Integrating GIS & fieldwork for geoscience undergraduates

Anne-Marie NuttallSchool of Biological and Earth Sciences

Liverpool John Moores University

Introduction

• Two case studies:

• Level 1 fieldtrip to Arran

– First introduction to GIS

• Level 3 fieldtrip to Snowdonia

– After completing GIS/Remote Sensing

module

Benefits of using GIS at Level 1

• Initial orientation & familiarisation with field area

• day-by-day record of field sites

• overview of how sites relate to each other

• appreciation of topography & sense of scale

• interpretation of contours & gradients

• appreciation of software & GIS concepts for future use

Level 3 - Spatial modelling

• Hypothesis: glacier formation is more likely on high-elevation, north-facing slopes

• Input data: Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of Snowdonia

• Calculate all grid cells with northerly orientation and > 600 m.a.s.l.

• Overlay results on satellite image

Web resources:• Digimap (to download OS map & DEM data):

http://digimap.edina.ac.uk

• Landmap (satellite image coverage of the UK): http://www.landmap.ac.uk

• ERDAS Imagine (Image processing software): http://www.erdas.co.uk

• CHEST (university licensing for all of the above): http://www.chest.ac.uk

• National Remote Sensing Centre (purchase of satellite images): http://www.nrsc.co.uk