Chapter Wrapup

So this is it, the end of the last chapter. Over these fifteen chapters, we’ve looked at many aspects of geospatial technologies, both from the theoretical side and also from working hands-on with various aspects of the technologies themselves. The geospatial world has changed a lot in the last few years (remember, Google Earth only debuted back in 2005), and it’s going to keep changing. See the Apps, Blogs, and Social Media box for a mobile app for ArcGIS Online, as well as several blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and YouTube videos related to this chapter’s look at some of the people and groups out on the frontiers of geospatial technologies.

GIS, GPS, remote sensing, and all of their applications are only going to become more important in our lives, and even though many people may still not be familiar with the term “geospatial technology,” by now you’ve probably got a pretty good idea of what it is and what it can do.

There’s still one last Geospatial Lab Application. In Geospatial Lab Application 15.1 you’ll be using Esri’s ArcGIS Explorer program to examine a variety of geospatial applications as a “summary” of what we’ve been looking at for 15 chapters, as well as working with several kinds of basemaps served to you from the cloud.

Important note: The references for this chapter are part of the online companion for this book and can be found at http://www.whfreeman.com/shellito2e.

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Apps, Blogs, and Social Media

Here’s a sampling of available apps for your mobile device (note that some apps are for Android, some are for Apple iOS, and some may be available for both), as well as some blogs and social media outlets related to this chapter’s concepts.

A representative app for use on your phone or tablet:

  • ArcGIS: A mobile app version of ArcGIS, which allows access to many features of ArcGIS Online

For further up-to-date info, read up on these blogs:

  • AmericaView Blog (the latest news and geospatial applications from the members of AmericaView): http://blog.americaview.org
  • ArcGIS Resources—ArcGIS Online Category (blog posts concerning topics related to working with ArcGIS Online resources): http://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/category/arcgis-online
  • Digital Geography (a blog about geospatial technology usage in the classroom): http://www.digitalgeography.co.uk
  • Esri Applications Prototype Lab (a blog for new developments coming out of Esri): http://blogs.esri.com/esri/apl
  • Google GeoDevelopers Blog (a blog dealing with new developments and applications of Google’s geospatial tools): http://googlegeodevelopers.blogspot.com
  • SATELLITES K-12 Blog (a blog concerning the SATELLITES education program): http://satellitesk12.org/?cat=10
  • Spatial Reserves (a blog about publically available geospatial data): http://spatialreserves.wordpress.com

On Facebook, check out the following:

  • Esri Developer Network: http://www.facebook.com/ESRIDeveloperNetwork
  • The GLOBE Program: http://www.facebook.com/TheGLOBEProgram

Become a follower on Twitter of:

  • AAG: @theAAG
  • ASPRS: @ASPRSorg
  • ExGeospatial (National Geospatial Technology Extension Network): @eXGeospatial
  • GeoCloud (news about geospatial cloud computing): @geocloud
  • GeoTechCenter: @GeoTechCenter
  • GIS Day: @gisday
  • Joseph Kerski (geospatial educational news from Esri’s Education program): @josephkerski
  • NCGE: @NCGE1915
  • Open Geospatial Consortium: @opengeospatial
  • The Globe Program: @GLOBEProgram
  • The National Map: @USGSTNM
  • URISA: @URISA

On YouTube, watch the videos of the following:

  • GIS Education (an Esri YouTube channel devoted to educational concepts using GIS): http://www.youtube.com/user/ESRIEdTeam
  • The GLOBE Program (The GLOBE Program’s YouTube channel featuring several videos of students’ and teachers’ research): http://www.youtube.com/user/globeprogram
  • Geographyuberalles (a YouTube channel featuring all types of GIS and geographic videos): http://www.youtube.com/user/geographyuberalles

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