Integrating Virtual Globe Research Applications into the Educational Curriculum

Recently Virtual Globes, for example Google Earth, have become a popular tool for visualizing scientific data. Stretching the capabilities of these tools, beyond the limits for which they were initially designed, we at the University of Alaska have improved our research and decision support capabilities. For volcanic ash plume visualization, we have transformed modeled results into their true four dimensional form incorporating spatio-temporal components.

The University of Alaska ventured into its first accredited course on “Exploring the Virtual Earth” in 2008. This class provided students with the opportunity to explore the world around us through the use of Virtual Globes and other Web 2.0 technologies.

The Alaska Summer Research Academy helped to extend this educational experience to the high school students across the nation, aiming for earning early pre-college credits, through a two week course on Earth and Space Sciences. One aspect of the course entailed campus aerial photography using a digital camera mounted on two helium filled balloons, which the students had a chance to drape over three dimensional building maps they generated using free Google Sketchup to create a virtual campus fly through.

Our experience shows that hands-on exercises using virtual globes are an effective means for enthusing students, and enhancing their geospatial understanding and skills.

URL for Volcanic Ash: http://puff.images.alaska.edu

URL for Virtual Earth Class: http://earth.images.alaska.edu/geog493/

URL for Alaska Summer Research Academy: http://www.uaf.edu/asra/2008/modules/earth_space_science/