UNIT 1 - MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL SYSTEMS Created by the Centers for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT)

GEOSPATIAL SYSTEMS The umbrella to several geospatial technologies: – Remote Sensing – Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – Global Positioning System (GPS) Used on a daily basis. Many industries benefit from use. Credit: NOAA Credit: City of Denver Credit: *

REMOTE SENSING Acquiring information without coming into direct contact with the object. Observing things remotely (from a distance). Allows objects to be detected & classified via the EM spectrum. Credit: NASA *

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) Allows the visualization & interpretation of data through “layers” of linked/categorized information. Commonly used in city planning and resource management. Credit: Westfield State University *

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) Space-based navigation system made up of 32 satellites. Provides users with navigation, position and time anywhere on Earth. Commercial, military & civil applications. Managed by the U.S. Air Force. Credit: *

THERE ARE MANY GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS!

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS: CITY PLANNING & MANAGEMENT Allows for city management & smart expansion. Can track bus & police movement. Saves money. Improves services. Empowers citizens. Credit: NASA *

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS: BUSINESS Helps many different types of business in a variety of ways: – Improved Time Efficiency – Increased Productivity – Reduced Operating Costs – Increased Profits Credit: Leidos *

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS: MILITARY Allows monitoring of people & machines in real-time. Used in strategy planning. Critical for large-scale logistics operations. Increases overall safety & efficiency. Credit: U.S. Army *

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS: LAW ENFORCEMENT Reveals patterns of crime. Helps optimize resource deployment. Increases efficiency & accountability. Improves public safety. Credit: HDR, Inc. *

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS: ENVIRONMENT Resource monitoring & management. Allows us to understand Earth’s ecosystem & climate. Can be used to track pollutants, detect deforestation, etc. Credit: NASA *

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS: PREVENTING HUNGER Resource monitoring & management (e.g. crop production). Utilize rainfall data & satellite imagery to assess impact on crops. Can help determine where food aid is needed most. Credit: NASA *

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS: TRACKING DISEASE Been around for hundreds of years. Cholera outbreak in 1854 used a primitive form of GIS to identify the disease source. Disease tracking continues today. * Credit: Oxford University

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS: EMPOWERING PEOPLE Allows for an accurate assessment of needs for a given community/area. Empowers people by providing visual data to policymakers that justifies action. * Credit: Map Kibera

GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS: SELF-DRIVING CARS Self-driving cars utilize geospatial technologies (e.g. GPS, LIDAR). Self-driving cars require digitized road maps, which are created with geospatial technologies. * Credit: Google