THE GeoPad PROJECT: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN FIELD SCIENCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Since 2001 the GeoPad Project has explored the use of information technology in improving field geology education and research. Our efforts have focused on hardware and software that augments and enhances such activities through improved capabilities for data collection, analysis, and interpretation, all while still in the real-world context in which data is being collected. We have found that Tablet PCs and Pocket PCs (with integrated GPS and networking) combined with GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS), electronic note-taking software (e.g., Microsoft OneNote), a wide variety of typical applications (e.g., Adobe Reader, Word, Excel, iTunes, Skype, etc.), and specialized geologic software (e.g., Stereonet), afford readily-available, off-the-shelf solutions for providing such capabilities. This presentation describes our approaches and experiences, and offers a selection of best-practices for configurations appropriate to the goals and constraints of a variety of field geology education and research activities.