Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Atlas of Urban Expansion - thousands of Google Earth resources...

The Atlas of Urban Expansion has been produced by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in the USA.

As well as the main maps, text and illustrations which form part of the resource, there are also some useful GIS materials.

The site describes itself as follows:


Massive urbanization, accompanied by the rapid expansion of cities and metropolitan regions and the sprawling growth of megacities the world over, is one of the most important transformations of our planet. Much of this explosive growth has been unplanned. Cities in developing countries have been unprepared for absorbing the many millions of the rural poor that are still crowding into informal settlements. These cities are now scheduled to double their urban population in the next thirty years, and possibly triple the land area. And while in industrialized countries the great transformation into an urban society is largely completed, there are growing concerns about continuing low-density sprawl and its deleterious environmental consequences - the effects on carbon emissions, energy use, and the loss of prime agricultural lands. Urban expansion, in short, is now a global concern.
The Atlas of Urban Expansion provides the geographic and quantitative dimensions of urban expansion and its key attributes in cities the world over. The data and images are available for free downloading, for scholars, public officials, planners, those engaged in international development, and concerned citizens. The global empirical evidence presented here is critical for an intelligent discussion of plans and policies to manage urban expansion everywhere.
One particularly important element of the resource is the area of FREE GIS DOWNLOADS.
These are files in various formats, including ESRI Shapefiles which have been zipped up. There are maps and other resources which relate to a total of over 100 cities around the world.
There is also a section of GOOGLE EARTH materials which would be of use to anyone exploring urban areas, with data on over 3000 cities !

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Noel's Sketch-Up tricks...

A new post on Digital Geography from Noel Jenkins...

Great ideas for simplifying the use of Sketch-Up models in the classroom.


Saturday, December 08, 2012

Google Mapping news

An interesting Guardian article about the efforts of Google to update their maps.
Some useful links here too, including this image.


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Ocean Acidification Tour

A useful GOOGLE EARTH TOUR which explores the issue of ocean acidification, something which I have been involved with writing about for the Digital Explorer website (see other recent posts)



It was created and shared at a recent conference.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

GA Google Earth courses repeated...


The Google Earth and beyond courses that I have been running for the GA are to be repeated next year.
For full details visit the GA website.

The dates are:

Birmingham - Thursday 23 May 2013
London - Thursday 20 June 2013


They will feature a larger dollop of ArcGIS Explorer Online as I am going to be doing some work with ESRI UK in the next few months.

There is also going to be more integration with GE Graph as I've had a chance to develop that a little further since the first iteration of the courses....

Book now to secure a place...

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Google Earth 7

On Monday, up in Aberdeen, I led a number of Google Earth training sessions for teachers from across the NE region. One of the things that I said was that Google Earth regularly update their software and add new features. I suggested signing up to the Google Sightseer Newsletter.

Thanks to Rich Allaway for the first tip-off to the fact that we are now at Google Earth 7.

New features and new imagery....
More resources from my Aberdeen session will appear here shortly...

Thursday, October 11, 2012

SkyFall Google Maps promotional game...


This is the trailer for a nice interactive game. It involves looking at Google Earth place marks and other sources to find the answers to clues. It's intended as a tourist promotion, but it's nicely done...

Go HERE to sign up as an agent and try your luck... Can you beat AGENT PARKINSON....



Thanks to 'Miss Moneypenny' at the GA for the tipoff...

Aberdeen Google Earth Day

As well as the GA course on Google Earth and Free GIS that I am leading in London on the 25th, I shall be running two sessions in Aberdeen on the 29th of October
These are on Free GIS in the classroom, and the context for them is the arrival of new qualifications for schools in Scotland called National 5.

I'll be showing some opportunities for using some free GIS tools, and also showing the Digimap for Schools resources that I produced.
It follows on from the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers conference, where I will be leading a workshop which looks at the materials that I produced for using Digimap for Schools.

