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This chapter’s Geospatial Lab Application will introduce you to some basic
concepts of geospatial technology through the use of the Google Earth software program. This lab also provides an introduction on how to use Google
Earth and will help familiarize you with many of its features. Although the
Geospatial Lab Applications in later chapters will use a variety of software
packages, you’ll also be using Google Earth in many of them. The investigations in this introductory lab may seem pretty basic, but labs in later chapters
will be more in-depth and build on concepts learned here.
Objectives
The goals for you to take away from this lab are:
a Familiarizing yourself with the Google Earth (GE) environment and basic
functionality and navigation using the software.
a Using different GE layers and features.
Obtaining Software
Google Earth (the current version, 6.0) is available for free download at
http://earth.google.com.
Important note: Software and online resources sometimes change fast.
This lab was designed with the most recently available version of the software at the time of writing. However, if the software or Websites have significantly changed between then and now, an updated version of this lab (using
the newest versions) is available online at http://www.whfreeman.com/
shellito1e.
Lab Data
There is no data to copy in this lab. All data comes as part of the GE data
that is installed with the software or is streamed across the Internet when
using GE.
Localizing This Lab
Although this lab visits popular locations in a tour around South Dakota, the
techniques it uses can be easily adapted to any locale. Rather than using GE
imagery and features of South Dakota, find nearby landmarks or popular
spots and use GE to tour around your local area.
1.1 Geospatial Lab Application
Introduction to Geospatial Concepts
and Google Earth
This chapter’s Geospatial Lab Application will introduce you to some basic
concepts of geospatial technology through the use of the Google Earth software program. This lab also provides an introduction on how to use Google
Earth and will help familiarize you with many of its features. Although the
Geospatial Lab Applications in later chapters will use a variety of software
packages, you’ll also be using Google Earth in many of them. The investigations in this introductory lab may seem pretty basic, but labs in later chapters
will be more in-depth and build on concepts learned here.
Objectives
The goals for you to take away from this lab are:
a Familiarizing yourself with the Google Earth (GE) environment and basic
functionality and navigation using the software.
a Using different GE layers and features.
Obtaining Software
Google Earth (the current version, 6.0) is available for free download at
http://earth.google.com.
Important note: Software and online resources sometimes change fast.
This lab was designed with the most recently available version of the software at the time of writing. However, if the software or Websites have significantly changed between then and now, an updated version of this lab (using
the newest versions) is available online at http://www.whfreeman.com/
shellito1e.
Lab Data
There is no data to copy in this lab. All data comes as part of the GE data
that is installed with the software or is streamed across the Internet when
using GE.
Localizing This Lab
Although this lab visits popular locations in a tour around South Dakota, the
techniques it uses can be easily adapted to any locale. Rather than using GE
imagery and features of South Dakota, find nearby landmarks or popular
spots and use GE to tour around your local area.
1.1 Geospatial Lab Application
Introduction to Geospatial Concepts
and Google Earth