Overview

Environmental OS GIS solutions for kids: The Environmental Portal is the first step in a long term Kid’s GIS program. Its a simple, web-based mapping and GIS program in the vein of Google Earth that allows kids to map, interact and learn about their environment in new and exciting ways. The program will offer many innovative avenues to engage children with GIS, a powerful tool for understanding and solving many complex real-world issues. GIS – Geographic Information Systems – is a powerful set of tools that allows us to understand a variety of interactions through a shared geographic location. A formal definition of GIS is a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS allows users to find geographic features or patterns of features, to map quantities and densities, to find what’s inside or nearby a specific area, and to map changes over time. The applications of GIS are incredibly varied, ranging from government to business to science and research to education.

All kinds of people use GIS – astronauts, engineers, marketing strategists,
politicians, site planners, developers, environmental scientists, oceanographers and many others. GIS is increasingly becoming part of our daily lives. Modern cars with built-in navigation systems and popular internet sites such as Google Earth and Mapquest rely on GIS technology. With GIS becoming an increasingly important technology in modern society, it is imperative that children be exposed to this exciting discipline earlier and more frequently in their education. The Kid’s GIS program is designed to teach kids how GIS can be used in a real world situation, allowing them to map their movements and impacts on the environment. The Kid’s GIS program should excite educators. It will provide students with useful skills and increase competencies in core curriculum areas while making learning fun. It will engage students in interesting KG projects that reflect real world situations and local issues. Because of the many facets of GIS, it provides opportunities to exercise both sides of the brain and different types of learning, from the visual and artistic (mapmaking) to the analytical and mathematical (database manipulation). It can provide an opportunity to connect with parents, grandparents and extended family, and it can encourage camaraderie among students through field work and collaboration. The Kid’s GIS program should also excite GIS professionals for a number of reasons. The program will provide opportunities to help kids learn about local communities and the environment and how spatial information systems can better serve public needs. It will also provide opportunities for sharing and critiquing spatial analysis methodologies, system designs, data structures, analytical results, advanced technologies, etc. Professionals will also be able to help empower future generations, share cool tools and technologies that they use, and expand the knowledge base of the profession. Key success factors for Kid’s GIS will be that participants have fun and are engaged with learning the required material, and whether the project will be able to continue supporting key education needs into the future. The Kid’s GIS project has multiple objectives, including: Advance knowledge and promote interest in math, science and art (the presentation of abstract and complex ideas with maps, CG and visualization)
Create fun and sustainable systems in which children can learn valuable professional skills
Create opportunities for camaraderie and team building at the local, state, regional, national, international levels Clubs and kid organizations Parent involvement (volunteer opportunities) Promote interaction between schools (at all levels) Community groups
Advancing global awareness with sister cities
Advance the OS movement and support public domain software and the exchange of non-proprietary information
Embrace alternative thought
Rewarding achievement and encouraging perseverance
Advancing environmental awareness and the stewardship of earth Positive outcomes from this program can be realized by several groups. For educators, Kid’s GIS can help to advance problem solving skills, promote increased interest and test scores in math and the earth and life sciences, increase understanding of issues surrounding environmental protection, restoration and preservation, promote collaboration and communication among k-12 schools, universities and professionals in expanding high-tech fields, provide sustainable low-cost computer programs that create high quality, reusable education material, and make learning fun! Positive outcomes for GIS professionals can include increased membership in GIS organizations and attendance at professional events, the establishment of systems that create quality (standardized and properly classified) environmental data, increased outreach and communication with communities along with better understanding of community needs, and the satisfaction of enabling young minds to help solve real world problems. Communities involved can benefit greatly from Kid’s GIS by supporting social and environmental health at the neighborhood, city, regional, state, national and global levels. Finally, everyone involved with Kid’s GIS can benefit in terms of personal growth through mentoring, clubs, conferences and team competitions.

Visit OSGeo Wiki for technical information.

Open Data Models:
ArcHydro
NHD
OGC
PNW Hydro

Open Source Software:
MGOS
MySQL
ProgreSQL
PostGIS