The context for my workshop at SAGT is the Disney-Pixar film 'BRAVE' which obviously has a strong connection with Scotland, and also with its landscape.


The materials will be able to download after the event...

Google Imagery Update

Thanks to the GA for the link to details of a major Google Street View / Maps update....

Today we’re making our Street View coverage more comprehensive than ever before by launching our biggest ever update--doubling our number of special collections and updating over 250,000 miles of roads around the world

We’re increasing Street View coverage in Macau, Singapore, Sweden, the U.S., Thailand, Taiwan, Italy, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway and Canada. And we’re launching special collections in South Africa, Japan, Spain, France, Brazil and Mexico, among others. 

You can explore our many new places directly in Google Maps, including parks, city centers, castles and tourist attractions like Catherine Palace and Ferapontov monastery in Russia, theChiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taiwan, or Stanley Park in Vancouver. You can even walk through the urban jungle of Singapore's Fort Canning Park, without ever leaving home. 

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

GA CPD Course: Google Earth and beyond

A chance to explore some of the free GIS tools that are out there....

Join me in London on the 25th of October.



GIS is a requirement from KS3 upwards and many schools are looking for ideas and guidance on which software to use and how to embed it within the curriculum.
This practical course, with some short theory sessions, will give you several options for working with geographical information to explore patterns, tell stories, investigate change and help students to geo-locate data.
A short piece of Mission:Explore-style experiential fieldwork will also form part of the day, which will provide opportunities to map data collected in the field. There will also be a chance to consider how mobile devices can be used to facilitate learning.
You will leave with a pack of useful materials and access to an extensive folder of materials online. 
Ongoing support will be provided via a blog - this blog....


Delegate reviews of similar courses

'Great hands-on and practical course, perfect to get started.'
'Very informative with lots of ideas'

Prices

Registration fees include all course materials, refreshments and lunch.
London
GA Personal/Group/Concessionary Member: £180
New Member Package*: £279
Non-member: £300
*Includes course fee and one year's GA membership for your school.


Aims and outcomes

  • Update your knowledge of latest GIS and visualisation resources, including free software and web tools as well as GIS on mobile devices
  • Introduce some advanced ideas for using Google Earth for classroom and fieldwork activities
  • Introduce ArcGIS Explorer Online as a tool for visualising data and telling stories
  • Provide opportunities to trial some subscription GIS services including Digimap for Schools
  • Explore ways of embedding GIS within the curriculum


Course programme

You should bring your own laptop and some preparation will be required before the course to ensure that particular pieces of software are installed and that free accounts have been created - further information will be provided nearer the time.
09.00-09.30: Coffee and registration
09.30-11.00: Practical Session 1 - The difference between GIS and Visualisation
  • Google Earth - the killer app for geography teachers
11.00-11.15: Refreshment break
11.15-12.45: Practical Session 2 - Going beyond Google Earth
  • Activities involving a short field trip and the use of mobile devices
12.45-13.30: Lunch
13.30-15.30: Practical Session 3: Embedding GIS in the curriculum
  • ArcGIS Explorer Online - mapping earthquake data, and sourcing data online
  • Ideas for future fieldwork back in school 
  • Discussion on networks and further support
15.30: Close

Monday, October 01, 2012

Dole Earth...

While at Dusseldorf airport a few days ago,  I ate a banana.
I noticed that it had a sticker on it.
I visited the website that was mentioned and discovered a rather fine resource for geography teachers which could also make a good cross-curricular MFL project in schools where German is used as a language. Just remember to turn off the browser translation settings...

Dole Earth takes you to the farms where the bananas are grown.
My banana was grown on farm number 10265 so in the absence of a banana, use that code.
Some good GOOGLE EARTH / Street View type resources to explore

Visit the website and you'll find a rather nice farm tour with ambient sounds and plenty of useful information.


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

ICT Toolkit books

Preparing some resources for the course on Geomedia in Salzburg that I am leading next week.

You still have chance to get funding to join me for a repeat of the course in February 2013, and the course is likely to run several times during 2013 - I'd love to see lots of you there... you can get your fees, accommodation and travel paid for.

