Digital Quest, Inc.

Course at a glance:
This introductory course launches you into the exciting world of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing. While learning about the basics from the evolution of maps and projections, to learning about the modern uses of a GIS, you will complete many “hands-on” activities such as creating your own maps using compasses, rulers and tape measures. You will also utilize an actual program that NASA uses to simulate satellite movements. The specific areas of focus for this course will be an Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing, an Introduction to the Project Management Model, an Introduction to GIS concepts, an Introduction to Remote Sensing Concepts, and the Satellite Tool Kit.

Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing: Introduce geospatial studies and analysis; Explore how geospatial studies impact our daily lives; Examine how GIS/RS are used to support geospatial studies; Identify where GIS/RS play a key role in career development

Introduction to Project Management: Identify the primary components of the GIS Project Management Model; Analyze community projects regarding project management techniques; Identify stakeholders in a community project; Identify the Project Implementation phase of the Project Management Model; Identify the Project Presentation phase of the Project Management Model; Explore avenues for public form to support community-based projects

Introduction to GIS Concepts: Identify the development of and terminology associated with maps and the discipline of cartography; Identify terminology associated with different types of maps and feature symbols; Demonstrate how to read maps; Identify terminology associated with map coordinate systems and location; Interpret location using the Geographic Coordinate System to identify absolute location; Identify terminology associated with map projections; Explore the use of map projections in cartography; Understand the Universe Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system; Interpret locations using the UTM coordinate system; Identify terminology asscocitaed with maps and map scale; Identify terminology associated with maps and orienteering; Explore the history of cartography in terms of the progression of map media; Explore the use of a compass and distance measuring techniques and tools to map a geographic area

Introduction to Remote Sensing Concepts: Identify remote sensing methods of geographic data collection; Explain how remote sensing capabilities have affected map making and GIS technology; Identify tools/techniques used to acquire remotely sensed data; Identify tools/techniques used to build data layers from remotely sensed images; Explain the differences in bandwidth data in satellite imagery; Explore differences between high resolution and natural color and Multispectral infared satellite imagery; Explore GPS as it pertains to satellite imagery; Use a GPS unit to collect coordinate data; Explore Geocaching

Satellite Tool Kit: Explore concepts and technology used to maintain and control satellites in orbit; Define, manipulate and view satellite properties; Identify the GPS constellation; Explore the reporting and graphic capabilities of the STK software; Simulate methods to task and obtain aerial photography; Identify the effects of various mission specifications and conditions on satellite data collection capabilities

During the course you will also learn….

Launching Internet Browser
Logging Your Schedule
Summarizing an Article
Listing Stakeholders
Creating a Timetable
Studying Topographic Maps
Reading Road Maps
Studying Shaded Relief Maps
Determining Absolute Location
Converting DMS to DD
Converting DD to DMS
Studying Map Projections
Learning about the UTM coordinate system
Reading the UTM Grid on a USGS Topo Map
Determining the UTM XY Coordinates for Features on a Map
Working with Map Scale
Creating a Classroom Map
Using a Card Compass
Studying Parts of the Compass
Using the TerraServer-USA Website
Using the USGS EarthExplorer Website
Locating Land Features on Aerial Photographs
Building Maps Using Aerial Photography
Studying the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Using a GPS unit
Preparing GPS unit for Data Collection
Collecting Waypoints using GPS
Measuring Distance with a GPS unit
Calculating Area Using a GPS unit
Geocaching Using a GPS unit
Creating a Basic Scenario in Satellite Tool Kit
Also in STK:
Adding Satellites to Scenario
Working with Facilities
Determining Access and Applying Constraints
Adding Sensors to Scenarios
Animating Satellite Movements
Studying the GPS Constellation
Displaying Vectors
Generating Attitude Spheres
Inserting GPS Ground Monitoring Stations
Creating a Report and Graph for Access
Viewing the Simulation
Adding Your Location as a Facility
Adding Your Location to the Flight Path
Adding a Sensor to an Aircraft
Setting a Landsat 7 Scenario
Adding Your School Site to the Scenario

Why is this topic important?
Before you begin using a program like ArcGIS with all of its various tools and functions, it is important to understand the basics of producing a map. How were maps first made? Where did the data come from? Why are projections important? Can satellites assist in creating a map? Once you comprehend what it takes to create a map, you will have a greater appreciation for a program that will build maps for you.

