VISIT offers a variety of geospatial software tools and learning alternatives for teachers, scientists and students who conduct VISIT investigations and explorations. Most of the software packages are available free to educators and scientists. You can choose to follow one or more of the GIS Tools and Learning paths in VISIT in order to acquire and install the software, learn basic GIS concepts, and operate the software, and use the software tools to conduct investigations and explorations.

VISIT GIS learning resources are organized into three paths:

• Resources in Learning Sequences – GIS learning materials and tools are organized by levels of complexity from introduction to intermediate and to application;

• Resources by Software - GIS learning materials and tools are organized by software packages; and

• Resources on Web – Links and jumps to other GIS learning materials and tools available on Web sites by other research and educational institutions.

Modules

Where to get

Which VISIT Investigation Topics Use It

Basic Mapping Skills (quick start)

VISIT Web page

1. Create a black and white county outline map of Michigan; 2. Create a chloropleth map of Michigan; 3. Create a chloropleth map of Michigan with multiple layers.

Mainly used for learning GIS

Basic GIS Skills with ArcView

VISIT Web page

1. Make Thematic Maps with ArcView GIS; 2. Normalize Census Data: Concepts and Roadmap; 3. Join Tables of Data; 4. Create a map from X,Y coordinate data; 5. Create data for use in ArcView; 6. Make and Map a Simple Table

Mainly used for learning GIS

GIS Fundamentals

VISIT Collaboratory – Intro to GIS Course

Examine basic concepts and techniques of GIS; develop technical skills for conducting spatial data mining and analysis needed to support VISIT investigations.

Mainly used for learning GIS; build a base map for your VISIT investigations

Applying GIS in Water Quality investigations

VISIT Collaboratory – Intro to VISIT Investigations Course

Use GIS to explore relationship between dissolved oxygen concentration and water temperature and changes of spatial patterns of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in a river system. We will learn

• Use RPO DataView to extract data
• Use Excel to preprocess GIS attribute data
• Use ODBC to preprocess GIS attribute data
• Use ArcView to graph and map data

VISIT Water Quality investigations

Commonly Used GIS Techniques

VISIT Collaboratory – VISIT Course: Investigations Workshops

Procedures show how to expand GIS functions and capacities needed for conducting your GIS application projects.

• Create a GIS layer from GPS readings;
• Convert a map projection;
• Load a text or spreadsheet file as a GIS attribute table;
• Create a GIS attribute table from ODBC (open database connection);
• Register an image in GIS;
• Geo-reference or address match your customers

Mainly used to support VISIT investigations

Commonly Used GIS Data Sets and Tools

VISIT Collaboratory – VISIT Course: Investigations Workshops

Procedures show how to work with public domain data sets in GIS systems.

• TIGER Line File;
• USEPA Basins
• USGS DLG;
• USGS DRG;
• Landsat TM Images;
• USEPA EnviroMap
• USEPA CAMEO
• USEPA MarPlot
• RPO DataView
• LandView

Mainly used to support VISIT teachers’ investigations

Software

Learning Modules

Where to get these modules

Which VISIT Investigation Topics Use It

ArcVoyager

ArcVoyager Puzzles, Lessons, and Activities, selected from ESRI Schools & Libraries Program, www.esri.com/k-12. These lessons will help get you up and exploring with ArcVoyager through hands-on exercises.

ESRI Schools & Libraries CD Version 5;

VISIT Webpage

Mainly used for learning GIS

ArcView

• Basic Mapping Skills;
• Basic GIS Skills;
• Learning ArcView Free Modules on ESRI Virtual Campus (campus.esri.com)

VISIT Webpage, ESRI Webpage

Mainly used for learning GIS

MARPLOT

EPA/Landview III CD (from VISIT project)

Free from VISIT

Environmental Hazards

RPO DataViewer

How to run RPO DataViewer CD - Demo

VISIT Webpage

Water Quality

Software

Where to get it

Cost to teachers

Which VISIT Investigation Topics Use It

Web-enabled similar tools

ArcVoyager

ESRI Schools & Libraries CD Version 5

Free. Included in VISIT teachers’ packet.

Mainly used for learning GIS

ArcExplorer

ArcView

Your school or District

School or District buys site license

All

ArcExplorer

MARPLOT

EPA/Landview III CD (from VISIT project)

Free.

Environmental Hazards

EPA Enviromapper

RPO DataViewer

VISIT project – RPO CD

Free.

Water Quality

Online DataView at IGRE

Module / Site Name

URL

Which VISIT Investigation Topics Use It

Instructions for using TIGER data

Any – use for base map for your locality

ESRI Virtual Campus

Any