I'm going to be using several activities from two books which I edited, and were published in April this year.

You really need to have a copy of these books in your departmental library.
They have been selling well, and getting good feedback from users.
You can order them from the GA shop - click to follow the link, and remember that GA members get a discount on purchases, and free P&P

Multimedia made Easy by Paul Cornish

GIS made Easy by Bob Lang

Plenty of Google Earth ideas in both books !!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Google GA CPD Courses 2012-13

The latest GA courses for the new academic year have now been published and are on the GA WEBSITE.

The courses in red are the ones I am leading. Look forward to seeing some of you there...

You can download further information and a course flyer from the links. Feel free to use these with colleagues.

Leading urban fieldwork

For primary teachers and geography subject leaders
London - Tuesday 16 October 2012
Manchester - Monday 22 October 2012
Price: From £150

Primary geography for the non-specialist

For non-specialist primary teachers, including those who may be taking on the subject responsibility within their school
Birmingham - Wednesday 17 October 2012
London - Wednesday 7 November 2012
Price: From £150

Leading a successful geography department

For current and aspiring secondary geography subject leaders
Birmingham - Thursday 18 October 2012
London - Friday 19 October 2012
Price: From £160

Google Earth and beyond: free online GIS

For secondary geography teachers
Leeds - Thursday 18 October 2012
London - Thursday 25 October 2012
Price: From £160

Planning for Ofsted with the Quality Mark Self Evaluation Form

For secondary and post-16 geography teachers and subject leaders
London - Tuesday 23 October 2012
Birmingham - Friday 30 November 2012
Price: From £160

NQT Conference: Making a difference in the classroom

For secondary geography NQTs
York - Thursday 8 November 2012
London - Thursday 15 November 2012
Price: From £160

Outstanding teaching and learning in primary geography

For primary teachers and subject co-ordinators
Manchester - Monday 28 January 2013
York - Monday 4 March 2013
London - Friday 15 March 2013
Price: From £150

Managing safe and effective fieldwork for IGCSE geography

For secondary geography teachers involved in delivering the new IGCSE
Leeds - Monday 4 February 2013
London - Tuesday 5 February 2013
Price: From £160

Being Ofsted ready with the PGQM

For primary geography subject leaders, middle leaders and head teachers
London - Tuesday 5 March 2013
Nottingham - Monday 11 March 2013
Price: From £150

Fieldwork and new technologies

For post-16 geography teachers
Birmingham - Thursday 7 March 2013
London - Thursday 14 March 2013
Price: From £160

    Leading through primary geography

    For primary teachers and geography subject leaders
    Birmingham - Friday 3 May 2013
    London - Wednesday 15 May 2013
    Price: From £150

    Tuesday, August 14, 2012

    Google GeoTeacher Institute 5 of 5

    Just realised I never posted this at the time... sorry about that :)


    The final of five posts to sum up my recent experience at the Google GeoTeachers Institute in Dublin.

    The London Google GeoTeacher Institute made a little more of the extra projects that Google is involved in related to education. Since the event there have been the announcements of the new Chromebook, and the Nexus 7 tablet, which would both be of interest to educators.

    There are various projects linked to Google Earth which you may find useful. The Google Outreach team are active in a lot of places - they were recently at Rio+20.

    Using Google Apps ?

    The GOOGLE APPS TRAINING CENTRE has a range of resources, which will be useful for anyone thinking of using these with colleagues.

    Google WORLD WONDERS is worth a repeat mention - I will be doing a quick introduction to this at a Teachmeet in Cambridge in a few weeks time. Perhaps see some of you there...
    I showed this yesterday at a CPD event too. More materials are due to be added.

    Richard Allaway has provided some links to some of the resources on Geography all the Way that he has produced that link to the use of Google Earth.

    Google Search Training
    Google are putting on training during this summer on how to search for information. Many people don't use the advanced search.
    Some resources on searching here.

