GEOSPATIAL SCIENCE: SCOPE AND APPLICATIONS
2014 STEM INSTITUTE
Dr. Rama P Mohapatra
Department of Geography
Minnesota State University, Mankato
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Participant Name:
Date: July 30, 2014
Part 1: Exploration of Google Maps
Directions:
1. Open Google Maps.
2. Explore Google Maps Interface (zooming in and zooming out).
3. Search for Minnesota State University Mankato.
4. Find out “Worlds Fair Fountain” and note the latitude and longitude of this location by
right clicking and selecting “what is here” on that location. (Latitude ------------------------ and Longitude--------------------------------)
Part 2: Exploration of Google Earth
Directions:
1. Open Google Earth.
2. Explore Google Earths Interface (zooming in and zooming out).
3. Search for Mankato, MN.
4. Zoom in to the University area and take a print screen.
Part 3: Exploration of US Census
Directions:
1. Open the US Census website by going through the following web link.
http://www.census.gov/censusexplorer/censusexplorer.html
2. Explore the Census Interface (zooming in and zooming out).
3. Zoom into the “Blue Earth County, MN” area. (You can also search for “Blue Earth
County, MN”)
4. What is the median Household Income of “Blue Earth County, MN” in 2012? --------------------------5. Which county you live in? ----------------------6. Find out the total population of your home county for the year 1990 (-------------------------) and 2000 (--------------------). Is there a change over time?
Part 4: Exploration of US River network (Streamer)
Directions:
1. Open the Streamer application by going through the following website.
http://nationalmap.gov/streamer/webApp/welcome.html
2. Explore the Streamer Interface (zooming in and zooming out).
3. Search for Mankato, MN and click on a river nearby to trace the downstream. (Think as if
you are trying to find out the route from that location to the Ocean)
4. Print a report.
Part 5: Exploration of MnTOPO
Directions:
1. Open the MnTOPO application by going through the following website.
http://arcgis.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/mntopo/
2. Explore the MnTOPO Interface (zooming in and zooming out).
3. Search for Mankato and click on the “Elevation” tool.
4. Choose the “Freehand Line” tool from the dropdown options.
5. Select a nearby location on the North West side of the city to get the elevation profile of
Minnesota river.
6. Take a print screen.
Part 6: Exploration of Google Moon
Directions:
1. Open Google Earth.
2. Explore the tools on the toolbar.
3. Switch to Google Moon (click on the orange planet icon at the top of the program, choose
Google Moon from the drop-down list)
4. Check off all the layers except Apollo Missions. Expand Apollo Missions by clicking.
5. Click on the Apollo 11 link and answer the following questions.
6. Armstrong and Aldrin landed in a dark patch of the lunar surface called the ------------------.
7. What is the diameter of “Little West Carter”? Measure it and compare to the
measurement of Armstrong.