1
Part 1 Geospatial Data and GPS
It’s a Geospatial World Out There
An Introduction to Geospatial Technology, Geospatial Data,
Geospatial Jobs, and Google Earth
1
Have you ever done any of the following?
a Used an online mapping service like MapQuest, Google Maps, or Bing
Maps to find directions (and the best route) to a destination or to print a
map of an area?
a Used an in-car navigation system (like a device from companies like
Garmin, Magellan, or Tom-Tom) to navigate to or from a destination?
a Used a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver while hiking, jogging,
hunting, fishing, golfing, or geocaching?
a Used an online resource to find a map of your neighborhood, compare
nearby housing values, or to see where your property line ends and your
neighbor’s begins?
a Used a virtual globe program (like Google Earth) or an online map to look
at photos or images of your home, street, school, or workplace?
If so, then congratulations—you’ve used geospatial technology applications. Anytime you’re using any sort of technology-assisted information concerning maps, locations, directions, imagery, or analysis, you’re putting this
concept to use. Geospatial technology has become extremely widespread in
society with a multitude of uses in both the private and public sectors. However, more often than not, if you tell someone you’re using geospatial technology, you’ll be asked “what’s that?”
What Is Geospatial Technology?
Although geospatial technology is being used in numerous fields today, the
term “geospatial technology” doesn’t appear to have penetrated into everyday
usage, despite the prevalence of the technology itself. Words like “satellite
Part 1 Geospatial Data and GPS
It’s a Geospatial World Out There
An Introduction to Geospatial Technology, Geospatial Data,
Geospatial Jobs, and Google Earth
1
Have you ever done any of the following?
a Used an online mapping service like MapQuest, Google Maps, or Bing
Maps to find directions (and the best route) to a destination or to print a
map of an area?
a Used an in-car navigation system (like a device from companies like
Garmin, Magellan, or Tom-Tom) to navigate to or from a destination?
a Used a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver while hiking, jogging,
hunting, fishing, golfing, or geocaching?
a Used an online resource to find a map of your neighborhood, compare
nearby housing values, or to see where your property line ends and your
neighbor’s begins?
a Used a virtual globe program (like Google Earth) or an online map to look
at photos or images of your home, street, school, or workplace?
If so, then congratulations—you’ve used geospatial technology applications. Anytime you’re using any sort of technology-assisted information concerning maps, locations, directions, imagery, or analysis, you’re putting this
concept to use. Geospatial technology has become extremely widespread in
society with a multitude of uses in both the private and public sectors. However, more often than not, if you tell someone you’re using geospatial technology, you’ll be asked “what’s that?”
What Is Geospatial Technology?
Although geospatial technology is being used in numerous fields today, the
term “geospatial technology” doesn’t appear to have penetrated into everyday
usage, despite the prevalence of the technology itself. Words like “satellite