    You can sign up for the GOOGLE POWER SEARCHING academy. Register before the first course on the 10th of July. There are 6, 50 minutes sessions online, and a certificate is available for successful completion of the associated tasks...

    Thanks once again to the Google Education team for organising the event, and I hope that there is continued support for UK Geographers.... 

    Olympics Teaching Idea

    Richard Treves has shared a nice idea for keeping that Olympic/Paralympic spirit alive when you return to school...
    It's an idea for using the Touring and Historical slider features of Google Earth to explore the Olympic Park.
    Check it out HERE.
    One to consider for the first few weeks back and Geography 'Boot camp' skills activities before getting stuck into the meat of the curriculum that you have planned...
    It's perhaps not too early to start thinking about future major sporting events which might gain from a post-Olympics interest in such things...
    How about:

    Saturday, June 23, 2012

    Google Geo Teacher Institute - 4 of 5

    The second day of the Google Geo Teacher Institute in Dublin was themed around Google SketchUp. Except it's no longer owned by Google, but by Trimble.
    Google SketchUp is something that I explored when it first launched, and then couldn't see the real 'killer application' for it in the classroom in the same way as I did with Google Earth.

    Noel Jenkins made some early use of Sketch-Up models when it first launched to 'place' wind turbines in the locations where they would be placed, so that their impact could be visualised.

    Sketch-Up is a FREE download.
    It enables the production of 3D objects which can then be located and viewed in Google Earth. Here's how one looks in the landscape:

    I discovered that there was a model in the warehouse of a distinctive landmark which I pass regularly: the large Ecotricity wind-turbine in Swaffham, Norfolk which provides power for hundreds of homes in the town.

    We were lucky to have Beryl Reid presenting, who had been involved in a project where she modelled many of the buildings in her town of Billerica (not Billericay)

    We were shown some videos, some of which are available from the links here, or the official YouTube SketchUp Channel...

    How did Beryl get her buildings to look so life-like ?
    She used a technique called Geo-Modelling.
    This involves 'placing' models in the landscape where they are actually located, and then adding realistic photo-textures from Google Street View.

    A few final links on SketchUp
    The 3D Warehouse, from where I got the wind turbine model.


    A post from David Rogers on using it a while back.

    Finally, if you teach in Ireland, you have a free SketchUp PRO license to use. There's also one that's been purchased for CAMBRIDGESHIRE for example... Here's the person to get in touch with if you want to access that...

    Tour de France 2012

    The greatest sporting event in the world starts at the end of the month and goes on until the end of July: The Tour de France.


    Cycling the Alps has produced 3D tours of each of the stages of the race, which are rather nice.


    The tours can also be embedded into a blog post as below - press the play button...




    As with so many map related posts, I'm grateful to Keir Clarke for the original tip-off.

    Friday, June 22, 2012

    Google Geo Teachers Institute - 3 of 5

    We had a break out session on the use of KML, which was also referred to in some of the other sessions.

    KML is Keyhole Markup Language - the name goes back to the software which Google bought, which became Google Earth.
    The basic idea of the language is that it uses tags, which define what particular commands or text 'look like'.These can be used to adapt the resources that are used with Google Earth.

    This means that the contents of a Google Earth placemark, for example, can be customised, and data visualised in different ways. This is relatively easy to do.

    Jamie Buchanan Dunlop shared a link to a really useful PDF download of some of the key shortcuts.

    We also explored how to import data into Google Earth from a GPS handset. Garmin devices had been used to explore St. Stephen's Green, and some tracks produced.
    Some further notes are here.

    Following the event, I purchased a Kindle copy of a handbook for how to use KML, which is on my iPad.
    I'll let you know how I get on with it....

    After the first day of the Google GeoTeacher Institute I had a quick snooze (the 3.15 start had taken it out of me) then into town for a walk through some of the famous Dublin streets, and a few pints of Guinness.... 

