etc.)
- Contribute thoughtful responses to some of your classmates' posts. This activity is intended to foster a conversation among the class, so a successful outcome includes both your initial post and subsequent interactions that add value, support your classmates, and keep the conversation going.