Special Topics: Geospatial Technology for Earth and Environmental Sciences Sep 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 of 2011 Hongjie Xie Laboratory for Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics Department of Geological Sciences University of Texas at San Antonio

Grading from my part Participating class for questions and discussions – Including attendance Final exam including questions from each section (~30 minutes for each section)

What is geospatial technology? Geospatial Technology, commonly known as geoinformatics, refers to technology used for visualization, measurement, and analysis of features or phenomena that occur on the earth. This terminology has become common in the United States, and is synonymous with Spatial Information Technology. Geospatial technology includes three different technologies that are all related to mapping features on the surface of the earth. These three technology systems are GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing).GPSGISremote sensing

GPS Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides reliable location and time information in all weather and at all times and anywhere on or near the Earth when and where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. It is maintained by the United States government and is freely accessible by anyone with a GPS receiver.global navigation satellite system GPS was created and realized by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and was originally run with 24 satellites. It was established in 1973 to overcome the limitations of previous navigation systemsU.S. Department of Defense In addition to GPS, other systems are in use or under development. The Russian GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS) is for use by the Russian military. There are also the planned Chinese Compass navigation system and Galileo positioning system of the European Union (EU).GLONASSCompass navigation systemGalileo positioning system

GIS Geographic information systems (GIS) or geospatial information systems is a set of tools that captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data that are linked to location(s). In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis, and database technology. GIS may be used in geography, cartography, remote sensing, land surveying, public utility management, natural resource management, precision agriculture, photogrammetry, urban planning, emergency management, navigation, aerial video, and localized search engines.geography cartographyremote sensingland surveyingpublic utilitynatural resource management precision agriculturephotogrammetryurban planningemergency managementnavigationaerial videolocalized search engines As GIS can be thought of as a system, it digitally creates and "manipulates" spatial areas that may be jurisdictional, purpose or application oriented for which a specific GIS is developed. Hence, a GIS developed for an application, jurisdiction, enterprise, or purpose may not be necessarily interoperable or compatible with a GIS that has been developed for some other application, jurisdiction, enterprise, or purpose. What goes beyond a GIS is a spatial data infrastructure (SDI), a concept that has no such restrictive boundaries.spatial data infrastructure Therefore, in a general sense, the term describes any information system that integrates, stores, edits, analyzes, shares, and displays geographic information for informing decision making. GIS applications are tools that allow users to create interactive queries (user-created searches), analyze spatial information, edit data, maps, and present the results of all these operations.[1] Geographic information science is the science underlying the geographic concepts, applications and systems.[2] GIS can be studied in degree and certificate programs at many universities.information systemgeographicdecision makingspatial[1]Geographic information science[2]

Remote sensing Remote sensing is the small- or large-scale acquisition of information of an object or phenomenon, by the use of either recording or real-time sensing device(s) that are wireless, or not in physical or intimate contact with the object (such as by way of aircraft, spacecraft, satellite, buoy, or ship). In practice, remote sensing is the stand-off collection through the use of a variety of devices for gathering information on a given object or area. Thus, Earth observation or weather satellite collection platforms, ocean and atmospheric observing weather buoy platforms, the monitoring of a parolee via an ultrasound identification system, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), X- radiation (X-RAY) and space probes are all examples of remote sensing.real-timewirelessaircraftspacecraftsatellitebuoy shipEarth observationweather satelliteweather buoyultrasoundMagnetic Resonance ImagingPositron Emission TomographyX- radiationspace probes In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of imaging sensor technologies including: instruments found in aircraft and spacecraft as well as those used in electrophysiology, and is distinct from other imaging- related fields such as medical imaging.electrophysiologymedical imaging