    Thursday, June 21, 2012

    Tales from the Riverbank

    I spent a few days last month cycling up and down towpaths alongside the Leeds - Liverpool canal for a project. I passed by many interesting landmarks, and under many bridges. I saw locks, milestones, weirs, bluebells, fishermen, boat builders, nature reserves, swing bridges for cows and old mills.

    This Guardian article describes how Google are now moving on from mapping the roads with Street View to mapping the country's towpaths, rivers and canals.

    Image: Alan Parkinson

    Michael McIntyre on Google Earth

    With thanks to Richard Allaway for the tipoff...

    Wednesday, June 20, 2012

    Google Geo Teachers Institute - 2 of 5

    The first day of the Geo Teachers Institute was focussed on Google Maps and GOOGLE EARTH.
    We are now on version 6.2 of Google Earth, which has come a long way since the earlier versions. Make sure that you have an up to date version from here.
    I've previously blogged about the video materials that were made available related to Google Earth.

    We heard in person from Jerome Burg who created the idea of GOOGLE LIT TRIPS. These are essentially study guides to accompany books, where the locations or journey in a book have been turned into place marks. The place marks contain descriptions, or questions, or activities, or supplementary information. This is an idea that could be used in schools, although I am cautious of the potential copyright implications here ?
    Check the website for files for a range of books, and advice on how to use the website on an iPad - perhaps 'in location'.

    There is a new look to the GOOGLE EARTH OUTREACH page. It's worth visiting if you haven't been for a while. There is plenty here to borrow and use, with new support areas.

    Also this collaborative GOOGLE DOC has 26 ideas for using Google Earth in the classroom - I contributed a few of them.

    Also check out a series of useful videos made by Richard Treves, who presented in London, and is also involved in a UCL funded project looking at using Google Earth to teach undergraduates.

    There was a quick tour through points, lines, polygons and tours, but I would have liked to see more of a connection during the day with the teaching of geography, geographical enquiry, and the link with concepts of place, space, scale etc. There was also a little too much emphasis on using the technology inside, rather than using it outside. 


    Also the KEYHOLE BULLETIN BOARD, which hosted many hundreds of thousands of
    The NEW FORUMS or GEC (Google Earth Community) that replaced it don't seem to have the same 'atmosphere' to them - it's all a bit 'corporate' now, and very hard to see what's been added recently and how popular particular postings are.
    Perhaps one of the best areas is that where moderators have 'selected' some of the best content. This sort of curation works if the people doing the selecting have good taste of course, and are successful in selecting appropriately for a wide range of audiences... Check the MODERATED area of the Forum. I had a quick look, and discovered some useful glaciation files...

    Finally, here's a Google Earth challenge for you.
    Thomas de Bruin created an alphabet around the Netherlands.
    Why not find and create your own ?
    You don't have to find all 26 letters, just start by trying to find three or four, and develop it from there...

    In the next post, some information on KML... (not the Dutch airline)

    Google Geo Teachers Institute - 1 of 5

    This is the first of several posts summarising the learning at the first of two European GeoTeacher Institutes for Summer 2012.
    I was invited along by Jamie Buchanan Dunlop, who had helped to facilitate the events.
    The venue was Google's Dublin offices, and my hotel was fortuitously situated about 50 yards away. It was a 3.15am start to get to the airport and check in for my flight to Dublin, which was nicely empty, then out of Dublin Airport, and onto the 747 bus to the city centre... out at the portside area, and a swift walk to the offices, arriving ten minutes before nine, when the event was due to start.

    I settled into my seat for two days of sessions to develop my knowledge of Google Education projects and products.

    A GOOGLE SITE had been set up for the people who were attending the event, and contains a series of links to useful resources.

    Here's a picture of me talking about the Google World Wonders project on day two - as previously blogged about.
    Thanks to John Bailey for the image.


    More posts to come over the next few days...
    The London event started today.

    Friday, June 15, 2012

    200 towns

    Thanks to Keir Clarke for tipoff to another useful site which merges a range of different media.