The Project Management Model is also a very important tool. From planning, to implementing, and lastly to presenting, the PMM walks you through steps to insure that you are fully prepared to present your findings to your stakeholders.

Table of Contents:

Unit 1: Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing

Lesson 1: What is GIS and Remote Sensing?
Lesson Objectives:

Introduce geospatial studies and analysis
Explore how geospatial studies impacts our daily lives
Examine how GIS and remote sensing are used to support geospatial studies
Identify geospatial focus areas where GIS and remote sensing play a key role in career development

Lesson Exercise: A Day in the Life of GIS

Log daily activities
Describe activity connection to geospatial studies
Use internet resources to explore selected geospatial focus areas
Relate geospatial focus areas to careers in GIS and remote sensing

Unit 2: Introduction to Project Management

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Project Management Model
Lesson Objectives:

Identify the primary components of the GIS Project Management Model, including:
- Project Planning
- Project Implementation
- Project Presentation
Analyze community projects regarding project management techniques

Lesson Exercise: Project Management

Research examples of good and poor project management in local community projects using newspapers, periodicals, online sources and other resources.
Critique the local projects regarding good project management techniques in the successful projects and areas needing improvement in less successful projects

Lesson 2: Project Planning
Lesson Objectives:

Identify the Project Planning phase of the Project
Management Model
Identify stakeholders in the context of a community project
Explore the importance of stakeholder input in Project Planning

Lesson Exercise: Stakeholders

Identify stakeholders from news stories chosen in Lesson 1
Compose a written assignment, to include:
- Description of each stakeholder’s point of view
- Theories of how differing opinions of stakeholders may affect the outcome of the project
- Suggestions of how to bring stakeholders together in a forum to encourage input into project planning

Lesson 3: Project Implementation
Lesson Objective:

Identify the Project Implementation phase of the Project Management Model

Lesson Exercise: Data Needs

Identify data needs and sources for news stories chosen in Lesson 1

Lesson 4: Project Presentation
Lesson Objectives:

Identify the Project Presentation phase of the Project Management Model
Explore avenues for public forum to support community based projects

Lesson Exercise: Public Forum

Identify opportunities for public forums from news stories chosen in Lesson 1

Unit 3: Introduction to GIS Concepts

Lesson 1: History of Mapping
Lesson Objectives:

Identify terminology associated with maps and the discipline of cartography
Explore the development of cartography along a timeline of historical events

Lesson Exercise: Cartography Timetable

Timeline creation
Internet, periodical, textbook research
Historical report writing
Citation formatting

Lesson 2: Reading Maps & Understanding Map Types
Lesson Objectives:

Identify terminology associated with different types of maps and feature symbols
Demonstrate how to read maps, including a road map, shaded relief map, and a topographic map

Lesson Exercise: Reading Maps and Understanding Map Types

Topographic map interpretation (elevation, boundaries, surface features, water features, building features, transportation features)
Road map interpretation
Shaded relief map interpretation
Determine elevation from a topographic contour map
Locate landscape features on a topographic map
Topographic map uses
Distinguish between different road types on a road map
Identify variation in the shape of land on a shaded relief map
Determining map direction

Lesson 3: Absolute Location
Lesson Objectives:

Identify terminology associated with map coordinate systems and location
Interpret location using the Geographic Coordinate System to identify absolute location

Lesson Exercise: Absolute Location

Longitude and latitude map coordinates
Converting degrees, minutes, seconds to and from decimal degrees

Lesson 4: Map Projections
Lesson Objectives:

Identify terminology associated with map projections
Explain the use of map projections in cartography

Lesson Exercise: Map Projections

Hands on conversion of three dimensional globe to two dimensional surface
Identify projection types, distortion and primary uses of common map projections

Lesson 5: Map Coordinate Systems
Lesson Objectives:

Identify terminology associated with maps and coordinate systems
Understand the Universe Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinate system
Interpret location using the UTM coordinate system

Lesson Exercise: Map Coordinate Systems

Read the UTM grid on a USGS topographic map
Identify easting and northing values
Identify UTM zone
Use transparent 1,000 meter grid to determine UTM xy coordinates
Record UTM xy coordinates, distance from x, distance from y, easting, northing

Lesson 6: Map Scale
Lesson Objectives:

Identify terminology associated with maps and map scale
Identify ranges of map scale and the best uses of each

Lesson Exercise: Map Scale Exercise.

