Module 1: Formative Assessments
Module 1: Google Earth Assignments
1. You have been provided with a KMZ file containing all of the cities listed on
the “Compare Cities” Page. Save this file on your computer.
2. Open Google Earth on your computer and open the KMZ file by going to file
 open. The file will show on the left hand sidebar pane (make sure you
have this visible by clicking on the “show sidebar” icon at top left).
3. Click the box next to the KMZ file so it is checked. You can click on any of the
city’s names and Google Earth and you will fly to that location.
4. Begin by clicking on New Orleans, LA, U.S..
A. New Orleans, LA,
1. Navigate to New Orleans.
2. Follow the directions on the New Orleans pages to guide your observations
of the city.
3. Make a point of looking specifically for structures or other types of flood
mitigation (e.g., levees, flood walls and gates, pump stations, green space
between water and developed land, etc.). Hint: follow the directions on the
“Further Exploration” Page for exploring a portion of New Orleans’ Lake
Pontchartrain levee system.
4. Summarize your findings in the chart below:
Summarize your findings in the chart below:
Estimated diameter or widest point of
the city:
Population of city (from text provided)
Complete the chart below for two locations in New Orleans that lie at, near or below
sea level (The first location is given and the second you can choose). Be sure to read
the background information pages for New Orleans, including the Additional
Exploration” page, to give more context to your findings in google Earth.
Point of interest
Location coordinates
Location elevation
Location name (if you
can find one) and
description
1
29°58'57.33; 90°02'36.64
2
Characterization of type
of development
(residential, industrial,
port, etc.)
Characterization of
population density
(high, medium or low
density). Can you find
visual evidence that the
population density has
changed as a result of
Hurricane Katrina?
B. Guangzhou, China
5. Navigate to Guangzhou.
6. Follow the directions on the Guangzhou page to guide your observations of
the city.
7. Make a point of looking specifically for structures or other types of flood
mitigation (e.g., levees, flood walls and gates, pump stations, green space
between water and developed land, etc.)
8. Summarize your findings in the chart below:
Measure of size of city: Estimated
diameter of the city (measured at 40
km eye altitude, using measure tool):
just measure the width of the screen.
Population of city (from text
provided)
3. General Observations of the city
Complete the chart below for two locations (for 1, the coordinates are given; the
second you can choose) in Guangzhou that lie at, near or below sea level:
5.
1
Point of interest
Location
coordinates
Location elevation
Location name (if
you can find one)
and description
Characterization
of type of
development:
residential,
industrial, port,
etc.
23° 02’ 30” N
113° 21’ 30” E
2
Characterization
of relative
population density
(high, med, low)
Observed flood
mitigation measures
(e.g., levee, flood
walls and gates,
pump stations,
green space
between water and
developed land, etc.)
Module 1: GeoMapApp Assignments
New Orleans, LA
1. Open GeoMap. Go to Basemap  Global Grids  Bathymetry Topography
NASA Aster USGS Elevation Model (this is available for US only. It works
best for New Orleans because it will show finer elevation changes).
2. Click zoom (+) button; Zoom to the gulf coast of the U.S. by drawing a box
around the area.
3. Mouse over the area to find the coordinates for New Orleans (30° N 90° W).
Zoom in further so the zoom level is approximately 1500 (top right corner of
screen)
4. Click the profile icon (5th from left, next to the zoom out (-) button).
5. Create an elevation profile beginning at approximate coordinates 90.04; W;
30.01 N and extending south for 10 km. Save the elevation profile as a jpg file
and paste it below. Create a second elevation profile beginning at the same
coordinates and extending approximately 10 km east. Save this profile as a
jpg. File and paste it below.
6. Write a short description of the nature of elevation in the area based on the
two profiles. Include the lowest and highest elevations. What would this
terrain look like? How would it feel to walk or bike through the city?
7. Based on your observations using Google Earth and GeoMapApp, what
observed physical characteristics may contribute to New Orleans high rank
in the flood risk lists?
Guangzhou
1. Open GeoMap. Go to Basemap  Global Grids  Bathymetry Topography 
GRMT
2. Click zoom (+) button; Zoom to SE China by drawing a box around the area.
3. Mouse over the area to find the coordinates for Guangzhou: N 23° 07’; E 113°
15’. Zoom in further until the zoom (shown in top right of screen) is about
1000.
4. Click the profile icon (5th from left, next to the zoom out (-) button).
5. Create an elevation profile beginning at these approximate coordinates and
extending east for 20 km. Save the elevation profile as a jpg file and paste it
below. Create a second elevation profile beginning at the same coordinates
and extending approximately 20 km south. Save this profile as a jpg. File and
paste it below.
6. Write a short description of the nature of elevation in the area based on the
two profiles. Include the lowest and highest elevations. What would this
terrain look like on the ground – how would it feel to walk or bike through
the city?
7. Based on your observations using Google Earth and GeoMapApp, what
observed physical characteristics may contribute to Guangzhou’s high rank
in the flood risk lists?
Comparing the two cities:
1. Compare the nature of the elevation in Guangzhou with that of New Orleans.
How do they differ?
2. In what ways are the two cities alike (identify at least two ways)?
Module 1: Summative Assessment
Summarize your findings of your analysis of the two featured coastal cities:
Guangzhou, and New Orleans.
Write a Conclusion
After making observations and doing further reading, summarize your findings of
your analysis of the two featured coastal cities: Guangzhou and New Orleans. Write
a thoughtful reflection based on the explorations you have done using Google Earth
and GeoMapApp. Incorporate thinking about the key questions below.
How do the various characteristics of a city (including its economy) affect its
ranking on the World Bank lists? Include thoughts on:
1. Why is Guangzhou at the top of both lists?
2. Why is New Orleans the only US city to appear on both top ten lists?
3. How measures to mitigate risks (e.g., levee and flood gate improvements in
New Orleans) may affect a city’s rank.
4. Speculate on how these cities will rank in a future analysis of this kind.
5. Add any additional thoughts based on any further exploration of the other
cities in the lists.