The power of GIS

Sites related to GeogSplace 
Spatialworlds blog
Australian Geography Teachers' Association website

Scoop.it sites for the class

Geographical thinking Scoop.it  

Spatial literacy Scoop.it  

History and geography Scoop.it 

Spatial Education and technology Scoop.it

Just real interesting

Email

 malcolm.mcinerney@thebartonsc.sa.edu.a  

Modern geography with GIS

Now that we have played with the basics of mapping (grid references, legends, scale, lat/long, topography, contours, site, situation, directions and bearings) it is time to use what all modern geographers use in their work: geographical information systems.

A GIS starter

Work through the GIS focus section on Map Zone (from the UK Ordnance Survey).  This will get you a good background to the nature and use of GIS

Watch the YouTube video on GIS

What is GIS? from ESRI. ESRI is the software we will use in class. It is called GIS map 10.1. On the GIS site go through the Overview section on:

• What is GIS?

• What can be done with GIS?

•  The Geographic approach?

• GIS glossaries.

Read this page on what is GIS to give you some background on some crucial GIS terms (Vector and Raster).

Who uses GIS? 
GIS is often associated with making maps, but GIS professionals do much more than that. GIS is used to manage human activities. GIS professionals visualize, analyze, and model our world to help organizations make informed decisions.

Watch some of the videos on jobs using GIS

Now go back to the Map Zone site and have a go at two of the GIS Missions on:

• Flood damage control

• Wind power location

• Control and command

• Shopping for profit

• Farm management

• Crime stopper

You should now have some background on the nature of GIS, its application and who uses it.