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Preface
a Chapter 12, “Studying the Environment from Space,” discusses the Earth
Observing System, a series of environmental observatories that orbit the
planet and continuously transmit data back to Earth about the land, seas,
and atmosphere.
Part 4 focuses on individual topics in geospatial technology that combine
GIS and remote sensing themes and applications.
a Chapter 13, “Digital Landscaping,” describes how geospatial technologies
model and handle terrain and topographic features. Being able to set up
realistic terrain, landscape features, and surfaces is essential in mapping
and planning.
a Chapter 14, “See the World in 3D,” delves into the realm of 3D modeling,
shows how geospatial technologies create three-dimensional structures
and objects, and then explains how to view or interact with them in
programs like Google Earth.
a Chapter 15, “What’s Next for Geospatial Technology?,” wraps things up
with a look at some recent developments in geospatial technologies as
well as a look ahead to the future of the field.
Geospatial Lab Applications
Each chapter of Introduction to Geospatial Technologies covers one aspect of
geospatial technology with an accompanying Geospatial Lab Application.
Each lab application uses freely available software that can be downloaded
from the Internet. These software packages include:
a ArcExplorer Java Edition for Educators (AEJEE)
a ArcGIS Explorer
a Google Earth
a Google SketchUp
a MapCruncher
a MICRODEM
a MultiSpec
a NASA World Wind
a Trimble Planning Software
The four chapters in Part 2 (Geographic Information Systems) offer two
versions of the lab application. Instructors can choose to use either the free
AEJEE or the desktop version of ArcGIS 10.
The labs provide hands-on application of the concepts and theories covered in each chapter. Clearly, it’s one thing to read about how 3D structures
can be created and placed into Google Earth, but it’s another thing entirely to
use Google SketchUp and Google Earth to do exactly that.
Each lab application has integrated questions that students must answer
while working through the lab. These questions are designed to explore the
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