1. Geography & Technology
Geography of Canada

2. Geography & Technology
Geographic Information Systems
Global Positioning System
Aerial Photographs
Satellite Imagery

3. Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information Systems *(GIS) is a technology that manages, analyzes, and disseminates geographic knowledge. Essentially, GIS is maps on computers. Each characteristic of the Earth’s surface is mapped on a layer which can be viewed independently, or in combination with other layers.

4. Geographic Information Systems

5. Geographic Information Systems
GIS can analyze data in many ways:
GIS can analyze data in many ways:
Population and demographic data (language distribution in southern Ontario)
Physical features for the same area (surface geology)
GIS also allows us to view data in a 3D perspective (fly-throughs, etc)

6. GIS – Locations and Attributes
Attribute Information:
What is it?
Species: Oak
Height: 15m
Age: 75 Yrs
Location Information: Where is it?
51°N, 112°W
Source: ESRI Canada, WhatsGIS.ppt

7. GIS – Asking Questions Attribute Questions:
What provinces have more than 1.5 million people?
Attribute Questions:
GIS software can answer questions about our world:
What provinces border Saskatchewan?
Spatial Questions:
Source: ESRI Canada, What’s GIS.ppt

8. GIS – Why Use It? Support for decision-making based on spatial data:
Visual representation of data
Maintenance, manipulation of data
Analyze information and the affected area(s) geographically
Produce customized cartographic products

9. GIS – Real World Uses Management Agriculture Public Utilities
Health Care
Emergency 911
Real Estate
Marketing

10. GIS – Real World Uses Is it safe to dig here?
You have surely seen the sign on the back of phone company trucks or gas company trucks that says "Call before you dig!" Let's say you were going to be building a new fence around your property. You first have to call all the utilities companies and find out where the utility cross your property. In the past, workers from these companies would come out to your house and spray paint your lawn where the utility lines are located.
These days, chances are when you call that number, the person on the other end of the phone is sitting in front of a GIS. When you give them your address, they can easily pull up your land parcel, and overlay all of the utility lines. They can then easily fax or mail you a map and you don’t have to wait for someone to come out and spray your lawn before you can begin building your fence.
A proposed excavation, identified by address, is compared to pipelines in the area using Geotechnology.
Source: ESRI Canada, What’s GIS.ppt

11. Global Positioning System
The GPS (Global Positioning System) is a "constellation" of 24 well-spaced satellites that orbit the Earth and make it possible for people with ground receivers to pinpoint their geographic location.
The location accuracy is anywhere from 100 to 10 metres for most equipment.
Accuracy can be pinpointed to within one metre with special military-approved equipment.

12. Global Positioning System
GPS equipment is widely used in science and has now become sufficiently low-cost so that almost anyone can own a GPS receiver.
The GPS is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Defense but is available for general use around the world.

13. Global Positioning System

14. Global Positioning System
A hand-held GPS unit

15. Global Positioning System
An in-dash GPS unit

16. Global Positioning System
SPOT Satellite Messenger
Allows you to “check in”, send a message, or send emergency help from anywhere in the world
Uses GPS technology

17. Remote Sensing
*Remote sensing is the practice of studying Earth by using images and photographs taken from above Earth’s surface. *
These photographs are either taken by airplanes or by satellites.

18. Aerial Photographs
Using the photographs of the Earth taken by airplanes, you can see the world in 3D using a stereoscope.

19. Aerial Photographs
Google Earth is a computer program (that you can download for free!) that shows aerial photographs in a digital format, with a general purpose map on top.

20. Making Connections Map for Qu #7
Using your textbook, answer the questions on the worksheet about GIS and remote sensing
Start on page 51
Map for Qu #7