Identify large scale-small area / small scale-large area map extents
Use the distance scale to convert map distance to ground distance

Lesson 7: Orienteering & Creating Maps
Lesson Objectives:

Identify terminology associated with maps and orienteering
Explore the history of cartography in terms of the progression of map media
Identify and explain point, line, and polygon map features and interpret location and data attributes
Explore the use of a compass and distance measuring techniques and tools to map a geographic area

Lesson Exercise: Creating a Classroom Map

Using measuring tape to measure boundaries of classroom
Convert classroom measurements to grid paper at 1 foot = ¼” scale
Measure size and distance of classroom objects
Draw classroom objects on grid paper to scale using thematic colors
Create classroom map legend

Lesson Exercise: Compass Orienteering Campus Map Exercise

Compass components and operations
Using a compass to find north
Using a compass to measure the location of an object
Mapping the location of measured objects to produce a campus map
Recording bearing degrees, ground distance, map distance or campus objects

Unit 4: Introduction to Remote Sensing Concepts

Lesson 1:Remote Sensing & Aerial Photography
Lesson Objectives:

Identify remote sensing methods of geographic data collection
Explain how remote sensing capabilities have affected mapmaking and GIS technology
Identify tools/techniques used to acquire remotely sensed data

Lesson Exercise: Identifying Features from Aerial Photography

Use online TerraServer-USA website to search for local aerial photography
Use online USGS EarthExplorer website to search by POPULATED PLACE for Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle aerial photos
Preview and capture screen image •
Import screen image to WORD document
Locate land features from aerial photographs
Mark features with symbols and colors on paper or computer aerial photo
Build legend to identify features
Cite aerial photograph location and source
Record symbols and colors of features identified from aerial photographs

Lesson 2: Building Data Layers from Aerial Photography
Lesson Objective:

Identify tools and techniques used to built data layers from remotely senses images

Lesson Exercise: Building Data Layers from Aerial Photography

Overlay transparency sheet over aerial photograph of local community
Mark common thematic features on each transparency
Overlay all transparencies to form combined map of local community
Identify similarities to GIS

Lesson 3: Remote Sensing & Satellite Imagery
Lesson Objectives:

Identify remote sensing methods of geographic data collection
Explain how remote sensing capabilities have affected mapmaking and GIS technology
Identify tools/techniques used to acquire remotely sensed data
Explain the differences in bandwidth data in satellite imagery

Lesson Exercise: Satellite Imagery & the Electromagnetic Spectrum

NASA Electromagnetic spectrum website
- Radiation
- Visibility
- Measured energy
- Wavelength
- Radio waves
- Microwaves
- Infrared radiation
- Visible light color and wavelength
- True color imagery
- Ultraviolet radiation
- X-ray waves
- Gamma rays
View planet imagery at varying portions of the electromagnetic spectrum
Write descriptive and comparative profile of planet imagery differences

Lesson 4: Identifying Features Using Hi-Resolution Satellite Imagery
Lesson Objective:

Explore differences between high resolution natural color and multispectral infrared satellite imagery

Lesson Exercise: Washington, DC Satellite Imagery

Identify common geographic landmark features in Washington, DC using Quickbird and ASTER satellite images

Determine map grid locations

Describe differences between natural and infrared imagery

Lesson 5: GPS Technology
Lesson Objectives:

Explore Global Positioning Systems (GPS) as it pertains to satellite technology
Use a GPS unit to collect coordinate data

Lesson Exercise: GPS Technology

GPS unit components and operations
- Satellite screen
- Map screen
- Navigation screen
- Trip Computer screen
- Main Menu screen
Prepare GPS unit for data collection
Collect Data
Navigate
Find waypoints
Return to a waypoint
View all waypoints
Measure distance
Calculate area
Record waypoint name
Record waypoint coordinates
Record direction from one waypoint to another
Record distance from one waypoint to another