    200 Towns allows you to explore 200 towns.


    A useful new 'Perspective on British Landscape' ?

    Sunday, June 10, 2012

    Google GeoTeachers Institute

    I shall be in Dublin on Wednesday and Thursday this week to attend the Google GeoTeachers Institute. This will be an interesting event, given my long-term association with using Google Earth and other associated 'products' as a teacher and educator.


    This goes back to the launch of Google Earth over six years ago. At the time, I got in touch with Google expressing my interest in developing materials, and they gave me a free year's license for the PRO version at the time to explore and play with, and also was successful in being awarded an Innovative Teaching award by the Royal Geographical Society to develop a users guide for Google Earth. I also started this blog at the same time, so it has been going for nearly six years as well.

    Over the years since, I've been involved in a range of projects involving Google Earth, including the recent ICT Toolkit books which I edited for the GA, and the continuing work with teachers in my role at the GA, and now as a freelance geographer.
    I also produced some resources for the newly launched Google World Wonders project.

    Google Earth is still being developed and expanded all the time, and it is still a tool that teachers want to use.
    In fact I've got an event in October in my diary when I'm going to be using it with the teachers of Aberdeen and surrounding area.

    I'll be interested in hearing about a potential response to Apple's decision to have its own mapping.
    Also interested in hearing about Street View Trekker, which is able to be carried into places that cars and trikes can't reach.

    If you're coming along to the event too, come and say hi.

    Monday, May 07, 2012

    Historical Shoreline Surveys

    Coastal erosion is a theme which many teachers use Google Earth to explore, thanks perhaps to work by Bob Lang looking at the Holderness coast.
    For more on that, you can check out the book 'GIS made Easy' that I edited. It contains all the details of an activity using Google Earth to measure coastal erosion and plan for the consequences in the future.




    Now, NOAA has released thousands of old coastal surveys of the USA, which can be viewed overlain on Google Earth, and the historical time slider allows changes in the coastline to be viewed.

    Monday, April 16, 2012

    Google GeoTeachers Institute

    I had a chat with Ed Parsons a year ago in Reading about doing something else for geography teachers with the tools that Google produce than their existing support.
    I haven't heard anything else since, but just picked up on this opportunity for geography teachers.


    Make sure that you apply using the online application form HERE

    Events are taking place in Dublin and London in June.

    Saturday, April 07, 2012

    Street View on the Swiss Railways...

    As part of a new Google project you can now experience what it is like to ride on the scenic Swiss Railways.


    Friday, April 06, 2012

    An opportunity...

    Contact Jamie if this sounds like you... mention my name :)


    Wednesday, February 29, 2012

    We made it....

    Will be happening...

    Thanks everyone for your support....

    Final chance to fund MISSION EXPLORE FOOD

    Please 'pre-order' a copy by supporting the production of MISSION EXPLORE FOOD.
    This is the FINAL DAY to fund us.
    If we don't get just over a thousand pounds by 11 tonight we don't get the funding to make what will be a superb book for young and old alike...

    Tuesday, February 28, 2012

    Spreadsheet Data in Google Earth...

    Thanks to Karl Donert of digitalearth for posting about a new tool called SPREADSHEET MAPPER 2.0 from Google.
    This allows the creation of maps using Google Earth....

    A guide to how to use it here...


    Monday, February 20, 2012

    9 Eyes

    A Google Street View project by Jon Rafman.
    He has searched through the many images on Street View to identify some of the strange ones....

    Google Street View has a range of wonderful images of course - for example, here's one of the greatest views in the UK...
    I need to go back there this year if I can... The view from the top looking back is pretty good too...


    View Larger Map

    Monday, February 13, 2012

    Create a State of Chaos

    I like this little mash-up which I've seen before, but @dughall reminded me of it.
    Put in your postcode and watch a robot descend on it, and create chaos...
    Sadly Google Maps doesn't think my house is where it is, so it blows up a block of sheltered housing for the elderly instead... not very charitable...