Digital Earth, Deeper Dive

Joseph Kerski and Steven Hick

Mapping and geotechnologies are an exciting way for you to put your interest and passion for all things about the Earth and the Environment into action in ways that are in demand in the workplace by nonprofit organizations, government agencies, academia, and private industry and incredibly relevant to our 21st Century world!

Mapping and geotechnologies are an exciting way for you to put your interest and passion for all things about the Earth and the Environment into action in ways that are in demand in the workplace by nonprofit organizations, government agencies, academia, and private industry and incredibly relevant to our 21st Century world!

All 21st Century issues—water quality, inequalities, human health, habitat loss, energy, climate, natural hazards, invasive species, and many more—take place somewhere. These issues, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are global issues that increasingly affect our everyday lives, our society, and our environment. These issues often exhibit spatial patterns that can be mapped and analyzed and require the analysis of data in the form of 2D and 3D maps, aircraft and satellite imagery, real time data feeds from the Internet of Things, and much more. We have a dynamic planet with natural forces shaping what is on, under, and above the surface, along with 8 billion humans as change agents, and thus key to understanding our world as it was, is, and should be in the future is mapping and analyzing change over space and time!

In this course, through a series of readings, videos, and hands-on exercises covering a variety of social and environmental themes, issues, and scales, you will learn the fundamentals of exciting and dynamic mapping tools, including projections, symbology, classification, and analysis. You will build your own web mapping applications such as dashboards and multimedia story maps. You will collect and map your own field data. You will gain skills and confidence to empower you to be able to use maps as analytical tools to build a brighter, more sustainable, more resilient tomorrow!

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Learning objective

The purpose of this course is to continue the foundation gained in the digital earth coruse for your successful use of mapping tools by introducing you to the ways that digital maps from gis can be created, symbolized, and used in visualizations to solve problems and serve as communication tools to address key 21st century issues. through this course, you will gain fundamental skills in problem solving through spatial analysis through hands-on work. but equally importantly, you will gain understanding of the technological and societal implications that these tools have on 21st century society and how you can chart your own pathway forward using these tools and perspectives.

Syllabus

This 10-Module course, designed for both audit and verified tracks, offers a comprehensive online, asynchronous learning experience.

Each module includes:

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Digital Earth, Deeper Dive with these activities:

Participate in Peer Review Sessions

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Foster a sense of community and encourage critical thinking by engaging students in peer review of assignments and projects.

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Form small groups with classmates.
Share work-in-progress or completed assignments for feedback and constructive criticism.
Provide constructive feedback to peers, focusing on strengths and areas for improvement.

Read 'The Map and the Territory'

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Provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamental concepts and history of mapping, helping to build a strong foundation for the course.

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Read chapters 1-5 to gain an understanding of the basic principles of mapping and their historical evolution.
Analyze the author's perspectives on the relationship between maps and reality.

Practice Spatial Analysis Exercises

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Reinforce understanding of spatial analysis techniques through repetitive exercises, improving accuracy and efficiency in data interpretation.

Browse courses on Spatial Analysis

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Obtain datasets related to course topics, such as population distribution or environmental data.
Perform spatial analysis tasks, such as buffer analysis, overlay analysis, or hot spot analysis.

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Complete QGIS Tutorials

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Provide hands-on experience with QGIS, a leading open-source GIS software, reinforcing practical skills covered in the course.

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Follow the official QGIS tutorials to become familiar with the software's interface and basic functionality.
Complete additional tutorials on specific topics relevant to the course, such as data visualization or spatial analysis.

Develop a Web Mapping Application

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Challenge students to apply their knowledge by creating a web mapping application, fostering problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

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Design the application's purpose, target audience, and key features.
Choose appropriate data sources and prepare them for use in the application.
Use a mapping library or framework to develop the interactive map component.

Prepare a Policy Brief on a Geospatial Issue

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Integrate course knowledge with real-world applications by requiring students to analyze geospatial data and develop policy recommendations.

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Identify a geospatial issue relevant to a specific policy area, such as land use planning or environmental management.
Collect and analyze geospatial data to support the analysis.
Develop policy recommendations based on the analysis and present them in a concise and compelling manner.