Lesson 6: GPS Geocaching
Lesson Objective:

Explore the concept of geocaching as it pertains to the use of satellite technology

Lesson Exercise: GPS Geocaching Enrichment

Use GPS to find a geocache on campus
Use GPS to hide a geocache on campus
Use geocache website to locate geocache locations in community
Record coordinates of hidden geocache

Unit 5: Satellite Tool Kit

Lesson 1: Satellite Tool Kit
Lesson Objectives:

Explore concepts and terminology of technology used to maintain and control satellites in orbit
Define, manipulate and view satellite properties

Lesson Exercise: STK Familiarization

Launch STK software
Load training scenario
Create Basic scenario
Populate scenario with satellites
Define satellites
Set satellite graphic properties
View satellites in 2D and 3D graphics windows
Animate satellite paths in 2D and 3D graphics windows
Set satellite lighting
Set satellite swath
Add facilities to scenario
Set facilities properties
Access and constraints between facility and satellite
Add sensors to scenario
Set sensors properties
Lesson 2: STK GPS Satellite Constellation
Lesson Objectives:
- Identify the GPS Constellation
- Explore how the GPS Constellation satellites operate in orbit
Lesson Exercise: STK GPS Satellite Constellation
- Load GPS scenario
- View earliest active GPS satellites
- Search active GPS satellite database
- Insert recently developed GPS satellites from database
- Animate the complete GPS constellation orbit path in the 3D Graphic display
- Set ground track properties
- Rotate graphic display to view satellite constellation from varying perspectives
- Set sun, nadir and velocity vectors for selected satellites
- Generate attitude spheres
- Search facility database
- Insert GPS ground monitoring stations from facility database
- View ground monitoring stations from global perspective
Lesson 3: Reporting GPS Data With STK
Lesson Objective:
- Explore the report and graphing capabilities of the STK software
Lesson Exercise: Reporting GPS Data With STK
- Report ECF (Earth Centered Fixed) Position
- Report RIC distance measurements:
  - radial
  - in-track
  - cross-track
  - range
- Graph access times to satellites from selected ground station
- Report numerical access times to satellites from selected ground station
- Display in 2D Graphics window reported range of access to satellites from selected ground station
Lesson 4: Simulating an Air Photo Mission
Lesson Objective:
- Simulate methods to task and obtain aerial photography
Lesson Exercise: Air Photo Mission Simulation using STK
- View a simulation of an air photo mission
- Enter local school site longitude and latitude coordinates to the flight path
- Set sensor Pointing and Boresight properties
Lesson 5: Simulating a Satellite Imagery Mission
Lesson Objectives:
- Simulate methods used to task and obtain data from satellites
- Identify the effects of various mission specifications and conditions on satellite data collection capabilities
Lesson Exercise: Landsat 7 Mission Simulation using STK
- Create a Landsat 7 satellite
- Define basic and graphics properties
- Target local school site for data accusation
- Define facility access and constraints
- Define sensor attributes and analyze sensor access

Who could use this knowledge?

Who are the direct stakeholders?

Skills we assume you have before you take this class: You will need basic computer skills, a working knowledge of an office suite (such as PowerPoint, Word Docs, and Spread Sheets) and experience with access to the Internet.

Software you will need:

An office suite (such as PowerPoint, Word Docs, and Spread Sheets), an Internet Browser, and Satellite Tool Kit

Hardware you will need:

A networked computer lab with a 1:1 ratio of students to computers, which meets the following minimum specifications: Pentium-III, Celeron, Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon running at 1ghz or equivalent, at least 1GB of RAM memory, Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional, a network server providing at least 500MB of storage per student, and appropriate read/write permissions for both the server and workstations. You will also need Internet access and a suitable means of displaying PowerPoint presentations (LCD projector, large monitor, plasma screen, etc.). You will also need a GPS unit.

Teacher Support…

Detailed, thorough student documentation, Full lesson plans including objectives, materials needed, procedures and assessments, PowerPoint presentations with narratives, Customized assessment and answer keys based on local data

What Data will you use…

Filename Type Description
cfcc dbf Census Feature Class Codes

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